| Home About Ekiti Ministries Exco Members Governor FFTF Feedback Contact US | ONI’S ROAD REVOLUTION IN EKITIFor Engr. Segun Oni, the governor of Ekiti, the last 100 days of steering the ship of the State, which prides itself as the “Fountain of Knowledge” has been more than tasking. This is because the standard of living of the people, especially in the area of infrastructure had fallen to an alarming level. Successive governments in the State had paid lip service to infrastructural development, leaving the people to grapple with bad roads network while they lacked decent accommodation, clean water, power supply in an environment that was not friendly to investors.These problems Oni had had to confront headlong since the burden of leadership of Ekiti State fell on his shoulders. And to underscore its readiness to make considerable impact in the area of developing the State and opening it up to local and foreign investors, Oni’s administration has deployed both human and financial resources into giving the State an infrastructural facelift.The government’s appreciation of good roads network has since compelled it to embark on what is now known as “Road Revolution” in the State. As such, the process of awarding contracts for the construction and rehabilitation of a total of 27 roads, totalling 340 kilometres across the state is almost concluded. This is more than the total number of roads constructed or rehabilitated throughout the nearly eight years of Governor Niyi Adebayo and impeached Governor Ayo Fayose. During the four years of Niyi Adebayo’s administration (1999 – 2003), a total of 88.00 kilometres federal and 86.10 kilometres state roads were rehabilitated. No new roads were constructed during the period. The administration of Fayose (2003 – 2006) from available records, strove to surpass Adebayo’s administration in terms of roads construction and rehabilitation. A total of 218.20 kilometres of roads were rehabilitated while 91.60km of state roads and 13.7km of federal roads were constructed.A total number of 497.60 kilometres of roads were constructed or rehabilitated between May, 1999 and October, 2006 that both Adebayo and Fayose held sway. Virtually all the roads were without stone base, as they were just surface-dressed. Most of them are now undergoing major repairs.Perhaps to achieve that goal of revolution, Oni has earmarked N22 billion for the construction and rehabilitation of 340 kilometres of roads in the first phase of his Roads Revolution Programme (RRP). He has also put in place mechanisms that would enable the contractors to deliver good and quality roads. For the first time in the state, all procurements will now be integrity-driven and be within budgetary allocations. This mechanism will also ensure speedy implementation of projects that will guarantee value-for-money results; yet, without sacrificing good quality and acceptable standards. Also for the first time, no contractor will be given the usual mobilization fee, which has over the years become the norm. It is commonplace for a contractor to collect mobilisation of 60-70 per cent and embark on a jamboree at the expense of the people’s comfort after “settling” the relevant government officials. Again for the first time, a good and competent contractor will not have to know somebody in government before securing contract after meeting other openly stipulated conditions. To ensure quality service delivery, personal warranty of the Chief Executive Officers of construction companies handling road projects is mandatory. Ten years personal warranties are now being given in addition to establishing operational offices in the State. Above all, the entire roads are to be stone-based. Already, bids submitted by interested contractors have since gone through due process of scrutiny to enable work begin in earnest.These roads include Ijesa-Isu/Ode, Egbe-Imesi, Ikole-Ara-Isinbode, Ikere-Emure, Orin-Ido, Itapa-Ijelu, Emure-Supare, Ijero-Okemesi, Ikole-Itapaji-Iyemero (Kwara Boundary), Ido-Ipere-Iludun, Ayede-Gede-Omu Odo, Orin-Farm Settlement, Otun-Osan-Ora, Aba Temidire-Iro, Usi-Ilogbo, Igede-Ilawe and Ijan-Ise (Uso Boundary). Others are Iludun-Eda Oniyo-Obo (Ayegunle Boundary), Isinbode-Iro-Federal-Iro Oke, Odo Owa-Oke Ila Boundary, Erinjiyan-Ilawe, Bawa/Dallimore/Stadium, Ado and Matthew Junction-Odo Ado. Township roads in Omuo, Ipoti, Ifaki and Otun have also been listed for construction.Speaking with journalists after tender for the roads was published, Chief Kunle Ogunlade, President of Erijiyan Improvement Union (EIU) said; “This is a monumental step taken by the government to speed up development in the state