States’ participation crucial for our federation to thrive

President Bola Tinubu says the federation can only thrive if states actively engage in building essential infrastructure in their domains.

Tinubu made this call in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, during the inauguration of the 76.67 kilometers Iseyin-Ogbomoso road renamed Adebayo Alao-Akala Highway, on Thursday.

Speaking, Tinubu represented by the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, stressed that states must be collaborative partners in erecting crucial infrastructure to facilitate the daily lives of Nigerians.

Tinubu avowed commitment of his administration to supporting each state of the federation to achieve its objectives, especially in infrastructure that engenders agricultural transformation.

Identifying a well-constructed network of roads as a gateway to the economy of the nation, Tinubu lauded the Oyo State Governor for building infrastructure like the 76.67km Alao-Akala Memorial Highway.

The president emphasized that roads constructed to support commerce and agriculture would inevitably enhance the standard of living for the people they serve, open new areas of economic activities, increase agriculture and accelerate the humanization process.

Tinubu said: “In governance, we must acknowledge that it is the convergence of many parts that forms a cohesive whole.

“Our federation can only thrive if states actively participate in building essential infrastructure to facilitate our daily lives. We extend our gratitude to Engineer Seyi Makinde for not only being a collaborative partner but also investing in such a critical project.

“Governor Seyi Makinde has exemplified that a well-constructed network of roads serves as gateway to the economy of the nation. The 76.67km Alao-Akala Memorial Highway which we are here to commission not only connects communities within the state but also serves as a vital link to another geopolitical zone in our nation.

“The level of development experienced in a society is directly proportional to the length and quality of its road networks as roads serve as forerunners of development.

“Roads constructed to support commerce and agriculture inevitably enhance the standard of living for the people they serve.

“Today’s event serves as a reminder that without a good network of roads, we cannot fulfil our promises to the people nor can we sustain our democracy. The full participation of remote communities in our nation’s development hinges on a reliable network of roads.

“We commend the sensitivity of the Oyo State government to this reality and acknowledge their blueprint to ensure the needs of rural areas are as important as those of urban centres.

“I salute Governor Seyi Makinde for his dedication to living behind legacy projects that will transcend generations. Posterity will be kind to you.

“This serves as an exemplary model for every state and every Nigerian who is committed to the development of our great nation.

“President Bola Tinubu will support him (Makinde) in his drive towards the agricultural transformation especially in the agro-industrial hub. There is one state that turned down offers for an agro-industrial support mechanism, the president sends his best wishes and assures that if those funds won’t be utilized by that particular state, we can extend that gesture to the neighbouring state, which is Oyo.”

Earlier, Governor Seyi Makinde said his administration remained focused on building infrastructure to spread development across all zones of the state.

In completing his government’s vision to interconnect all geopolitical zones of the state, Makinde said the ongoing Ido-Eruwa road project will be completed in nine months.

Referencing the Fashola Industrial Hub in the Oyo zone, Makinde said he had planned to replicate an agricultural hub in Eruwa and Ijaye areas of the state.

Upon opening up all zones of the state, Makinde said the era of relying on one zone for Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) was gone.

He said his government will continue to create the needed environment, and provide the infrastructure that will encourage local and international investors.

Speaking, Mrs Kemi Alao-Akala, wife of the late former governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, who the road was named after, praised Governor Seyi Makinde for the honour done to the Alao-Akala family.

She described as glorious the fact that the Oyo governor made a promise to honour the former governor and fulfilled it.

She harped on good works while alive, noting that people will be remembered afterwards for whatever they do.

In his remarks, former military administrator of Oyo and Ogun States, General Oladayo Popoola (rtd) praised the Makinde administration for making Oyo a modern state.

On his part, Ogbomoso elder statesman, Chief Saka Balogun, cautioned those antagonistic against relocation of the College of Agriculture of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Ogbomoso to Iseyin, saying true Ogbomoso indigenes were not against the relocation.

Giving his remarks, Oyo Commissioner for Works and Public Transport, Professor Dahud Shangodoyin, said the road served as a direct link between the Oke-Ogun and Ogbomoso zones of the state.

With the completion of the Iseyin-Ogbomoso road, Shangodoyin said the Makinde administration had so far constructed a total of 297.29 kilometres of roads.

The well-attended event had personalities including Governor Abdulrasaq Abdulrahman of Kwara State; Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Iliya Damagum; Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Afolabi Olaoye and several traditional rulers across the state; Senator Fatai Buhari representing Oyo North Senatorial District; members of the House of Representatives from the state; Oyo deputy governor, Adebayo Lawal and members of the Oyo State cabinet; Speaker of the Oyo State Assembly, Honourable Adebo Ogundoyin and other members of the state Assembly; state Chief Judge, Iyabo Yerima.

READ ALSO FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE