Chief Adeniyi Akintola, CON, SAN, FCIArb Wrote:
Three states in the South West ,Lagos, Oyo and Ogun are progressing at geometric rate with gargantuan projects going on every day with some already completed. From rails projects in Lagos,, housing estates sprouting out yearly, roads constructions in Alimosho, Lagos Epe 6 lanes already completed, rail line in the same corridor from Marina to Epe on-going, Ikorodu and Badagry not left out, all in Lagos State. IN OYO AXIS, Ogbomosho/Iseyin brand new road and Virgin road already completed, Saki Ogboro road already completed, Omi Adio to Ido road in my local government already completed, the Ibadan Mega City roads already rehabilitated, Oyo to Iseyin road (A Federal Road ) Already completed, Ibadan to Osogbo Road (That is Oyo section of the road which is Federal High Way) almost completed, Egbeda, Ajia , Airport/ Akanran road over 80% with some section already commissioned, Airforce Base and Barracks though Federal but built by the state government already completed and commissioned, Owode/Apata Akala way to challenge already rehabilitated and completed, Circular road of 134km ( brain child of former Governor Ladoja) commenced and the first phase almost completed from Asejire end on Ife Ibadan road to the boundary between Oyo and Ogun state immediately after the Technical University 90% with all the three/Four overhead bridges completely dualised, the perennial flooding of Ogunpa River which has posed serious danger to lives and properties in Ibadanland Metropolis spanning over 90kms from Ajibode behind UI to Orogun, Agbowo, Bodija, Agodi, Inalende, Ekotedo, Dugbe, Odo Ona, Oluyole Estate to Odo Ona Elewe, to Akala Way down to Challenge and Idi Ayunre have been completely Channeled though with the assistance of the World Bank. The challelnisation is a beauty to behold. Channelisation completed. In Ogun state Axis , the Ijebu Ode/ Epe road is a beauty to behold. It is a six lanes dualisation that would shame even our dear Umahi. It is a road that has now linked Marina– Epe High Way, all state roads belonging to Lagos/Ogun states but serving commuters travelling from Lagos to Ore, Akure, Benin, Warri, Asaba, Onitsha, PH, Yenagoa and other parts of the East thus decongesting the Lagos-Sagamu- Ibadan expressway considerably. There is the Cargo Airport built by the state already commissioned and completed. Infact, it has started commercial operation. The hitherto pot holes ridden Abeokuta/Sagamu road has been completely rehabilitated and completed, Abeokuta, Ewekoro to Otta, a Federal Highway is undergoing massive rehabilitations by Ogun state government, Iperu town roads are receiving serious attention from the State government, and as we speak, a deap sea port is in the Making in Ijebu waterside courtesy of Dangote and Ogun state government partnership. These three states are said to be in partnership in the proposed Street lighting of Lagos/Ibadan Express Way, and Lagos/Abeokuta/Ibadan metrol railway line for which they have signed memorandum agreement. The question that has been agitating my mind in the last two years, is what is happening to the other three states in the South West? What have they been doing with all the monies that accrued to the three states of Osun, Ekiti and Ondo states. Please pardon me for limiting my observation to the South West states. If you accuse me of parochialism, I plead guilty and I have no apologies. Reason being that the region is my primary constituency in Nigeria projects. I ply the roads linking the six states almost on a weekly basis, first to the nature of my trade which I ply weekly on the roads linking these states and secondly due to the fact of my being visible on the social fronts across the six states. The 6 states are one and interwoven. You can attend one social ceremony in Lagos in the morning, be at Otta in the afternoon and night party in Ibadan on the same day and if all the First 3 aforementioned ceremonies are burial ranging from service of songs, wake keep and burial on Wednesday, Thursday and funeral services on Friday, yours truly can still be found in Akure on the following Saturday for a wedding. Such is the itinerary of an average Yoruba elite weekly across the 6 states especially for those of us who are very nomadic in our trade. Going from Ibadan to Osogbo passing through Gbongan/Odeomu could be a nightmare. The road between Osogbo and Gbongan could is an apology. Until of recent that the Federal government came to the aid of Ondo and Ekiti state, ( God bless Umahi) the road between Akure to Ado Ekiti was impassable and you’ll have to make a detour passing through Igbara Oke,Igbara Odo, Ilawe through to Ado Ekiti because you cannot access Ado Ekiti very easily. The roads linking Ado Ekiti on all fronts are just not passable. The Akure/Ado Ekiti road should normally be a drive of 30 minutes passing through Ikere ( I am an Ekiti inlaw) so pardon my