Politics
Seyi Bakare: How Dapo Abiodun turned Ogun to construction site
Seyi Bakare: How Dapo Abiodun turned Ogun to construction site
THERE is something phenomenal going on in Ogun State, and even critics and naysayers are beginning to realize the futility of their campaigns of calumny. In just three years, the Dapo Abiodun administration, maligned because of its embrace of a paradigm shift away from the practice of concentrating projects either in the state capital or in major cities, is beginning to receive due applause as the cloud of falsehood makes way for a true appreciation of the marked difference made in the lives of the Ogun people.
True, those unfamiliar with Ogun State may not know all that is happening: often, people coming from Lagos do not enter into the heart of Abeokuta. And if they pass through Ijebu-Ode or Shagamu, they take the expressway, enjoying the new lease of life infused into inter-state travel. But then many are beginning to see beyond the Shagamu Interchange and the Lagos-Abeokuta expressway, realizing that so many things are happening across the three senatorial districts. As many a commentator has begun to acknowledge, one marked difference between the current administration and the immediate past one is that Governor Dapo Abiodun has distributed development evenly across the state. Previously, you only saw beautiful roads in major cities in the state while other areas were virtually left to rot. But now, it is a different situation entirely.
When he came on board, Governor Abiodun discovered that all the major roads within communities had become dilapidated. He initiated the direct labour agency which moved into all the 20 local government areas of the state simultaneously and started rehabilitating roads. That done, the governor then did something entirely different: he embraced the projects abandoned or half-executed by his predecessors. As Nigerians are well aware, uncompleted projects dot many of Nigeria’s 36 states as governors treat projects begun by their predecessors as anathema, creating a gory sight. The gentleman governor who leads the Gateway State never did that; witness, for instance, the massive Agro-allied Airport nearing completion in Ilishan, a project that was only a thought during the Gbenga Daniel administration. Built as an airport city to cater for both cargo and passenger purposes, it will go into operation in December after the first demonstration flight has taken place. It is Nigeria’s second largest airport. The massiveness, beauty and elegance of the project is a powerful testimony of the vision that inheres the Gateway State under Abiodun’s leadership. The Olokola Free Trade Zone abandoned for many years is now a reality.
During his tenure, Governor Ibikunle Amosun engaged in massive demolition of houses ostensibly to create six-lane, eight-lane roads across the state, and this created a burden for the Abiodun government. From Abeokuta in Ogun Central to Ilaro in Ogun West, the story was the same: houses were, as it were, “shaved” or “beheaded” on the excuse that multi-lane roads were coming. The people took the assault on their ancestral homes in their stride, cooperating with the government in the belief that the eight-lane roads promised were in their best interest. But it was all flight of fancy: the roads never came. Worse still, the demolitions were not required. And so when Abiodun came on board, he was confronted with a behemoth: assuaging the pains of the people by rehabilitating the roads they previously had and paying compensation to distraught home owners, all within the backdrop of paucity of funds created by the fissures in the national economy. Despite the challenges, he faced the work headlong. He attended to the Lagos-Abeokuta road, travelling through which took at least two hours previously. Vehicles breaking down on the road were a routine sight. But that soon became history as the government rehabilitated the road, making driving on it a pleasurable exercise.
In Ogun Central, the Abiodun government built the Obantoko road, Ikoritameje Adenrele/Olose Titun Vespa road, Idi Aba-Oke Lantoro road, the Abeokuta-Shagamu expressway, the Channels TV road in Isheri, Panseke-Adigbe road, the flyover bridge at Kuto, Lafenwa Rounder-Ayetoro road, Adatan Gbonagun road, Arepo road (for which members of the press had agitated for years), Somorin Kemta-Idi Aba road, Osoba-Toyin Agbado road, Itori junction road, Olomore Sani road and the Akute-Ishasi road. If you are familiar with places like Old Bank road-Oritameje Coker, Mowe Ofada, Siun, Sango Rounabout to Ijoke bridge and Oke Aro-Ojodu, you will have noticed the ongoing road projects there. For those in Ogun East, communities such as Oru-Awa Ilaporu, Molipa, Fusigboye, Ayegun, Ojofa, Asafa Oke and Asafa Isale know the difference that the Abiodun administration, which has also completed work on the Iregun-Ilisa road, Idarika street road, Olabisi Onajole road and Araromi Sokoto street road, has made in their lives.
