Ibarapas indigenes are not happy with ‘Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo State, following what they called neglect of the zone in infrastructure development.
Makinde, according to a statement by Taiwo Kareem, on behalf of Forum of Ibarapa Indigenes in Diaspora, said the only project initiated in Ibapaland, which leads to the home of late Chief Adeseun Ogundoyin, father of incumbent speaker of the Oyo assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin— Construction of Isaba – Ogundoyin road, Eruwa through Alternative Project Funding, Eruwa
Ibarapa, is not near completion.
This was just as they added that statement by Makinde, during the recently held World Twins Festival that he was going to award Ido-Eruwa-Igboora-Igangan- Iganna road to contractors before his next visit to Ibarapa was self-serving.
“True criticism is not an opposition, a man who tells you that you have a stinking yansh is NOT your enemy and he is better than sycophant who tells you that you are smelling of rose when you are just coming out from a sewage tank” (Anonymous)
In spite of the pivotal roles played by our people, the Ibarapas, in resuscitating the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State between 2016 and 2019, and bringing about the taking over of Oyo State from the All Progressive Congress (APC) by the PDP, Seyi Makinde had treated and continued to treat the Ibarapas with disdain by excluding them from the dividends of democracy.
The Ibarapas cannot forget in a hurry how on the plea of one of their own who – laboured as the Oyo State Coordinator of PDP between 2016 and 2019 , they willingly joined the struggle to ensure that PDP regains power in Oyo State. They will also continue to remember that PDP started taking over Oyo State from the Ibarapaland axis of the state when Hon Debo Ogundoyin won the re-run to the House of Assembly (Ibarapa East State Constituency) following the unfortunate demise of the then Speaker, Rt Hon Adeyemo. However, despite the huge contributions, loyalty and resources deployed by Ibarapas towards the success of Governor Makinde in 2019 election, he has continue to treat the region as second class. This probably explains the reason why the present administration has no feasible presence in the region. There are seven geopolitical zones (Ibadan main City, Ibadan less city, Ogbomoso, Oyo, Oke Ogun 1, Oke Ogun II and Ibarapa) in Oyo State and while there are significant presence of the Seyi Makinde led administration in other zones, the Ibarapa in diaspora do not understand reasons for the hatred, disdain and complete neglect of Ibarapa zone in the infrastructural development of Oyo State. For instance, a scoup through the Oyo State Open Contract portal (https://ocdsoyo.oyostate.gov.ng/tables) indicates some of the following contracts from May 2019:
Rehabilitation/Construction and Total Overlay of Sijuade Junction-Akeredolu House Street-Police Mobile Force Barracks Road, Jericho.
Environmental and Social Impact Assessment in Fashola and Ijaye for the African Development Bank (AFDB) Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) Initiative, Fashola, Ijaye, Ibadan
Construction of Bridges and Interchanges on the Eastern Segment of the 110km Ibadan Circular Road Project
Renovation of Quarters 691, AgodI GRA, Ibadan
Design, Construction and Installation of 500,000 Liters Capacity Aviation Fuel Facility at Ibadan Airport
Construction of Apewo Village Junction-Ogbomoso (Lot 2: 38.57km), Ogbomoso
Construction of Iseyin-Apewo Village Junction (Lot 1: 38.10km), Iseyin
Completion of 7.252km Idi – Ape – Basorun – Akobo – Odogbo Barrack Junction Dualization Road
The Construction Of The Executive Lounge For The Newly Constructed Lawn Tennis Courts
Rehabilitation and Sectional Overlay of BCJ-Railway crossing
Dualization of Airport road/adjoining roads and rehabilitation of spur roads around Iwo road Interchange along the proposed Ibadan – Ife Expressway rehabilitation project
Construction of Two (2) Tennis Courts, Ibadan
Renovation of a block of 6 classrooms with office at Ijokodo High School, Ijokodo Ibadan
Extension of scope of work on the reconstruction/rehabilitation of 34.85km Oyo – Fasola – Iseyin road.
