Having been a resident of Lagos state for years and visiting Ibadan to check on my parents occasionally, I never stopped connecting to Oyo state, my state of origin, and Ibadan in particular. It has become a routine for me to read news on Oyo state, either, I come across it on the internet or while glancing through the national dailies every afternoon in my office.
In the last five years or more, the government of His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde has changed my notion into believing Oyo state, especially Ibadan, has hope of developing into a mega city, away from the doubts I had in time past. I have heard lots of positive things about Governor Seyi Makinde, which made me believe and share in his vision for the development of the state. I am more concerned about how Ibadan can be a Mecca of sorts for Investors and business owners.
I will try to be civil but at the same time be blunt but not sound derogatory in passing my message, I challenge some of the local government chairmen in Oyo state, especially in Ibadan, on their progress in developing their local councils. Do they really share the developmental vision of His Excellency Governor Seyi Makinde?
The question that keeps coming to my mind is, who are those contributing their extra effort to developing Ibadan asides the state government?
What are the efforts of the elected local government chairmen in Ibadan on development?
If Governor Makinde has promised to upgrade Ibadan Airport to world standard, what is the effort of the Egbeda local government chairman in complimenting the state Government’s effort on the upgrade to his council’s advantage? By now, Ido, Akinyele, Egbeda, Lagelu, Ona-ara, and Oluyole local governments should have their template on how to tap positively from the construction of the Ibadan Circular road through their local governments.
A few days ago, while relaxing, after a stressful day’s work, a story link popped up from one of the WhatsApp groups I belong to, which read “Oyo State Government Cracks Down On Unapproved Development Projects”. I opened the link and read the story, I realized, the body of the story negates the headline. The content of the story says that the state Honorable Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mr. Williams Akin-Funmilayo, led a team of task force to several sites in Oyo State, ordering the immediate stoppage of construction of projects lacking approval from the ministry.
After I read the news, I heaved a sigh of relief at the realization that the stoppage of work is only temporary, and all the projects will be completed at a later time and will automatically create employment and add value to the economy of the state. In my opinion, The Ministry’s action is expected; this also happens in Lagos, Port Harcourt, and Abuja; every developmental area needs proper monitoring with certified paperwork.
A few minutes later, I had a hunch in my mind, so I went back to read the news to check the affected construction sites since it was listed. The affected sites include the Jonku market area Ibadan North-East Local government, a former dumping ground in Orita Aperin Ibadan North-East Local government, opposite Salem chemist, bus stop gate Ibadan North-East Local government, Araromi market, along Agodi correctional center, and Ekiti Garage inside spare parts market also in Ibadan North-East Local government.
Now, the follow-up question is, to what extent do the Ibadan local government chairmen go to develop their local government?
How many developmental projects have each local government started, completed, or asked by any of the state ministries to stop work due to lack of proper approval, illegal construction, or environmental disturbance?
Despite the current challenges or likely Face-off between Ibadan Northeast local government led by Ibrahim Akintayo, the chairman and Mr. Williams Akin-Funmilayo of Ministry of Lands and Housing, the four construction sites embarked on will, no doubt, be completed after the back-and-forth, and it will be a great benefit to the people, the Council needs to be blamed for not getting the appropriate approval, but the development mission of the Akintayo government would be achieved if all papers were perfected.
Now, imagine the effort of erecting four big projects simultaneously in a local government, what if other 10 local government chairmen in Ibadan are adding to such effort at their respective local governments, will governor Seyi Makinde not be pleased and get the assurance that his disciples are on the same page of development with him?
Surveyor, Waheed Adebare, Deleko’ compound, Ibadan, writes from Lekki Phase 2. He can be reached via S_bare2015@yahoo.com
