Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR, has lauded Oyo State governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, for making Ibadan, the state capital, liveable with projects aimed at easing transportation and making life more meaningful for the people.
He said this on Wednesday, at the commissioning of the Ibadan Central Bus Terminal, Iwo Road, Ibadan.
The terminal has two mega bus stations constructed with waiting halls, ticket spaces, eateries, public conveniences, open vehicular parking space, electrical power generating house, water reservoir, elevators and escalators, among other facilities.
This was as Governor Makinde responded to the ongoing protests over the ongoing 110km Rashidi Ladoja Circular Road project.
He said he would engage with legitimate property owners affected by the project, but that everyone must realise that the project mattered greatly to the future of Oyo State.
In his speech, former President Obasanjo praised Governor Makinde for doing well for the people of Ibadan and Oyo State by building people-centred projects.
These projects, Obasanjo said, includes the bus terminals, which according to him, would ease transportation within Ibadan, the third largest city in Nigeria by population and the largest in terms of land area.
He said the construction of the terminals in Ojoo, Challenge and the two in Iwo Road would make movements easier for residents.
Obasanjo added that whatever development Makinde doing in Ibadan is beneficial to the rest of the South-West, as the metropolis is not only the capital of Oyo State, but also the capital of the defunct Western Region, the Old Western State and, by extension, Yorubaland.
He said: “Governor Makinde, you have done so well. You are making Ibadan liveable and you have been trying to make everyone living in Ibadan and the state comfortable.
“Ibadan, in population, is the third largest city in Nigeria but in land area, it is the largest. So, to move from point A to B in Ibadan is longer than moving from point A to B in the other two cities said to be larger than Ibadan in population. These are Lagos and Kano.
“And, if you are going to make it convenient for people to live in Ibadan, to trade in Ibadan, there must be availability of transportation and that is what these bus terminals are meant for. The two here and the two in Challenge and Ojoo are meant for that.
“You invited me three days ago to this event; I didn’t hesitate. I came here because you are an Omoluabi. Before anyone can invite me to an event three days to the time, he must be someone I hold in high esteem.
“For you, if you call me a day to the event, I will come. You resemble me in a lot of ways.
“When people tell me Makinde is doing this infrastructure and all that, I always tell them why won’t he do it? He is an engineer. A professional engineer, who knows how to fix things. But you have added another feather to the cap, you are now also into political engineering.”
Obasanjo equally counselled the governor to remain focused and undeterred by those attacking and insulting him over some of the ongoing development efforts.
He noted that “those abusing you today would praise you tomorrow. I was also abused too and they have come back today to praise me. That is how it is.”
The former president charged residents of the state and Nigerians who would use the facility to ensure it is put to good use and well maintained.
Earlier, Governor Makinde said his government built four modern bus terminals, including Challenge, Ojoo, New Ife Road and Iwo Road to enable residents of the city to move freely and not be encumbered by transportation challenges known with big cities.
Makinde noted that the completion of the Ibadan Central Bus Terminal is a demonstration of his government’s determination to engineer a modern Oyo State.
He noted that his administration has gone about building different infrastructure projects without politicising development, which is what some people who have been attacking his government love to do.
He pointed out that the state government constructed the dual carriageway from Iwo Road to Adegbayi to ease transportation pressure on the axis.
He disclosed that it has even applied to the Federal Government to extend the project to the Oyo State boundary at Asejire, among other projects embarked upon by the state to ensure that its residents do not go through unnecessary hardship.
He said: “With this commissioning, we have completed all four modern terminals in Ibadan, including Challenge, Ojoo, New Ife Road and Iwo Road. The next administration would do for our other cities including Ogbomoso, Saki, Iseyin, Ibarapa and Oyo.
“Why did I talk about the next administration? I only have 18 months to go.
“We projected a 12-month completion for the project. But as you all know, a global pandemic, supply disruptions, and other realities slowed us down. So, we completed the first two.
“Today, the cycle is basically done. And it is a celebration of our determination. Because what we are witnessing today is a proof that promises made can indeed become promises kept.
“This spot used to house a mosque. When I came, I worshipped in that mosque. At the end of that Friday worship, I announced to everyone that it could be the last time we would worship in that mosque, because we had to demolish it.
“As usual, they played politics with it. But I promised them that I would replace the mosque that we wanted to demolish with a modern mosque, and we have done that.
“So, on the other projects we are doing, don’t be bothered. When people politicise things, it is normal. But we are focused on our pact with the people of our Oyo State.
“Part of why this project was conceived was so that people can move freely. They can come in here at night.
“So, every time we transform a place like this, we restore dignity to movement; beauty to our cities; and real hope to our people. So, we are engineering a modern Oyo State, one project, one reform, one vision at a time.
“All the things we have achieved as an administration, I thank you, the people of Oyo State and my team, for your support. It is a proof that Oyo State can build, plan and finish strong.
“I want to specially thank my father, His Excellency, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR, for honouring us with your presence. Your belief in infrastructure as a tool for national transformation has inspired many of us to walk on this same path.”
Responding to the ongoing protests on the ongoing 110km Senator Rashidi Ladoja Circular Road, the governor said the project was not just a road project but an economic backbone of the state.
He said: “Now I know that many of you have had ongoing conversations about the 110km Rashidi Ladoja Circular Road and sometimes misconceptions about what it represents.
“Let me use this opportunity to again explain why this Circular Road matters. It is not just a road project, it is an economic backbone. We are not only constructing a highway, we are building a corridor of opportunity.
“We are creating a space where industries, estates and logistic hubs will emerge to support the growth of our city over the next 20 years. Some have asked, why keep land aside for an investment corridor? The answer is very simple.
“Cities that fail to plan for tomorrow are soon swallowed in the chaos of today. So this corridor is not for me or for any individual. It is for the generations that will come after us.
“It ensures that, as the city grows, development happens in an organised and sustainable way.”
He added that the project is part of the state’s development journey, noting that he would be at the Circular Road with the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) and Mogajis to engage with real property owners.
Makinde, however, declared that he is not bothered by those who call him names, because issues like that come with leadership.
Similarly, the state Commissioner for Works, Infrastructure and Transport, Hon Abdulmojeed Mogbonjubola, described the new Bus Station, with Terminals 1 and 2, as a significant step towards reshaping transportation and the general scenery in the state and a symbol of what purposeful governance should entail.
He said the terminals were designed to meet global standards and that “each of the components reflects intentional engineering, sustainability, and high consideration of safety, comfort, dignity of sustainable urban mobility under our roadmap to sustainable development of Oyo State.”
The commissioner also charged users and stakeholders to take collective ownership of the facility.
