The on-going Sango-Ojodu Road is causing inconveniences to the residents. When do you hope to complete the construction? We have to make the Sango-Ojodu-Abiodun Road a six-lane road because we plan for a light rail system that will pass through that area. Initially it was to be a four-lane road but we have to re-plan and re-design it. It was to cost N40bn then and now it is to cost N70bn. We do not have the money. So, we are constructing it in phases but we will construct it over a period of three and a half years. It is a huge investment but we will install toll gates on it to recoup the investment. The demolition of structures for road construction work is a bold effort. How have you handled the fallout and payment of compensation? There have been failure of governments over the years but the role of a governor is to be fair and just. In our urban renewal drive, we have reasons to demolish some structures to give way for the roads we are to build. In the first of such roads that we completed, the Ibara – Sokori-Totoro road, five structures that have to do with members of my family were affected. Three belonging to former President Olusegun Obasanjo were initially affected. When we moved to the fourth building owned by the former President, Baba called me to ask if I was planning to run him out of town and I said no we were trying to reorder things. But today Baba prays for me because we didn’t demolish the structures and leave the work undone. Several kilometres of road and bridges are being built across the state to raise the infrastructure profile of our state and attract investors. When we started, a lot of people were unhappy with us calling us several names. Even some party people said it will sink the party. But today, they have seen the reason why those structures must give way to the roads. They have seen the work that is going on and people appreciate it. We give compensation to home owners whose properties were affected irrespective of whether you have the necessary documents. This is Ogun State and we recognise that we cannot subject our people to the conditions attached to such exercise in other places. So, we have to pay compensation. What we do in some instance is to build completely new houses for some very old very vulnerable people whose homes were demolished. The abuse by some people over these tough decisions doesn’t have impact on me. I usually plead with our people that you cannot make an omelette without breaking the egg. I take inspiration from the fact that Pa Obafemi Awolowo was thoroughly abused when he commenced the construction of the 25-storey Cocoa House building in Ibadan. Women took to the streets to protest. Today, that building defines the landscape of the whole of Ibadan and the whole of Yorubaland. One should not be deterred by criticism if you are sure of what you are doing and you have your eyes on history. There are accusations by the opposition that the cost of your road construction is too high and that you are borrowing heavily to fund the construction work. All the roads we are constructing are of world standard and the cost is the lowest in Nigeria. I challenge anyone to investigate this claim and prove me wrong and see. We deliver high quality at low cost to the people of Ogun State. Our Ogun Standard roads come with six lane minimum, there are eight to ten lane boulevard. There are drains on both sides, walkways, median, street lights, green areas and bus stops. Those who cannot comprehend the financial management strategy that is helping us to handle all these completed and on-going gigantic projects are the ones shouting about phantom N300 billion loans. Our debt profile hovers between N37bn and N40bn because we pay back regularly and I want to challenge those who cry about N300bn loan to provide the names of the banks where they have helped us to secure such loans. - Senator Ibikunle Amosun fca, Executive Governor of Ogun State
Posted on: Sun, 31 Aug 2014 12:06:31 +0000
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