Ogbomoso residents on Thursday gathered at the popular Randa area in Ogbomoso to seek divine intervention for the quick completion of the new Ogbomoso-Oyo Express Way.
The construction of the new Ilorin-Ogbomoso-Oyo-Ibadan Express Way gathered started during the tenure of President Olusegun Obasanjo.
However, the Ilorin-Ogbomoso and Oyo-Ibadan sections have been completed, the Ogbomoso-Oyo section of the Express Way were yet to near completion.
The residents said the essence of the prayer was to seek God’s intervention.
Present at the special prayer session organised by Ogbomoso Community Forum (OCF), included, the Soun of Ogbomoso who was represented by Onijeru of Ijeru, Oba Popoola Olaniyi, Chairman, League of Imams and Alfas, Ogbomoso and environs, Alhaji Atanda Nafiu and Chairman of the prayer committee, Bishop Abraham Oyetunji. Others are Iyafin Anifowose and Pastor Moses Oyelami, Alhaji Akorede Federal and Oluawo of Ogbomoso, Babaawo Opeyemi Opeifa.
OCF Chairman, Reverend Israel Olaniyan while speaking maintained that the old Ogbomoso-Oyo had become a death trap.
He insisted that the number of lives that had been lost on the old Ogbomoso-Oyo Express Way is more than those killed by Boko Haram.
He said, “What led us to this occasion is the uncompleted project of the federal government that passed through Ogbomoso to Oyo. Ibadan to Oyo is completed, Ilorin to Ogbomoso is completed but Ogbomoso to Oyo, in fact from Ogbomoso to Oyo is almost undone. It is from Oyo side that something is being done. And this old road, Ogbomoso-Oyo has become a death trap. In fact, recently, a whole family of nine, the father, the two wives and all the children perished just about three weeks ago.
“The old road has become a place where you are not sure of where you are going.
“We have discovered that both the federal government and the National Assembly are at fault. The National Assembly is not voting enough money for the road. Raji Fasola has made us to know at a recent town Hall meeting that it is the National Assembly that is not voting enough money. And we are using this opportunity to appeal to the National Assembly to help us put enough money that will complete this road in the 2019 budget.
“Number two is that the Federal government, our President, Muhammadu Buhari should take this road as a priority project to be completed even before the end of his first tenure. We know this is possible. We are made to understand that the contractor handling the project can do the work even within three months if money is released. So we are appealing to the federal government to please, release money to this contractor. Let him do his job and let the work be completed.”
