Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, the Oluwo of Iwoland, has said that the Federal Government’s intervention and approval of the 90.9km Osogbo–Iwo–Ibadan road will boost economic activities and commercial interaction between Osun and Oyo States.
Speaking at a gathering of traditional rulers in Osun West Senatorial District held in his Palace, in Iwo, the monarch commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving the long-awaited project.
Oba Akanbi noted that the road reconstruction was started by Osun and Oyo State Governments before it was abandoned, leading to hardship for commuters, traders, and other road users.
The Oluwo recalled the previous efforts he made to draw attention to the condition of the road, stressing that the approval marked a significant development for the affected communities.
He said, “It is expedient to commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who has chosen to put a smile on our faces by easing transpiration stress frequently face on the road. He has chosen to improve the economic and commercial interaction of two ancient and great states, Osun and Oyo. He volunteered himself to launch a historical legacy and renew people’s hope”.
He also acknowledged the role of Gboyega Oyetola, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy in facilitating the Federal Government’s intervention, saying the reconstruction of the road would improve movement of goods and services and ease transportation stress along the corridor, linking Osogbo, Iwo, Ibadan, Ede, and surrounding communities.
The monarch called on the traditional rulers across the Senatorial district to massively support the second term bid of the President because of his performance.
Oba Akanbi said, “President Bola Tinubu has listened to us. When we needed him, he answered. The project is a challenge for all of us to answer when he calls, too. There is no appropriate reward than to massively support his 2nd term re-election bid. He is our son. We should be proud of him. We should be advocates of his successes. He is our pride. We should lead a struggle of his renewed hope agenda.
” Let us blow the trumpet of his successes to our fellow traditional rulers. It should be a thing of joy that a Yoruba man is the President of Nigeria. He is not only President but a performing number one citizen, giving hope to the hopeless”, he added.
It would be recalled that the road project in 2022, the former Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola, and Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, jointly agreed to split and reconstruct the road corridor as part of a bilateral infrastructure arrangement.
However, implementation challenges slowed progress, leaving the project largely uncompleted until its recent takeover and approval by the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu.
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