Remodelling/Reconstruction of the uncompleted Library Complex behind the Governor’s Office
Construction of Apewo Village Junction – Ogbomoso (Lot 2:CH.38+100-CH.76+67)
Re – Construction of Failed Culverts along selected roads within Ibadan Metropolis affected by recent downpour
Reconstruction of Adegbayi Junction to the bus terminal stations at Iwo Road interchange along he proposed Ibadan-Ife expressway rehabilitation project
State Independent Power Plant Project, Ibadan
Rehabilitation and Total Asphaltic Overlay of Kolapo Ishola GRA Road Network Planning
Construction of 110km Ibadan Circular Road
Ibadan
Construction of Isaba – Ogundoyin road, Eruwa through Alternative Project Funding, Eruwa
Ibarapa
Installation of Mini – Grid Energy Project in Ona – Ara LGA
Installation of Mini – Grid Energy Project in Atiba LGA
Installation of Mini – Grid Energy Project in Iwajowa LGA
Installation of Mini – Grid Energy Project in Ogbomoso South LGA
Completion of Millenium Secondary School, Ogbomoso
Procurement of fairly used heavy duty tow truck for oke- ogun zone (Iseyin/Saki)
Completion of the edifice of millennium secondary school, ogbomoso
Reconstruction/rehabilitation of link roads to Ibadan/Lagos expressway at general gas and beside NNPC mega station, PDCOS housing estates, akobo, Ibadan
Junction Improvement works including provision of traffic signs, signals and anti-finger metal security fence at challenge roundabout and felele/idi odo junction, Ibadan as an addendum to the Bus Term
Rehabilitation of 45.3km Saki-Ogbooro-Igboho project
Construction of Perimeter Fence of Rural Community Development Centre (RCDC), Awe
Awe
Construction of Two Model Loading Points for Commercial Motocycles and Tricycles at Agodi Gate
The Asphaltic Construction/ Rehabilitation Of Lasisi Apapa Street, Off Queen Elizabeth Road Agodi
The Completion Of The Slaughter Slab At The Ultra- Modern Business, Ogbomoso
Completion of the asphaltic surfacing of 10.51km ring road within IITA complex, Moniya, Ibadan
Rehabilitation of Igboho water supply scheme
Igboho
Completion of construction of Ilero water supply scheme (Lot I)
Rehabilitation of Ecobank Bode Isalu-AHIS road (3.02km)
Asphaltic construction of a road within Ibadan north local government gra, agodi, Ibadan
Completion of the asphaltic surfacing of senator abiola akimbo ring road within I.I.T.A moniya,
Construction of bridge at olomi, Ibadan
Architectural designs, social and environmental impacts of farms
The Forum of Ibarapa Indigine in Diaspora found it difficult to believe why Gov Makinde cannot keep to his promises. “The present administration till the last moment of the last day would do what is right and just for the people of the State” (Engr Seyi Makinde at the Year 2021 Productivity and Merit Award ceremony held at Emeritus Professor Theophilus Ogunlesi Hall, UCH, Ibadan).
Therefore, we the sons and daughters of Ibarapa though away but keenly observing the ongoing events at home therefore have the following to say:
1. Seyi Makinde has no single project nurtured to completion in Ibarapa with the result that he has nothing of substance to commission in Ibarapa till now.
2. He had never attended nor donated towards any Ibarapa community programme or festival geared towards the development of Ibarapaland.
3. To add salt to injury and the height of deceit, Seyi Makinde at the just concluded World Twins Festival said he will award work on the Ido-Eruwa-Igboora-Igangan- Iganna road to contractors before his next visit to Ibarapa.
4. We noted that this is the height of deception. This is because according to the House of Representatives’ Votes and Proceedings (https://www.nass.gov.ng/documents/votes_and_proceedings) of 8th February 2022, a leading son of Ibarapa currently representing Ibarapa Central/ Ibarapa North Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives had moved a motion and gotten the House resolution for the reconstruction of this road. Further evidence of the height of duplicity is, if Makinde now awards work on the road to contractors and the reconstruction of the road is captured in the next Federal budget as a result of our representative’s efforts, he, Makinde will be asking for a refund from the federal government so soon thereafter. So, who is fooling who?
5. The Ibarapa in Diaspora observe that now that this is the last year to his bid for re- election, Engr Makinde thinks that he can fool the Ibarapas by deceiving them with attendance of the Ibarapa festivals.
6. At the World Twins Festival, in Igboora on October 28, Governor Makinde promised to kick-start his re-election campaign in Igboora an Ibarapa town.
7. We understand that Engr Makinde is planning to take his deceptions to the coming Idere Agbajo Festival as well as the Coronation of the Elempe of Tapa. We wish Engr Makinde can feel pulse of our people as displayed towards “Cold Attitude” he received at the World Twins Festival.
As a responsible organisation whose members are well informed, the Forum of Ibarapa Indigenes in Diaspora wants to remind Engr Makinde that what Ibarapa need is physical infrastructure and inclusiveness. Unfortunately, it appears this is late as nothing concrete can be done before this administration ends.
Taiwo Kareem
For the Forum of Ibarapa Indigenes in Diaspora
