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OPINION: The Shame Of Ibadan-Ife-Ilesa Road

Published

3 months ago

May 12, 2025

By Lasisi Olagunju

Mr Dele Alake represents Ekiti State in the Federal Executive Council. Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola represents Osun State in the Federal Executive Council. Mr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo represents Ondo State in the Federal Executive Council. All three of them are the president’s core men. Each time the council sits and approves federal roads for reconstruction in states other than theirs, what goes on in their minds? They are very powerful ministers but all federal roads that lead to their states are decrepit and abandoned. And they know. So, what is the problem?

The Ibadan-Ife-Ilesa road that links these ministers’ states to Lagos and to the North is the worst in Nigeria. Senate leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, is from Ekiti State. He belongs to the president’s inner caucus. Tough-talking PDP Senator Francis Fadahunsi represents Ife-Ijesa senatorial district. There are seven other senators and several Reps of APC and PDP from those three states. Has anyone heard them say or do anything to make that road well again? Do these people go home and how do they get home whenever they go home? Nigerians of all states lose lives and limbs on that road daily. Death by installments on the road is harrowing and it is a daily experience. It is a fitting tribute to the attention we pay to our people’s welfare.

The new Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba Adesuyi Haastrup, a billionaire businessman, recently offered to repair the road. It is a commendable and promising way to start a reign. But how far can an individual go doing that? My people, however, say if a man offers you a clenched first, whatever it contains, take it. The royal offer is far better than the present state of emptiness. But, a private citizen offering to do what government exists to do casts a pall of shame on the Nigerian state.

If the federal government is tired of maintaining its many roads, it should hands off and hand them over to states they run through. At least, governors are easier to pin down; the presidency is too far off, too distant.

There was a time mere expansion joints on the Asejire bridge on that same Ibadan-Ife road were harvesting human lives almost weekly.

At 11.46 am on 5 May, 2023, I sent a private message to Mr Hakeem Bello, Special Adviser to the then Minister of Works, Mr Babatunde Fashola: “I want to call the attention of the minister to the very dangerous state of the Asejire bridge (Ibadan to Ife lane). The expansion joints have fallen off, they pose very mortal danger to everyone who uses that road. I understand a trailer crushed some vehicles there a few days ago. (Lives were lost). The minister’s urgent intervention is required. E kuuse.”

At 12.49 pm. on the same day, I got this reply from Mr Bello: “My brother. Received and forwarded to both Director Highways, South West Zone, and the Federal Controller of Works in Oyo State.”

At 4.06 pm on the same day, I forwarded photographs of the crumbling bridge to Bello.

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At 8.20pm that day, he replied: “Forwarded too.”

At 9.03 am on 12 May, 2023, exactly one week after the ‘sending and forwarding’ exercise, I sent this to him: “God bless you, sir. They’ve started repair works on the bridge. I have just passed through the place. My regards to Oga.” The job was very well done. The minister’s man was happy; I was happy.

I wrote all the above and mentioned names because I wanted all who should care to care. And this includes the president. On that road, and on any other bad road in Nigeria, anyone who has a voice should do something and, at least, say something – and keep saying it. It may save a life.

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News

Published

2 minutes ago

August 16, 2025

Editor

Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State on Saturday expressed concerns over the slow performance of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) in the ongoing by-election in Edo Central Senatorial District.

Okpebholo said this while casting his vote at Ward 2 Polling Unit 1 in Udomi Primary School in Esan Central Local Government.

Speaking with journalists shortly after casting his vote, Okpebholo said that although the exercise was peaceful, the BVAS machines deployed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were causing unnecessary delay.

“Well, I just voted. You can see the frustration.

“The BVAS is just too slow. It takes too long before you can get accredited.

“I think INEC needs to look into this. So far, so good, the reports I’m getting are good,” Okpebholo said.

The governor, however, commended INEC for the peaceful conduct of the exercise.

He urged the electorate in the senatorial district to participate fully in the process and defend their votes.

“The process has been smooth here and the reports I am getting from other areas in the district are also smooth.

“INEC is doing well. I urge the voters to come out to vote and defend their votes,” Okpebholo said.

The by-election is being conducted to fill the vacant senatorial seat following Okpebholo’s emergence as Governor of Edo State.

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Ibadan By-election: APC Laments Low Turnout, PDP Hails Peaceful Poll

Published

9 minutes ago

August 16, 2025

Editor

Mr. Adewale Olatunji, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the Ibadan North Federal Constituency by-election, on Saturday, lamented the low voter turnout during the exercise.

Olatunji, who cast his vote at 11:25 a.m. at Ward 10 Unit 27, Bodija Police Station near Oyo State Housing Corporation, described the electorate’s apathy as discouraging.

He noted that while voting has been simplified, by-elections in Nigeria often record poor turnout. Olatunji urged residents to come out in large numbers before polls close.

“If you are sending us out to represent you, then you must come out and do your part,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Mr. Folajimi Oyekunle, also voted at the same unit.

Oyekunle described the election as peaceful, based on his experience at the polling unit.

“As far as my polling unit is concerned, I have cast my vote, and everything is going on well,” he said.

Meanwhile, voter turnout at Ward 11, Units 17, 18, and 42, Abadina, University of Ibadan, was more substantial. A voter, Mr. Sunday Unabo of Unit 17, noted that INEC officials arrived early, even before voters.

“The election is going smoothly. The only issue is that some voters had their polling units changed by INEC without prior notice,” he said.

Similarly, an impressive turnout was reported at Ward 4, Unit 12, beside NTA Ibadan.

News

By-election: Politician, INEC Officials, Others Arrested With Large Cash In Ogun [VIDEO]

Published

2 hours ago

August 16, 2025

Editor

Security operatives in Ogun State have arrested some persons suspected to be officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, with a large sum of money ahead of the by-election in the state.

The suspected INEC officials were arrested alongside a politician allegedly plotting to buy votes during the election.

The politician and the INEC officials who were seen being questioned in a video clip posted on social media on Saturday were said to have been nabbed at a hotel in Iperu-Remo, Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun State.

In the video which is currently going viral, the INEC officials, a male and a female, and alleged PDP officers could be seen squatting and being interrogated by an unidentified security personnel.

The interrogator said intelligence reports indicated that the INEC officials were earlier contacted and given a large sum of money by party officials for alleged vote buying during the by-election.

Watch video:

https://x.com/ekinneolalekan/status/1956623542558118070?t=pOliFw0Baa-xAeqTeXJGEw&s=19