The Oyo state government on Thursday (today) marked the Sod-Turning Ceremony for the Senator Ladoja GRA and the Official Flag off of the Construction of the 32km First Phase of the Ibadan Circular Road.
His Excellency, Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom fagged-off the GRA and the 110km Ibadan Circular road, which were named in honour of a former Governor of the state, High Chief Senator Rashidi Ladoja, in commemoration of his 78th birthday.
The event, which was held at kilometer 8, Lagos-Ibadan express road, had in attendance Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state, Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Barrister Abdulraheem Lawal, Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Dr. Senator Lekan Balogun, Okere of Saki, Oba Khalid Olabisi, Olugbon of Orile Igbon, Oba Francis Alao and top government functionaries.
Speaking at the event, Governor Seyi Makinde said the projects were done to celebrate an elder statesman who he said has contributed immensely to the development of Oyo State.
The governor equally declared that the 110 Ibadan circular road, conceived by Sen Ladoja’s administration, will be named after the former Governor, stating that when the road is completed, it will boost the economic activities of the pacesetter state and increase the revenue base of the state.
“Senator Ladoja’s significant contribution to the development of Oyo state, he said, cannot be overstated, and the occasion is about honoring those who deserve it.
The idea behind Ibadan circular road was based on reality. When we came in, we attempted and brought Ibadan circular road to light. We also commended the last administration for its efforts.
The construction of the road has begun. We are confident that the project will be finished in the following months. Because of my father’s many contributions to the state, I have named the circular road Senator Rashidi Ladoja’s GRA”, he stated.
According to the governor, the first phase of the road which is 32km, will be completed in the next 12 months, and the 110km road, which connects Oluyole, Ona Ara, Egbeda, Lagelu, Akinyele, and Ido Local governments.
In his remarks, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, the Osi-Olubadan of Ibadan, appreciated Gov. Makinde, who deemed it fit to honour him with the two remarkable projects. He thanked the governor for resuscitating most of the projects that were abandoned by the previous administration.
Ladoja further praised Makinde’s vision, saying he is a dreamer that others must emulate.
He said: “We must not lose focus because, as I mentioned, politics can be both wonderful and terrible. People will win and lose.
“I am delighted that my governor is consulting, and he will keep doing it, he said, adding that every representative ought to engage their constituents before starting any project.
“Let the people you are governing to be aware of what you are doing for them, and they need to be consulted on how to make their constituency better.”
“I will be available for the service of Oyo state anytime you need me, and I will keep praying that God will henceforth give us the governor that only loves the people of Oyo state,” he said.
On his part, Governor Samuel Ortom noted that Makinde has continued to blaze the trail by redefining good governance in Nigeria and commended his approach to project funding and execution.
He added that his brother governor, Makinde, has redefined good governance in Nigeria, and he keeps wondering how his administration keeps executing laudable projects despite the current economic hardship in the country.
He urged Makinde not to be distracted by critics who are hell-bent on derailing and making him lose focus, saying that he has learned lots of lessons from the Oyo Governor despite he being a first-term governor.
Despite the distance, he further praised Makinde and asked him to be prepared to visit Benue state to commission and launch a project that would promote togetherness between Oyo state and Benue state.
“This is not the first project you have completed. You have done well. I was wondering how you’ve been getting funds for this project. And the take home is that I will also try to get funding for the sake of incoming government after my tenure for the sake of our people”, he concluded.