We Named Dual Carriage Road ‘Workers Drive’ To Celebrate Osun Workers- Aregbesola

By Ayobami Agboola, Osogbo

Osun state Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has said that the commissioning of a 2.80km dual carriage road he constructed was to celebrate the workers in the state for their perseverance and endurance.

The 2.80km Olaiya-Itaolokan road is constructed by Aregbesola who named it “Workers Drive” in a bid to show appreciation for their understanding, support and sacrifice during the yet-to-be-over financial crisis orchestrated by the national economic woes.

Aregbesola while commissioning the road on Tuesday said the road was constructed in honour of the workers in the state civil service.

Speaking, Aregbesola said he has paid a sum of N392 million to 147 people as damages for the construction of Olaiya/Odi Olowo/Ita Olokan road in Osogbo.

He further explained that despite the financial challenge facing his administration, funds for the project was sourced from the Omoluabi Conservation Funds.

The governor, who berated the opposition, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), for claiming that the road being commissioned is less than 2 kilometers, said intervention of prominent indigenes of Osogbo played a huge role in pacifying those, whose properties where affected to accept the damages offered to them.

“To finance this project, we had to go to Omoluabi Conservation Funds. The law that established the fund had to be amended for us to draw out of it.

“We used part of the fund to start this project. I remain grateful to the Ataoja of Osogbo for supporting us to achieve this. In the next 10 years, business activities in this area would have grown tremendously”, Aregbesola said.

Aregbesola said the PDP for the period it governed the state could not make appreciable impact, adding that his administration has succeeded in the areas where previous administrations failed.

“PDP commissioned pit toilet, hairdressing saloon and borehole when it governed this state. Many of our projects were not officially opened for use, but this road is strategic to the lives and businesses of people living in this area”, the governor concluded.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works and Transport Engr. Nurudeen Olatunbosun, commended Aregbesola as he set a pace for others to follow in areas of massive infacstructural development across the State.

He said that Aregbesola desired to transform the state, he was very much hopeful for a positive turn around in the economy of the state.

Olatunbosun disclosed that Aregbesola and coupled with his financial wizardry approved the payment of a sum of four hundred million naira as compensation to the people whose property were affected as a result of the reconstruction activities arising from change in both horizontal and vertical alignment of Olaiya -Jaleyemi – Asubiaro – Ita Olokan dual carriage way.

According to him, “Aregbesola cut across the State in construction/reconstruction/re

Renovation of hospitals, promotion of agriculture, creation of jobs, provision of save water for drinking and enhanced transportation”.

He added, “This administration have been able to accomplish all these within available but meagre resources through prudent management of funds and budget discipline of Mr Governor – Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola”.

The PS however tasked Osun resident on prompt payment of Tax as major catalyst for development in the state.

He noted that to sustain this tempo on the provisions of infrastructure facilities, “the good people of the State of Osun must be ready to partner with the government in ensuring that taxes and levies are appropriately paid as and when due”.