Among others, the administration has completed the Esure-Ijebu Mushin road, Igan road, Ekinrin-Idowa-Ibefun-Itokin road, Awujale road, Ijebu Ode-Epe/Sagamu Benin interchange flyover bridge, Molusi College road, Ilishan market road, Iperu-Rounadbout Ode phase 2, Obafemi Awolowo Way-Mada Takete and the Molipa-Ibadan road, among others. Residents of Oyingbo, Olisa, Saka Ashiru, Togburin, Agodo, Tigara, among others, know the relief that building their roads has brought to their communities. They can attest to the work done in other areas, including the Sagamu Ode Lemo road and the Ikenne-Ilishan Ago Iwoye road. In Ogun West, it has been projects galore from Ikola to Osi Ikola, from Raypower road to Igbesa-Ejinla road; from Imshai-Igan to Ayetoro; and from the Ilaro-Owode road, the Oke Ola road in Imeko, the Ilashe Koko-Alari road and the Ado Odo-Ikoga road. The ongoing work in these communities are ennobling, as are the works in Atan-Lusada-Agbara-Marogbo, Singer to Toll Gate, among others. The Lusada-Atan agbara road, in particular, is crucially important to the South-West, Nigeria and indeed the West African sub-region: it hosts the biggest industrial complex in Nigeria.
Even federal roads are receiving attention. People in the area care less about the Federal Government: it is state government that they know. Everywhere you turn in Abiodun’s Ogun, you find projects. Indeed, many are wondering where, in the face of the national economic downturn, he has been getting money to execute the massive projects. He has a good Commissioner for Works, Ade Akinsanya, managing resources, eliminating wastage and reducing cost. Moving around Ogun State within five to ten kilometers, you find roads. And as Governor Abiodun builds roads, so does he build housing estates, rehabilitate schools and equip hospitals. He is maintaining peace and stability, preparing Ogun for the future. He aims to take advantage of the proximity between Ogun and Lagos, Nigeria’s economic capital, to make Ogun a place of prosperity.
Bakare contributes this piece through [email protected]
*Go out and vote, it’s your right – Ogun APC charges electorate*
As the party campaigns for the 2024 Local Government election in Ogun State draws to a close midnight of today (Thursday), the All Progressives Congress, APC, has charged registered voters in Ogun State to go out and exercise their fundamentals rights on Saturday “without any fear whatsoever”.
Addressing the grand finale of APC in Odogbolu Local Government, the Publicity Secretary of the party in Ogun State, Tunde Oladunjoye said, “APC has done very well under the administration of Prince Dapo Abiodun, and we are poised to win the chairmanship and councilorship elections overwhelmingly come Saturday”.
Oladunjoye, who is also Senior Media Consultant to Governor Dapo Abiodun on Media, thanked the Odogbolu people for showing massive support to the APC in the local government.
“With what I have seen here, victory is sure. I want to thank you on behalf of the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, CON and the Chairman of APC in Ogun State, Chief Yemi Sanusi. “Come out and vote peacefully on Saturday. It is your constitutional duty and obligation.”
Oladunjoye added that people should learn from the chairmanship candidate of the party in Odogbolu local government, Dr. Babatunde Oyetola Diya, who vied for the office about three and half years ago and did not get it, but remained faithful in the party and continued to reach out to people with his humanitarian efforts.”
Anthony Ojo congratulates Gov Okpebholo, confirms Edo Central Senate aspiration
Influential Edo State politician, Anthony Ojo has congratulated Senator Monday Okpebholo after being sworn-in as the new Governor of the State.
In his congratulatory message, Ojo expressed confidence in the abilities of Gov Okpebholo to bring the dividends of democracy close to the people of Edo State.
“The people of Edo State have total trust in your five-point agenda, capacity as a leader, and this is evident with their immense show of love. We have no single doubt that under you, this state will progress to the promised land,” the statement reads.
Meanwhile, Anthony Ojo has confirmed his aspiration to contest the Edo Central senatorial seat under the flagship of the All Progressives Congress (APC), a position previously held by Senator Okpebholo before he was elected governor.
He cited that sharing the same leadership ideologies with Governor Okpebholo, and the keen desire for transformative human and capacity developments in Edo State are the reasons behind his ambition.
He promised to work closely with the Governor to provide succour to Edo citizens.