and we cannot but commend the governor. Imagine the pace at which he is responding to people’s request? We only made request for the rehabilitation of Erijiyan-Ikogosi-Ilawe road three weeks ago. We were surprised to see the road included among those advertised to be tendered for. That underscores Oni’s proclivity to listen and respond to the yearnings of the people.While expectation has continued to rise on the commencement of work on the 27 roads across the State, most of the roads projects that were abandoned by past administrations are being completed. Asphalt overlay of Ita-Awure-Okemesi road is in progress, while the state portion of the Igbara-Odo - Igbara-Oke road has been completed. This has been made possible because Oni has refused to be bought over by those who believe that nothing goes for nothing. He has kept no one in doubt that he is only interested in good jobs, not the personalities behind the companies.The re-construction of the death traps built in Ado-Ekiti in the name of roundabouts is now at the peak of completion. It is noteworthy that the roundabouts, which cost multiples of millions of naira, are being done without any financial commitment by the state government. They are built by banks operating in the State. Oni has not kept this fact from the people. This again is a complete departure from what obtained in the past when projects financed by private individuals, corporate organisations, local and international donor agencies were advertised as the governor’s project. It is on record that a prominent indigene of the state (now dead), who was the General Manager of a World Bank assisted agency ran into trouble waters with the governor then, because he refused to allow sign posts advertising the agency’s projects as the governor’s project to be erected at the project sites. The governor was so insensitive to the welfare of the people that he caused the World Bank to suspend funding of the agency just because the manager refused to dance to his selfish tune. Commenting on the roundabouts being reconstructed, Prince Tunji Olatunde, the commissioner for works and infrastructure said it is highly heart warming to see the ‘roundabouts’ demolished and new ones being constructed immediately. “The governor has also displayed high level of transparency by telling Ekiti people where the fund for the construction of the roundabouts is coming from. This goes to show that he is running a transparent government, and he has resolved to put in place an enduring legacy,” the commissioner said. By and large, the governor in the last 100 days has been able to convince Ekiti people especially the development driven ones that he is not ready to play politics with their welfare and well-being. He has used the better part of his first 100 days in office to study the moral and economic failure of the current methods of government and it is not likely to be business as usual. No doubt, this change has not been accomplished within his first 100 days, but Oni’s decision to first clear the augean’s table and plan ahead of time is nothing but a pointer to the fact that he has set out to succeed. He has not only set out to revolutionalise roads construction in Ekiti State, but has also carved a new character for governance in the State. By Joseph Ogunsemi and Lere Olayinka FAYOSE: WHAT A LEGACY!The syndicated piece by one kolawole Adebayo (who claimed to have written from Ado- Ekiti) which appeared in a number of national weekly on Sunday, 26, November, made an interesting reading. In the Sunday Tribune the write- up was titled, Dancing naked against Fayose’s legacy. The Sunday Sun of the same date, on its page seven captioned the piece- Before Fayose is crucified.After going through the composition the first reaction was to ignore it and classify it as rantings of a demented mind. This is predicated on the belief that if you argue with a fool, the onlooker might find it difficult to spot the difference. In this instance, keeping silent could be golden.But, in an instance that silence could be taken as consent or an endorsement of evil, the gold in silence would surely lose its shine. This latter premise informed this reaction.Kolawole Adebayo is incensed that the legacy of his mentor and pay- master was being rubbished by some unnamed people who have been defacing or destroying the branded billboards of self- glorification of suspended governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose; That some people have been pressurizing members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) to wipe off his man Friday’s name and slogans inscribed on vehicles procured with the