Akeredolu: Promises made, promises kept

THE ongoing developmental projects being executed by the administration of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) across the three senatorial districts of Ondo State is enough proof that the governor is a man to be trusted. You’ll recall that one of the promises he made to the good people of the state during the electioneering in 2016 was to make a positive impact on their lives. The governor had vowed: “Changing the lives of our people is a goal worthy of our best effort.” The two-day inspection tour of the project sites, which witnessed very loud accolades from the people at every project site, was an indication that Akeredolu had designed a workable plan to fulfil his campaign promises to the people of the state.   From the kick-off of the inspection of the projects at Ifon in Ose Local Government Area in Ondo North Senatorial District of the state, the huge crowd of people who trooped out in their hundreds to welcome Akeredolu, showed that the governor had really impacted the lives of the majority of the people of the state in less than one year in office.

Before Akeredolu mobilised contractors to fix the age-long abandoned 2.3km roads at Ogbonmo and Ajegunle quarters in Ifon, for several years, the total of 2.3km roads had been impassable prior to the mobilisation of contractors to the sites. According to some elated locals who spoke about the new looks of the roads, the roads were a nightmare before the current state governor started their construction shortly after the governor assumed office. A resident, Mr. BayodeOgundola, expressed his delight over the new look of the roads. He told journalists that the governor’s initial pledge by Akeredolu to serve the people of the state with his best effort was not a mere political statement, but a watchword pursued to fruition. The Olufon of Ifon, Oba Israel Adeusi, who was also full of praises during the governor’s inspection, decried what he described as the level of neglect the community had suffered for many years. He hailed Akeredolu’s intervention in the dilapidated roads.

The monarch added that the intervention would open up the community for development. At Elegbeka community in Ose Local Government Area, the expression of joy on the faces of the pupils at St. Andrews Anglican Primary, on sighting the governor’s entourage, spoke volumes about the neglect of the community by past administrations. In spite of its strategic location as home of international yam market, Elegbeka has suffered neglect for many years in the area of infrastructure.   The community could only boast of only one primary school whose buildings were in complete ruin. But Akeredolu, who the pupils hailed for giving them a befitting learning environment, has changed the story of the only primary school in the community from bad to good. The pupils were full of praises as the governor inspected the newly constructed block of six classrooms. He also renovated another block of six classrooms. Also provided to make learning easier for pupils at the school are solar power for electricity supply and solar-powered borehole to provide water for pupils and teachers’ needs.

The school’s head, Mrs. Ann Osabiya, and Baale of Elegbeka, Chief Olorunyomi Olaye, could not hide their joy over the governor’s gesture. They described the intervention as a long dream come to reality. Mrs. Osabiya particularly said the construction of the school had improved the learning capacity of the pupils. For Chief Olaye, the perimeter fencing of the school by the Akeredolu-led administration to provide security for pupils and teachers is worth celebration. Chief Olaye said: “There is no doubt that the current Ondo State governor has lifted our spirit in this community. In spite of our contribution to economic welfare of the people in the country based on the fact that our community is strategically located to supply yams for the need of the people far and near, our interested had not been considered by previous administrations. We thank Governor Akeredolu for remembering us; we thank him for giving us future.”

Governor Akeredolu was well received by hundreds of residents of Owo when he inspected completed and ongoing projects in the town. Wasimi Road and Tobacco Road, as well as Imara Lane road among others, which have remained impassable for over 30 years in Owo Local Government Area, are now wearing new look due to the intervention of the current Ondo State governor. The All Progressives Congress (APC)Chairman in Owo Local Government Area, Mr. Sidney Ogunleye, who painted the poor condition of the roads as “terribly bad” before the current intervention, commended Akeredolu for giving room for the residents of the town to feel the impact of good governance. Ogunleye said: “I salute Governor Akeredolu for walking the talk. He did promise during the campaign to build these roads; all of us are living witnesses to the fact that the governor is really allocating the scare resources where necessary.” The traditional rulers in Akoko-land in Ondo North Senatorial District were unanimous in their comments that Governor Akeredolu dared the seemingly impossible byeradicating the permanent fear among the people, including commuters over the state of the long Oke-Oka section of the Ikare-Lokoja-Abuja road.

Before Akeredolu’s intervention on the ever-busy Federal Government-owned Ikare-Lokoja-Abuja road, there was no day accidents with their attendantfatalities were not recorded on that particular section of the road. Entire families have perished on the road. Perhaps, the most resonated fatality recorded on the road in a single day was the killing of a whole family, including the father, two wives and their children who were returning from a convocation ceremony from the nearby Adekunle Ajasin University in Akungba. The only surviving child of the family was the graduand who stayed back to collect her certificate. For years, users of the notorious OkeAlabojuto road in IkareAkoko have lamented the huge loss of lives on the hilly road. The topography of the road made it a very dangerous task for drivers of heavy duty vehicles to ply the road. On many occasions, trucks descending the hill lost control and crashed into nearby buildings, killing the occupants. At other times, truck drivers lost control of their vehicles and ran into the very busy nearby market, and killed scores.  Unfortunately, the cries of the people fell on deaf ears.

It was, therefore, not surprising that while addressing the people separately, the Olukare of Ikare-Akoko, Oba Akadiri Momoh; the Olusupare of Supare-Akoko, Oba AdejoroAdedeji and the Olubaka of Oka-Akoko, Oba AdeboriAdeleye, were all unanimous in their assessment of the Akeredolu-led administration. According to them, the projects across Akoko land had given them a reason to trust the current administration. They said what the governor had achieved in terms of infrastructure is a beautiful example of leadership with human feelings.

• Ajiboye is Chief Press Secretary to the Ondo State governor