obsession with Ekiti state, I know the geography of Yorubaland like the back of my hands. Why can’t the 3 aforementioned states join hands or borrow one or two leaves from their counterparts in Lagos, Oyo and Ogun states. These 3 latter states appear to be the Poster boys (I mean their Governors) of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, President of the FRN and C.In.C of the armed forces on whose mandate we all stand. Asiwaju has introduced another political theory into the Nigerian Political firmament which I called Friendly Developmental Politics as against rent seeking and patronage politicians. If you are in doubt, read the speeches of the C.In.C at the Commissioning of the Blue rail line in Lagos, the Commissioning of the Ogbomosho/Iseyin High way through Virgin line which was read by the VP , his Excellency Alh Shetima GCON, or better still, the speech delivered by the C.In.C at the commissioning of the Ijebu Ode/Sagamu and Ijebu water sides roads. Ditto his speeches at the commissioning of the projects he inaugurated in Abia, Enugu and Anambra states. See how the President poured encomiums on Governors Sanwoolu, Makinde, Dapo Abiodun, Mbah, Otti and Soludo respectively. It is certainly not a question of political parties but question of governance. The President has built bridges through his policies based on renewed Hope AGENDA and whosoever key into his policies stand on his mandate. These aforementioned Governors of different political persuasions are carrying out Developmental projects based on the renewed Hope AGENDA and have been faithful poster boys of this Republic, different political association notwithstanding. Hence then the Governors of Osun, Ekiti and Ondo, how now? What is happening sirs your Excellencies? How Market sirs? With profound respect sirs,we would want to see you joining the league of your brother Governors of Lagos, Oyo and Ogun states. We would want to see the Governor of Osun linking up Osogbo with Ibadan on two fronts as a matter of urgency. Osogbo to Ibadan was a journey of 30 minutes up till 1991 prior to the creation of Osun state passing through Iwo. Mr Governor sir, speed up your state end of the road up to Odo Oba. Your counterpart in Oyo had completed the dualisation of the road from Iwo Road Interchange in Ibadan up till Olodo and he is now heading towards Papa town which is the boundary between the two states. Rehabilitate and continue with the dualisation of Osogbo/Gbongan road to link the Ibadan/Ife/Ilesha Express road . These twin roads will enhance the economic growth of your state as communication is very key to infrastructural development. That has been the secrets of Ogun and Oyo states. Move closer to the Asejire end of Ikire/Apomu towns and establish there cottage industries and estates therein. Tap from the economic boom spreading geometrically at Ajoda New Town of Oyo state and the Circular road. As you can see your Excellency, there is no vacant land again from Asejire to Ibadan as all the vacant lands have been occupied by SME , private estate developers, giant industries and even religious organisations. Adopt the economic style of Ogun and Oyo States who simply leverage on the economic boom of Lagos State. Today, the Ibadan toll gate end of the express Way down to Ogunsakin the boundary town with Ogun state which is 33km has been completely acquired by the oyo state government, thanks to the foresight of the late Governor Ajimobi whilst no single plot of land exist between Sagamu and Berger for free wheeling. It is one industry or the other from Sagamu to Lagos. The strategy is very simple. Where for instance Lagos charges #100k per square metre for land acquisition from entrepreneurs, Ogun charges #60k for the same portion of land and Oyo state would probably charge #40k or even #30k per the same square metre of land. The resultant effect is that, from Ibadan end of the express road to Lagos end, hardly can you find any vacant land. See what is happening between Ogere and Sagamu. It has been turned into an industrial hub to the extent that Ogun state is now competing with river state in IGR earnings. (SEE the Bureau of statistics Reports on IGR in Nigeria) Oyo state is gradually challenging Ogun and Rivers for 3rd position. The reason is also very simple. It is a question of economy of scale and comparative advantage. If an industrialist discovers that he can get 100 hectares of land for his enterprise for #3b in Oyo state as against #30b in Lagos and #15b in Ogun but he’ll need to spend #1b more on fuel or diesel than he would have spent in Lagos, he would prefer going to Ibadan for his project because he would still have advantage of making extra #26b for the same purpose. Thus, if Oyo state is Charging #40k per square metre in order to have advantage over Lagos and Ogun, you then charge #20k per square metre. Ditto, Ekiti state. This is where the importance of communication