Human Rights
Ado Residents Urge Oyebanji to Fix Inner Roads, Revive Water Corporation as Second Term Begins
By Joseph Sunday
As Governor Biodun Oyebanji prepares for his second-term inauguration on Friday, residents of Ado-Ekiti have urged his administration to prioritize the rehabilitation of deplorable inner roads in the state capital and the revival of the moribund Ekiti State Water Corporation.
The calls were made during a vox pop conducted around the Olujoda, Falana area area of Ado-Ekiti, where residents listed road infrastructure, potable water supply, youth employment and women empowerment as critical areas requiring urgent attention.
A public servant, Mr. Oladapo Ogidiomo, who resides in the Falana area, said while the governor has performed creditably, more attention should be paid to inner streets.
“In the area of infrastructure, the street roads are bad. You can see this area now,” he said, pointing to the Olujoda/Falana road.
“Not only this area. If you go around, you will know the situation of Ado-Ekiti. Not only Ado-Ekiti, like Ijan. I live in Ijan too. When you get to Ijan, there is no good road in the streets there. Ijan metropolis, there is no good road. Likewise Ado. That is the area we want him to work on,” he added.
Ogidiomo also called for the resuscitation of the State Water Corporation.
“In the area of water, I don’t think the State Water Corporation is functioning because people are not enjoying it anymore. Government should reintroduce it for the public to enjoy,” he said.
Similarly, a businesswoman and plastic dealer on Falana Street, Mrs. Olubunmi Busayo, commended the administration but appealed for targeted empowerment for women entrepreneurs.
“We have been doing well, but we just want him to support us women. We want him to empower women, especially those of us doing business. If he can empower us, we will be able to take good care of our children so that all the labour will not be on men alone.
“We will not be depending on our husbands. If we have our own business that is moving very well, we will not be depending on anybody or complaining that government is not doing well,” she said.
She also appealed for attention to inner roads linking to the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti.
“They focus on the main road. If they can finish the main road of Ajilosun, they should come into the inner areas, especially where it leads to Poly Road. There are some roads that lead to Poly Road apart from the main road. If they can focus on that, there will be no hold-up and people will be moving freely,” Busayo said.
Also speaking, Mr. Adeleye Ayodeji congratulated the governor on his re-election and urged him to shift focus from major roads to inner connectivity.
“Glory be to Almighty God that the election has come and gone and Governor Oyebanji has emerged for a second time. So far, he has tried his best,” Ayodeji said.
“Now that this is going to be his second term, his concentration shouldn’t be on the major roads. We have some roads in some areas that are not motorable. Instead of embarking on very obvious work that people will be chanting his name for, he should try and come into the interior part and do some connectivity, some routes that are connecting other major routes in the town.”
Ayodeji further urged the governor to prioritize youth employment through agriculture.
“Employment of the youth is very vital. I am still a youth. He cannot do everything, but he should try and do as much as he can on employment. It is through the youth that we can have meaningful development in the state.
“Agriculture is a source of income in Ekiti State. I want him to improve on whatever he can do concerning the agricultural programme. Not just giving money to those chanting his name alone. Let him organize a seminar or scheme that will serve as a medium of employment for the generality of the youth,” he said.
