Despite a whopping sum of N308.39 billion budgeted as the capital expenditure in the last four years of Ondo state fiscal estimates between 2017 and 2020 of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu’s administration, which represents about 70% to N215.873 billion, was spent on construction of roads and bridges across the three Senatorial districts of the state, the people of the state tagged his government as being a failure.
This is coming from the residents, motorists and commuters from various parts of Ondo state – in all the three Senatorial districts of the state, namely, Ondo South Ondo Central and Ondo North, where people have continued to lament the deplorable state of the roads, causing them untold hardships everyday, particularly in this rainy season as many roads in Ilaje, Ese-odo, Ore, Ile-oluji, Okitipupa, Akoko, Odigbo, among others are seriously suffering from non-passable roads and bridges.
Also, some residents of Akure, the state capital, who expressed great concerns about the deplorable condition of roads in the city, called on the Ondo state government to repair and complete these roads on time if they must vote for his re-election come October 10th, 2020 as the only thing that that can save Governor Akeredolu and All Progressives Congress (APC) not to be voted out like people did in Edo state last weekend, is to quickly hearken to the “voices of the people.”
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According to most of the residents, that spoke with Businessday on Wednesday, the roads within the Akure city are dilapidated, abandoned shortly after awarded it for construction two-three years ago by Governor Oluwarotimi
Akeredolu-led government, just as roads and bridges mostly in riverine areas located in Ondo South Senatorial district of the state are non-passable.
John Ologbosere, a taxi driver, shuttling between popular Road-block and OkeOdu, Ijare, said that this particular road had become so bad to the extent that motorists always avoid plying the area due to abandoned road projects which dot the whole places as people appeal to Governor ROTOMI Akeredolu to complete the roads before leaving the office.
Ologbosere said, “You can see the condition of this road from Road-block down to Ijare; as a matter of fact, we are not happy at all with the State government, I think they started constructing this road two years ago and up till now they have not completed it, why delaying? And they are claiming that it has been done.
“Akeredolu-led government has failed us in this state, how would they be saying that they have completed this road, whereas, they have not. Now who is fooling who? We are tired of this Akeredolu’s government of hardship, his administration is not transparent enough.
“See I’m a member of APC and because of this road, I have made up my mind that I will not vote for APC come October 10 governorship election. This hardship is too much for us, I do pass this road everyday and I know the hardship I do confront with.”
Mary Ogunleye, another resident of Orita-obele Estate, said the bad state of this road had forced many residents to relocate from the area.
“We need government intervention on this road because we voted for them and they must pay us back in good time for the fact that Governor Akeredolu has disappointed us. Most of these street roads need rehabilitation,” Ogunleye said.
Sharing similar sentiments, Sarah Oladele, a trader, also expressed concern about the deplorable condition of OritaObele road, saying it needed serious attention.
According to her, the dilapidated state of the roads has brought disquiet among residents and motorists. They, however, pleaded with the State government to complete its ongoing roads project and fix the ones with pot holes as to alleviate the hardship people do confront with.
All these are coming against the backdrop of Ilaje Youths in the Ondo South Senatorial district under the auspices of Aje Advancement
Forum had commissioned a set of dilapidated roads in Ilaje, Ese-odo, among places, on behalf of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, saying, in a viral video clip, that APC and Akeredolu government had failed the people of the state, especially in the Ondo South Senatorial district.
“The almighty God will reward you (Governor Akeredolu) according to your handwork. We hereby commission this beautiful project on behalf of the Ondo State Government, we, at the Aje Advancement Forum, we recognize the fact that the governor is very busy.
“He has been busy sending MOU. For that wise, we thought it necessary to commission this project for the use of mankind and the entire federation, in Jesus Name we commission”, the was statement made by the leader of the group at the mocking commissioning of roads in Ondo.
All efforts to speak with the State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Saka-yusuf Ogunleye and Special Adviser to Governor Akeredolu on Lands, Works and Infrastructure, Raimi Olayiwola Aminu, proved abortive as they refused not to pick calls and reply text message put across to them.