and good road networking comes in There is no reason why Ado Ekiti should not be linked with Ilesha by good dualised road. The road is said to be under 100km and it is doable by the Ekiti state government. This was the point I was making some months back when some state functionaries decided to go on a worthless journey to Canada and I cried out against the jamboree. The immediate past Governor of the state wrote me a stinker,albeit insulting me and suggesting that I was acting the scripts of some notable revered senior colleagues and mentors, Chief Afe Babalola SAN CFR, FCIArb and Chief Wole Olanipekun, CFR SAN, FCIArb as if I have no mind of my own or constitutional rights to interrogate my Governors and call them to account. Subsequent responses that trailed my observations on Ekiti roads and the general approval I received from notable Ekiti indigenes who wrote scores of beautiful letters, sms, WhatsApp messages and emails gladdens my heart and I was magnanimous enough to forward some to him. Incidentally, the said former Governor is very close to me, a fellow compatriot in the NADECO struggles, (he played prominent and heroic roles) a family friend and a political friend whom I assisted tremendously in regaining his mandate from the thievery PDP of the era. I have since been vindicated by Subsequent developments on Ekiti roads which have now become a source of concern to both residents and visitors to the state alike. My concern was altruistic and noble with no ulterior motives whatsoever. All I am concerned about is to see all the 6 states in the South West developing at geometric rates in lines with the desire of our departed heroes Chief Obafemi Awolowo, GCFR, SAN, and Chief Bola Ige SAN, the Cicero of Esa Oke all of blessed memories and of course in line with the Renewed Hope AGENDA of the Master of the game, the strategist of inestimable value who designed a new political theory into a template which is now known as “Relationship Developmental political theory ” . It is no longer politics of primitive loyalty anchored on patronages and rent seeking but rather a new political order based on pragmatic template of relationships, Developmental theoretical personality. It depends on your personality and not your political party. The theory is now based on what you can put on the table of national development. A Soludo that Keyed into the Renewed Hope AGENDA by initiating monumental projects which were commissioned by the C.ln C.is valuable to the MANDATE of the GRAND MASTER . A Sanwoolu that is rolling out projects after projects is more of an asset to the Progressive and Renewed Hope AGENDA and an Abiodun, Makinde or Mbah who dovetailed on the vision and mission of Mr President is far more valuable to the MANDATE of the President and it is no longer going to be a question of being a party member. Just like my brother from the South South who posited above his frustration about his Governors from the zone vis a vis the horrendous allocations “gifted” to the zone in the last two years under the altruistic administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, we must all rise up to answer the call of Mr President who has asked us to interrogate our Governors on what they are doing with the geometric resources at their disposal. I have catalogue herein above what we can see in the 3 states of Lagos, Oyo and Ogun states and these are the tangible projects on the ground and what everybody can see and not makeup or white Elephant. Let the 3 other states of Osun, Ekiti and Ondo take up my challenge and strive to the levels of their brothers in the first 3. Let Ondo state take advantage of the maritime opportunities it has to link up with Lagos in the areas of water transportations. Sanwoolu was a delight to watch alighting from the boat he boarded from Marina at Badagry when he went to commission two major roads fully completed in the zone. What a beautiful marketing strategy. He was mat at the jetty by a large crowd of jubilant Badagrians and he proudly announced to Lagosians that it took him and his Deputy only 25 minutes from Marina to get to Badagry. Resultant effect was a massive crowd at Marina the very following day waiting eagerly to board boats to Mile 2, Festac and Badagry jetties. Smart man, more money into his government purse. As Makinde round up the constitution of the Ibadan International Airport this October as promised by his government, let see Governor Adeleke positioning Osun state to reap bountifully from the first hajj pilgrims from the Airport for the next Muslims pilgrimage that Wii be maiden take off from there. Dear Governors I come in peace and with good intentions and wishes for all of you and our dear states. Let all of us key into the MANDATE upon which we stand. We would be interrogating each other as the Renewed Hope AGENDA gift the states more money. It is well with us all.
Chief Adeniyi Akintola CON, SAN FCIArb..
