Fingers are being pointed at the Governor ‘Seyi Makinde-led administration as having allegedly given its nod to the plan to roll in the bulldozers by tomorrow, Wednesday, to level up both Agodi Gardens and Trans Amusement Park.
For the sake of those who may not be conversant with the history of the two legacies, there is the need for us to go down the memory lane, even as we refresh the memory of those who may have forgotten about the two legacies.
Agodi Gardens, created in 1967, is a state-of-the-art botanical garden located in the city of Ibadan, close to the seat of power in the state namely, the Governor’s Office and the Government House.
The Gardens sits on over 150 acres of green land. It offers a relaxation spot for both adults and children as well as young couples who want to take a temporary break from their normal routines.
Agodi Gardens is a tourist attraction centre in the city of Ibadan. It is also called Agodi Botanical Gardens or Agodi Zoological and Botanical Gardens.
The Gardens was destroyed by the infamous Ogunpa Flood Disaster in 1980 as most of the animals were swept away by the raging water.
However, it was renovated in 2012 by the Oyo State Government, during the administration of former Governor Abiola Ajimobi and it was reopened in 2014.
Agodi Gardens has attractive facilities, including a water park, lake, mini zoo, play area and rides for children, picnic and gardens area and two swimming pools.
Also located within the state capital is the Trans Wonderland, otherwise known as the Trans Amusement Park.
Trans Amusement Park is a project initiated in 1987 by a former military governor of the state, the late Brigadier General Adetunji Idowu Olurin.
Construction of the Trans Amusement Park, by Engineer Babs Okuyemi, began in August 1988, following the financial support from the successor of Olurin, the late Major General Sasaenia Adedeji Oresanya.
Rides and other recreational facilities were put in place in trans Amusement Park by the Oresanya regime, many of which are still functional till date, about 45 years after it was commissioned amid funfare.
Both the Agodi Gardens and the Trans Amusement Park are owned by the Oyo State government. The alluring and captivating scenery at the two facilities have been a source of attraction to visitors and the like.
However, out of the blues came a report, last week, that the two legacies may soon become history; that Agodi Gardens and Trans Amusement Park have been allocated to some private property developers to build estates.
Naturally, the news elicited reactions from the people of the state, especially in Ibadan, who are of the opinion that Agodi Gardens and Trans Amusement Park should be allow to be in existence.
Newscoven.ng was at the two legacies on Sunday evening. While the fate of Agodi Gardens remains sketchy, findings at Trans Amusement Park indicated that the people of the state may soon be deprived of the facilities on ground there.
At Agodi Gardens, everything appeared normal as it remains its bubbling self, as at last Sunday. Picnickers and visitors were seen coming in to savor the beautiful and captivating scenery the Gardens offers.
The same cannot be said of Trans Amusement Park which, at first sight looked desolate, even as virtually all the recreational facilities emplaced there appeared to be obsolete.
However, investigation revealed that most of the recreational facilities installed in 1988 are still functional. There are video evidence of the reality on ground at the Trans Amusement Park.
The above notwithstanding, there are indications that Trans Amusement Park is on its way to extinction. A caterpillar was seen inside the complex, at the Bodija Market end entrance on Sunday. The trees and bushes immediately after the entrance have been felled, cut and are being cleared.
Deep inside the Park, fresh trenches have been dugged, revealing some armoured cables which some people some sources claimed may be vandalised as the speculated demolition of the complex commences soon.
Another evidence that Trans Amusement Park may have been billed to go, Newscoven.ng was told, is a letter by the Board of Trans Amusement Wonderland Nigeria Plc, the owners of the Park, terminating the tenancy of the occupants of the shopping mall within the complex.
The letter, “CANCELLATION OF TENANCY”, dated 8 September, 2023, was signed by one Niyi-Onifade, the General Manager on behalf of the Board. It was stated thus in one of the letters sighted by Newscoven.ng: “This is to inform you that the Board has resolved to cancel the tenancy of the office space occupy by you with effect from 1 Sept 2023.
“Our record reveals that your indebtedness is in the sum of N56,666.66 for Year 2023 rent (1 Jan-31 August).
“It will be highly appreciated if your indebtedness is settled and immediate evacuation of your belongings on or before 22 September 2023.”
While there is still no official response to the speculated plan to move in the bulldozers to demolish the two legacies, a source within the government circle have denied such a planned demolition.
A source in the Makinde administration who spoke on condition of anonymity dismissed as unreal and a blatant lie the speculation that the state government plans to sell the two properties.
“I can tell you that the Oyo State government is not the sole owner of Trans Amusement Park. The land on which the property is situated is jointly owned by the old Oyo State and the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
“As regards the Agodi Gardens, I can authoritatively tell you that it is blatant lie. There is no plan whatsoever by the Oyo State government to sell the property to private estate developers,” he told Newscoven.ng on Sunday.
Inside sources within the Oyo State Investment and Public Private Partnership Agency (OYSIPA), located at the Jericho area of Ibadan, disclosed, however put a lie to the assertion by the anonymous government official.
One of the staff of the agency categorically said the state government is set for the demolition exercise to pave the way for private investors to build estates in the Gardens and the Park.
“Let them keep on denying the obvious truth. The state government has concluded plans to demolish both Agodi Gardens and Trans Amusement Park for their friends in the property and estate investment sector to take over.
“As I am talking with you, evidence abound that these people are already at work to carry out the demolition exercise, even by Wednesday. You can see a caterpillar placed at the entrance at the Bodija Market end of Trans Amusement Park. The caterpillar has already demolished the trees serving as shields against strong wind at that end.
“I can authoritatively tell you that the demolition squad will soon start the demolition of the main Trans Amusement Park. Armoured cables laid underground since over 40 years to supply electricity into the complex are been digged out for possible vandalisation,” the OYSIPA staffer said.
When told that all the recreational facilities on the Trans Amusement Park complex are obsolete and that the place looked desolate, the woman retorted: “It is a total falsehood. It is a decoy; part of the plan to hoodwink the public and make the place look desolate.
“The government deliberately refused to take care of the Trans Amusement Park to justify its plan to sell the place to the private estate developers.
“As I am speaking with you, the traders operating in the shops in the Park have been served quit notice. They have been given up to 22 September to vacate the premises.
“Trans Amusement Park is not moribund in whatever way. I am working here. I can tell you for a fact that this place, even even in its present state, generated N50 million as revenue for the state government within the last two years.
“The revenue came in form of ticket sales to people who came and are still coming here to have fun. How can you now say Trans Amusement Park is desolate and the recreational facilities are obsolete? They are just giving the dog a bad name in order to hang it. It is one of their excuses to sell the place.
“The question should be asked: Why is the state government interested in depriving the people access to fun and relaxation, all in a bid to satisfy the selfish desire of some individuals? Why can’t the government renovate the place to attract more visitors and generate more revenue? The interest of the greatest numbers should be paramount to the government.”
As the people wait, with bated breath, to see what becomes of Agodi Gardens and Trans Amusement Park, would the state government allow the bulldozers into the two legacies to eventually pave the way for the speculated private estate developers?
