I just finished watching a video where Governor Seyi Makinde was fidgeting, labouring, unsuccessfully to explain his actions about the Ido/Ibarapa Road.
A good liar they say, must have a good memory.
Unfortunately, while Governor Makinde was trying to defend himself and his Government today, during the presentation of next year’s Budget, he seemed to have lost counts of the series of failed promises he had made at different times concerning that Road which is just 48 kilometers.
When the Governor flagged off the Road at the Eruwa end in February, 2023, at the time he was pressured to seek for the votes from Ibarapa Land, he clearly said the Road would be ready by December of 2023.
I was shocked and amazed that the Governor now said that when he flagged off the Road at the time, he merely awarded just 12 kilometers out of the 48 kilometers length of the Road, leaving out 36 kilometers and for a whooping 6 billion Naira.
According to the Governor, he awarded the contracts by giving the two Contractors 6 kilometers apiece and he awarded for full reconstruction of the said Road.
Apart from the fact that I am shocked that the Governor is now just coming up to say that he merely awarded just 12 kilometers out of the 48 kilometers of the Road, I am equally surprised that the Governor could tell us that whatever that has been done by those two Contractors, which is not up to 6 kilometers amounted to quality job, even though he is an Engineer and he just passed through the Road.
Before anyone jumps on me, I enjoined whoever wishes to see the truth for himself to go and see the thickness of the asphalt laid on the few kilometers of the Road done before passing judgment, particularly, from the Eruwa end.
I am equally blown away that the Governor was proud to say that he awarded the Road for a whooping 500 million Naira per kilometers and also tried to play around with words that suggests that he would grant a variation to the Contractors.
He was clever not to say this but any reasonable person knows what he meant when he said ” complete reconstruction, in today’s Naira, is probably going to be around… maybe er..em…we awarded it for 500 million Naira..”.
How on earth could anyone who fears God justify the construction of a kilometer of Road in that terrain at the cost of 500 million Naira and we are even talking about reconstruction here?
Now Governor Makinde had cleverly talked about the cost of reconstructing a kilometer of Road at the time he awarded the contracts and now, obviously insinuating that the cost of reconstructing a kilometer of Road will attract much more than the 500 million Naira he approved in 2023.
Let me ask the Governor, whose fault is that?
I have correctly predicted that this would happen.
Now, who should be held responsible for that recklessness?
The Road from Iseyin to Ogbomoso was flagged off after he flagged off the Ido/Eruwa Road.
The Road has since been completed.
The same goes for the Road from Ido to Omi Adio.
Sadly,Governor Seyi Makinde never provided us with the explanations as to why he abandoned the Ido/Eruwa Road.
May I use this medium to demand for the reasons?
At some point he claimed he had connected all the zones of Oyo state with Ibadan.
I remember saying that Ibarapas do not exist in his consciousness at the time.
Sadly, the Governor loves to boast about how he has ” revilutionalized Agriculture” through Agri-business.
Ibarapa Land is arguably the largest producer of Cassava and its flour in Oyo state.
The Governor who boasted that he has revilutionalized Agriculture does not see the reason to ensure Ibarapa zone is connected with the state capital through good roads infrastructures.
Thankfully, Governor Makinde also attested to the fact that he saw the Trailers carrying cassava on the Road.
Before I go further, I am surprised that Governor Makinde claimed that the Trailers were responsible for the damages on a Road he never touched for about six years.
The influx of the Trailers started roughly three years ago when a Cassava processing plant was located in Akure.
One would have expected that Governor Makinde would leverage on the mass production of Cassava in Oyo state to invite the owners of the plant to come establish in Oyo where the raw materials for their products is in abundance and that would have been an added advantage to farmers who would be paid more since they are the ones who bear the costs of transportation to Akure.
Governor Makinde is failing on the two key promises he made to the people of Ibarapa Land.
Apart from the Road that is in bad shape, he has equally refused to upgrade the Eruwa Farm Settlement as promised.
He even planned to sell the Settlement.
Before I round up this piece, I must touch on two issues.
Yesterday, I told the anchor of a Radio program who interviewed me that Governor Makinde sees himself as someone who has command of words.
Incidentally and unfortunately, most of the times, the Governor opens his flanks when he makes speeches.
Most especially, when he is not flowing from a prepared speech or when he veers off.
The speech he made today about the Ido/Ibarapa Road seriously exposed and indicted him.
Now we know that when people were rolling out the drums and dancing that the Road would be completed by December, 2023, Governor Makinde knew inside of him that he was just cajoling them to get their votes.
You don’t believe me? Ask the Governor to provide explanations for why he neglected the Road while he finished other Roads that were flagged off after it.
Secondly, I am ashamed that the Speaker, who presided over the event where the Governor made the damning statement is from Eruwa in Ibarapa Land.
Someone told me yesterday that some people in Ibarapa are uncomfortable that some of us are confronting the Speaker for his ineptitudes.
He said those who are complaining said that Hon. Niran Alarape, Hon. Senator Monsurat Sunmonu and Hon. Atilola, all of them from Oyo Town ,were once Speakers of the Oyo state House of Assembly and that while they were Speakers, no one from their Community was against them.
I told the young man in reply that he should ask those who are of such opinion to tell him if any of the symblings of the former Speakers collected Contracts and abandoned same within their communities as Toyese Ogundoyin did.
Governor Makinde said he has released 2 billion Naira to the Commissioner for Works for the Contractors to complete the 12 kilometers originally awarded.
He also talked about ” reviewing the rates”, I think he was talking about what a kilometer would now cost for the remaining 36 kilometers.
I’m sure it would go to billions now per kilometer!
This is so so sad.
The Governor also talked about ” some bad spots” on the Road.
I think I can perfectly understand the intention of the Governor but I will be patient.
In conclusion, it is now obvious that the people of Ibarapa Land are the ones suffering for the indulgence of the thieves who allegedly embezzled the money late Governor Ajimobi earmarked for the rehabilitation of the Ido/Eruwa Road.
In 2019, Governor Makinde claimed to have caught those he called thieves who stole the approved funds for the rehabilitation of the Road and even said he was going to retrieve every last Kobo of Oyo state funds stolen by them.
I remember him saying that some prominent Elders were begging him to forgive the thieves.
I am surprised that he did not make a mention of those alleged thieves and whether he did succeeded in retrieving the embezzled money.
If he did, where is the money? If he didn’t, why?
I am not excited by Governor Makinde’s promises about the #2 billion he claimed to have released.
He also said he would approve money for the Ipin Bridge on the second day of his visit to Eruwa a couple of weeks ago.
I am not aware of anything going on at the site as I write this piece.
Governor Makinde’s promises count for nothing.
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