Appeal Court Further Affirms Udeze-led NEC Of Action Alliance As Valid, Authentic
ABUJA – The Appeal Court sitting in Abuja has further affirmed Chief Barr. Kenneth Udeze-led National Executive Committee (NEC) of Action Alliance (AA) elected on 14th March 2021 National Convention of the party as valid and authentic.
Action Alliance, in a statement by its National Secretary, Vernimbe A James said, “the court of appeal Abuja Division today in Appeal Number; CA/ABJ/CV/1163/2024 in a lead Judgement delivered by Hon.Justics Abba Mohammed which was concord by the other two Justices dismissed the appeal filed by Adekunle Omoaje faction through one Miller C.Orgwu ( on behalf of himself and all NEC Members Elected at Action Alliance Elective National Convention of 7th of October,2023, held at OOPL Abeokuta, Ogun State ) against 1, INEC, 2, Kenneth Udeze,3, James Vernimbe, 4, Akinuli Fred Omolere.
“The Court also awarded N400,000 cost against the appellants in favor of the Respondents.
The appeal was about the validity of the powers of Action Alliance NEC under Chief Kenneth Udeze led executive to conduct the party Governorship primary in Ondo State for the upcoming Saturday 16th November 2024, Governorship Election.
“The Federal High Court Abuja Division had earlier In Suit Number; FHC/ABJ/ CS/626/2024 Between Miller Orgwu and others (Omoaje faction) claiming to be authentic NEC of the party against 1, INEC, 2, KENNETH UDEZE,3, JAMES VERNIMBE, 4, AKINULI FRED OMOLERE presided by HON. JUSTICE JOYCE O.ABDULMALIK on 24th, September 2024 dismissed their Claim and validated the Ondo State Governorship Primary Election Conducted by Chief Barr Kenneth Udeze led Action Alliance NEC as valid and authentic, thereby Confirming the Ondo State Governorship Candidate of the party AKINULI FRED OMOLERE as the valid Candidate of the party for the 16th, November 2024 Governorship Election in Ondo State.”
The statement further said: “On 28 March 2022, the FCT High Court Abuja had affirmed and validated the Action Alliance National Convention held on 14th, March 2021 wherein Chief Barr Kenneth Udeze led NEC of the party were elected.
“Dissatisfied with the said Judgement, one Adekunle Rufai Omoaje and others were granted leave of the court of appeal to appeal same Judgement.
“On the 26th, January 2024, the Court of Appeal Abuja Division in Appeal Number; CA/ ABJ/ CV/ 955/22 Between Adekunle Rufai Omoaje and others and Chief Uzewuru Nwachukwu and others further Affirmed the FCT High Court Judgement that earlier validated the Action Alliance National Convention of 14th March,2021 wherein Chief Barr Kenneth Udeze led Action Alliance (AA) NEC of the party was elected.
“Dissatisfied with the appeal court Judgement one Adekunle Rufai Omoaje and others have appealed the Judgement to the Supreme Court of Nigeria in appeal Number: SC/ CV/162/2024 Between Adekunle Rufai Omoaje and others and Chief Uzewuru Nwachukwu and others, the matter is still pending at the Supreme Court of Nigeria which he has abandoned but desperately looking for how to come through the back door to claim the leadership of Action Alliance.”
The statement also explained that “INEC has since Complied with the Judgements validating the 14th, March 2021 National Convention of the party wherein Chief Barr Kenneth Udeze led Action Alliance NEC of the party was elected and uploaded on its website the Name of Chief Barr Kenneth Udeze- National Chairman, Vernimbe A James -National Secretary and other Elected NEC of the party as authentic.
“There is no court ruling or Judgement that Affirmed or validated any other National Convention of Action Alliance (AA) held on any other date apart from the 14th, March 2021 National Convention of the party which Courts have already and variously validated.”
Ezenwa Ibegbunam, who is the Counsel to Chief Fred Omolere, the governorship candidate of the party affirmed by the Court, noted that the judgment has further restated the correct position of the law and a vindication of the previous decision of the Court of Appeal which had earlier affirmed Chief Udeze led executive as the authentic leadership of the Action Alliance.
On his part, Chief Kenneth Udeze has praised the Court of Appeal as a citadel of justice and urged the party members across the country to remain focused.
He further noted that the Judgment has cleared the way for the victory of the party in the Ondo State gubernatorial election.
Source: Daily Independent
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