...as PDP chieftain lauds, drums support for governor

The Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun, on Friday, commissioned the 4.5km Molusi College Road in Ijebu-Igbo, Ijebu-North Local Government Area of the state, with a pledge to provide solar light to rural areas that are not connected to the national grid.

The governor further stated that electric transformers would be distributed to boost power supply in the grassroots, while grading of rural roads would commence soon.

"There are areas and communities across the state that we call the underserved communities where there is no provision of electricity through the grid. We will be deployinh to these areas our scheme in partnership with the Rural Electrification Agency to provide electricity using solar, you will soon see us using solar to our areas that are underserved", he said.

Abiodun explained that the choice for the construction of Molusi College Road was a joint decision of the people due to its importance to the socio-economic well-being of the people in the area. 

According to the governor, the road is historic as it leads to the prestigious Molusi College that has produced prominent sons and daughters of the state.

He informed the gathering that his administration had constructed a good number of roads in the Ogun East Senatorial District including; Ijebu-Ode-Epe, Ilisan-Ago-Iwoye, Oba Erinwole, Ejirin roads, among others, adding that his government would not rest until all major roads in the state are made motorable.

He, however, assured that affordable housing units would be constructed in Ijebu Igbo.

"On our affordable housing,  we've so far built over 1300 houses in three and half years and we are still building, by the grace of God, between now and May, we will build probably another 700 houses, totalling over 2,000 houses in three and half years.

"I was just discussing with senior members of this community and I told them that I would like to build affordable housing units in Ijebu North. I am promising you today that we will come and do the ground breaking of affordable housing units in this town.  We will ensure we locate it in such a way that it will be strategic so that it can serve Ijebu-Igbo and Ifelodun state constituencies.

"By the grace of God, this state will become oil producing, we have Tongeji Island, we have Olokola and we are working assiduously to ensure that we become oil producing. We will also have a seaport which fits into our multi modal transportation master plan

 We have a rail line going from Lagos to Ibadan, before I leave, ships will berth in our seaport", the governor stated.

The Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Ade Akinsanya, in his welcome address, said the road despite its strategic importance was in a terrible state for a long time, with motorists going through a bitter experience.

He said the construction included the adjoining roads in the town to complement the newly constructed Ilisan-Ago-Iwoye and revive economic activities in the areas, assuring that roads with economic importance across the state would be rehabilitated.

In his goodwill message, the Awujale of Ijebuland Oba Sikiru Adetona, represented by the Dagburewe of Idowa, Oba Yinusa Adekoya, said the construction of the Molusi College Road is a plus to the administration of Governor Abiodun, expressing the hope that he would perform better in his second term starting from next year.

The senator representing Ogun East Senatorial District, Lekan Mustapha, applauded the governor for even distribution of developmental projects across the state and for constructing the road which would improve the economy of the area.

He called for the reconstruction of more deplorable roads in Ijebu Igbo and its environs.

Meanwhile, a former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State and  Chairman, Ijebu North Council of Elders, Bayo Dayo, speaking at the event, called on the electorate to vote for character and integrity in the next year's election.

He pointed out that the forthcoming election shouldn't be about party politics, but character, experience and competence

Dayo noted that though he is a member of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), he would always support a good product that the country is in need of.

"This is about development and not about political parties, Governor Dapo Abiodun has done well and I think he deserves to continue in office.

"The forthcoming general election isn't about the party, it is about character, experience, antecedent and competence. And we should leave party politics behind and follow a candidate who has a vision and the mission. 

Like I said before, I am a card carrying member of the PDP, but the forthcoming election shouldn't be about parties, but about antecedent and passion for a better Nigeria.

"Our people have been saying that they will follow us if we give them a good product, I am a member of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), but I stand with a good product, a product that can deliver," he stated 

While commending the governor for his massive infrastructural development across the state, the PDP chieftain said that despite the difference in party ideology between himself and the governor, he wishes the governor all the best during the forthcoming general election.

"Governor Dapo Abiodun is doing very well, he is a good product and he is delivering good governance across the state. He is a good man, he has done very well. I wish him all the best in the forthcoming general election, he has done well," Dayo concluded .

The Orimolusi of Ijebu-Igbo, Oba Lawrence Adebajo while commending Governor Abiodun for solving the interregnum involving the Orimolusi stool of over twenty-seven years, acknowledged him for embarking on the rehabilitation of the 4.5 km Orimolusi road, a road which according to him was in a bad state before his intervention.