BY TIMOTHY AGBOR
Residents of Rondo community in Offa Local Government Area, Kwara State have appealed to the state governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazak to complete the 1.6km St Claire’s-Rondo-Ikotun road.
The residents lamented the bad condition of the road and the inability of the government to complete it.
They said the governor had embarked on the construction of the road during his last gubernatorial campaign but abandoned it after winning the poll.
Reacting, the Kwara State House of Assembly members under the All Progressives Congress, Seun Ogunniyi Adato and Gbenga Yusuf who represent Ojomu/Balogun and Eesa/Shawo/Igboidun constituencies respectively promised a swift response from the government.
According to the duo in a jointly-signed statement, Governor Abdulrazak is not a promise breaker.
Adato, speaking on behalf of the two said, “Dear good people of Rondo community of Offa Local Government Area. Just this afternoon on 8th October 2023, our attention was drawn to a video in circulation about the portion of road that is yet to be paved along Ikotun road thereby causing the residents of the area and road users untold pains and hardship.
“As the people’s representative in the State Assembly, my humble self Ogbeni Seun Ogunniyi (Adato) and Hon Gbenga Yussuf (JK) indeed identify with the people of Rondo and other parts of Offa metropolis needing urgent road repairs and construction interventions.
“We understand the pains of commuters who have to ply the road. However we wish to emphasize that the Kwara State Government which the 10th Assembly is part of under Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq is not a promise breaker. We kindly solicit patience and understanding of the people and assure you that this government under Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq will bring succour and relief to all people of Kwara State including Offa in due course.”
However, a former Kwara State House of Assembly candidate for Ojomu Balogun constituency under the People’s Democratic Party, Salaudeen Lukman said it was the fault of the state government to have left residents of the community with uncompleted roads after winning election.
In a statement he signed on Monday, he said, “Like every concerned indigene of Offa land who understands the economic impact and necessity of motorable roads in the day to day activities of the common man, one must join voice to call for urgent intervention of the state government. While I sympathise with the good people of the Rondo community in Offa Local Government, I must commend the bravery of the residents of the area to speak out at this material time, indeed they are not alone in the call for an urgent action.
“Kwara State Government under Mallam AbdulRazaq Abdulraman must understand that one of the qualities of good leadership is fairness to all. It is nothing but deliberate wickedness, deception and usual propaganda gimmick often employed by the state government to celebrate paper achievements which share little or no resemblance with ‘achievement on ground. One would think the 1.6km Rondo-Ikotun road will be fully constructed on time with media hype given.
“Seeing this road in this shape at this time is very saddening, it implies they only use the road for political campaigns and are left alone after the election. It is highly embarrassing and attestation of Mr. Governor’s tendency to continue the trade of deception beyond first term in office.”
