2 months ago
9 ARTICLE AD
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde
Ibadan residents on the corridor of the proposed Circular Road project embarked upon by the Oyo State government, on Thursday, sought the reversal of the 500m setback on the road.
During a peaceful protest at Ogbere Idi-Osan, in the Oluyole Local Government Area of the state, the people called on the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, and the state House of Assembly to prevail on Governor Seyi Makinde to change his decision.
They also called on compound heads, popularly called Mogajis, and prominent sons and daughters of Ibadan land, at home and abroad, to appeal to Makinde on the 500m setback which affected many houses on the corridor.
The affected residents, under the auspices of Ibadan Circular Road Corridor Residence, lamented that over 300,000 residents were affected through mass demolitions on the road.
Abass Azeez, who spoke on behalf of other affected residents during the protest, condemned the government for demolishing houses on the corridor of the circular road.
“Thousands of us are traumatised with records of emotional damage due to the ongoing demolitions, while others are living in fear of the proposed plan of taking 500 metres to the right and 500 metres to the left as road setbacks.
“It is a shocking move by the governor to take 500 metres to the right and 500 metres to the left for a road setback and displace people living at the circular road corridor, whereas the initial plan was 75 metres by left and 75 metres by right, as set by the past administration of former governor of the state and the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja.
“We residents jointly condemn the present administration’s move and see the act as inhumane, cruel and betrayal, as we all voted for this government,” he said.
The residents called on the state Assembly, the Olubadan and Mogajis to call the government to order.
“We call on the state House Assembly, the Olubadan of Ibadan, the Mogajis, and the good people of the state to exercise their power to invoke checks and balances in government and intervene. Please call this present administration into order.
“We also call on the governor to publicly address the citizens of the state, and state clearly why he intends to take 500 metres to the right and 500 metres to the left as road setbacks.
“Our demand is for him to stop the plan and maintain the initial gazette plan of 75 metres by left and 75 metres by right, as stated by the past administration of Ladoja,” Azeez said.
The six affected local government areas are Ido, Akinyele, Egbeda, Ona-Ara, Lagelu as well as Oluyole.