money of the entire people of Ekiti State.It is pathetic that the writer and his superiors are still living in fool’s paradise. It is the foolish pride that had darkened their head and mind that prevents them from thinking right, seeing right and perceive rightly.Ekiti people are now wiser after the tutorials and lesson from Ayo Fayose’s abracadabra. The mask on their face has torn. They now see clearly, hence the reaction to those billboards of vainglory.It is sad though, that the people were infuriated to resort to the painful but justified act of destroying with their own hands, billboards produced with their money, albeit, to trumpet the vainness of an individual with transient, ephemeral power, held in trust for the people.It is unethical, vain and mean for a Man to swim in self-glorification and self- immortalisation. It is inappropriate. It is unthinkable. A good work needs no advertisement. It is an empty barrel that makes the loudest noise. Ayo Fayose’s orchestrated propaganda was diversionary. A ploy to shield the people from his real intentions. Now, the wind has blown, the anus of the hen has been exposed.One is not surprised at the unmeasured language Kolawole Adebayo employed on President Olusegun Obasanjo in his write up. It is not unexpected, if Mr. Ayo Fayose is his mentor. As the Yoruba adage says: EGBE EYE L’EYE N BA S’ASEPO (Birds of the same feather flocks together).The greatest undoing of his paymaster was reckless use of his tongue and lips. Woe betide, he who afflicted Ayo Fayose with the incurable verbal diarrhea.A well bred youngster of Yoruba stock would not insult the honor and dignity of an elder old enough to be his father, and President of his country for that matter (the way Kolawole Adebayo did) for staying in a government lodge built with taxpayers money. Ayo Fayose was a mere accidental instrument for the being of structure and other structures by virtue of his occupation of the State governor seat at the time.The fund with which the structures highlighted by the hack writer, was-built was neither Ayo Fayose’s inheritance nor built with money from his personal purse. It is only on Spotless Holdings that he and his cohorts have eternal claim and control not on what belongs to the entire people of Ekiti State.A beautiful lady who lacks decorum and decency, who lament having no luck for good suitors, knows the reason for her predicament. Haruna Isola, the late Apala Music Maestro did a song in that realm years ago that if a woman is beautiful but lack manners, he would not take her as wife if offered for one and half penny. But if a woman is ugly but full of manners, he could commit one thousand pounds to have her hand in marriage.No one is contesting the fact that in the almost three and half years he was in the saddle, as governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose put some structures on the ground with the peoples money. It is also public knowledge that one of the motivations, if not the prime motivation was the immediate pecuniary benefit that could accrue to him. That was why he never got involved in projects with prolonged maturation.Who is ignorant of the magic of meat disappearance in the buccal cavity. The recurring singsong of Ayo Fayose leaving N5.5billion in the Ekiti State Treasury on his hurried departure from the Government House is irritating and nauseating. He should be courageous enough to present himself publicly and advance his position.Unfortunately, the refined cultured gentleman officer now in charge as Administrator of Ekiti State, Brigadier- General Adetunji Olurin is not given to trading words. He has a better preoccupation.Yoruba language is extremely rich. It has words and expression for all times, all issues and all occasions, which Kolawole Adebayo also tapped from to flesh his, write up.The father of a son with wayward tendencies, more often than not, finds himself in a dilemma, ogede dudu ko ya bu san, omo buburu ko ya lupa An unripe plantain cannot be rushed for a bite just as it is not easy to snuff life out of a bad child.As Yoruba would say, in another words, when the misdemeanor of a wayward child is still tolerable, the parent would tell him repeatedly- Don’t kill me don’t kill me, you this child. But the moment the misdemeanor reaches a saturation point, the tune changes to; Boy, you better don’t kill yourself. If at this point the scale snaps, the child has himself to blame, and carries the can alone.So is the case with Baba Obasanjo and his son, Ayo who is to blame? What a golden opportunity frittered. By Chief Dele AkanniOpopogbooro,Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State |
