IDO – ERUWA ROAD: “A NON DESERVING AGONY FOR IBARAPA ECONOMIC VIABILITY”. ……Tayo Akinyemi

The history of unification Ibarapa region since inception could be traced to the effectiveness of economic affairs and organisation in small groups in order to carry out ‘OOWE’ , ‘AARO’ etc (i.e joint effort in executing a job). Through this concept, our forefathers who were committed in unison faithfully initiated most historical projects we now referred as public structures in the zone ranging from Education, Health, Electrification, Roads and several infrastructures.

The earlier period of road construction in Ibarapa was tagged ‘E-SE-WERE-E-JADE’. The cooperation enjoyed this period in apparent reference to the town criers mobilization slogan was reported fantastic. The best reference was in the 1930s, how Igboora people were able to link up road with their kith and kins in Idere, Ayete and Tapa as the Ofiki bridge was then reported delayed the link up with Igangan till a later date in March, 1955 when the first Lorry arrived at Igangan to the delight of everybody. History will forever be kind to the pragmatic effort of late Eng. Gbade Gbadamosi as Ibarapa currently enjoys a free ride linking the mentioned routes to Oke-Ogun axis. Eng. Gbade Gbadamosi influenced this as the Commissioner for Works.

My previous assertion proved that Ibarapa communities believes in self development even before the defunct ‘Directorate of Foods and Rural Infrastructure (DFRRI)’, that then deals on Agricultural practices, rural Electrification and Road construction.

We can not forget soon, stories of ‘SANUSI RAILWAY STATION’, that linked Ibarapa to Lagos/Abeokuta. This alone nurtured our Marchants and prospered our economic viability. Aftermath was a very good trunk road that also links Ibarapa to our till date Capital City of Ibadan through Abeokuta which our commutters has since returned ever since the only Ido-Eruwa road that should be the fastest and easiest link became unmotorable.

Sometimes in June 2020, a non – political Ibarapa Youth vanguard ‘IBARAPA DEVELOPMENT FORUM’, rose up to repair the Eruwa – Igboora express road which poor state was then a death trap and hideout for kidnappers. The forum under leadership of Bar. Etomilade and members including 2 Medical Directors, Dr. Ajibodu Oke and Dr. Gafar Amao, Bar. Ope Tijani, Eng. David Okanlawon myself and the then FISU President, Eng. Abass Adesope with supports of some Civil Engineering students worked on concrete repair of the road. The effort was commended by the federal road maintenance agency (FERMA), and later repaired.

On Saturday, 12th October, 2024, the Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Bar. Bayo Lawal could not hide his feelings about difficulties he encountered plying the Ido -Eruwa road on his way to Igboora World Twins Festival. According to him : “We saw the pace of work on the Ido -Eruwa road, by God’s grace, we shall intensify efforts to get it completed in earnest”. A pledge he made on behalf of the Governor of Oyo State, H.E, Eng. Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde to complete the reconstruction of the 48 km Ido-Eruwa Road.

The situation on Ido – Eruwa road became worst on the early hours of Monday 21st October, 2024 when trucks plying the muddy road got stuck, preventing other vehicles conveying workers and students of the 3 tertiary institutions in Ibarapa from moving forward on the road. Several students of the Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology who are currently writing examination missed their papers and they remained standstill.

With broken hearts, Ibarapa people and commuters who depends on the only road for economic activities has been raining condemnations on the Oyo State Government on her inability to fix the road, out of the other zones of the State.

The Ido-Eruwa Road reconstruction is a major road project which links the Ibadan and Ibarapa Zones of Oyo State was flagged off on 2nd February 2023 by Governor Seyi Makinde with estimated target of completion by Q4 2024 in line with the administration’s pledge to connect all five zones in Oyo State to promote economic activities and stem rural-urban migration.

Ibadan and Oke Ogun Zones, Oyo and Oke-Ogun Zones, Ogbomoso and Oke Ogun Zones have already been linked while the Ido-Eruwa Road reconstruction that links the Ibadan and Ibarapa Zones of Oyo State remains uncompleted.

The hope and tendency of Ibarapa Communities to the current administration of His Excellency, Eng Oluwaseyi Abiodun Makinde is a good access link to industrialisation, aims at exploring our untapped resources varying from Agricultural practices, Culture and Tourism etc. This is only possible through a convenient and accessable road; currently the Ido – Eruwa road is the only option to achieve this.

General perception of Ibarapa people on successive Oyo State administration’s neglect was the voting strength of the zone during elections. Are we aware there are situations when a minority group determines who wins an election?

I understand the efforts of our political office holders including the local government chairmen. But I believe a solid minority can make way if our interest comes first.

The Hon. Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Adebo Ogundoyin needs to look back, Ibarapa needs the influence of the office more at this critical moment. Our actions today, becomes history tomorrow.

I appeal to the executive Governor of Oyo State, His Excellency, Eng. Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde to prove to us as ‘Aare Asoludero of Ibarapa’, wrong the past administration’s neglect of Ibarapa zone, most especially the Ido – Eruwa road and other township roads. Same gesture applied to other zones should as a matter of importance and urgency be replicated to Ibarapa. This we assure will not be taken for granted.

On a closing note, I implore our Political actors and traditional rulers to put this a priority on Ibarapa’s faith in the current bill for Ibadan and Oyo State creation at the National assembly. We must learn from mistakes of the past.