The governorship candidate of the Allied People’s Movement (APM) ahead of the 2027 general elections in Oyo State, Bimbo Adekanbi, has said the ongoing controversy trailing the state government’s road project would not have attracted such criticism if Oyo were under APC control.
Adekanbi, who spoke with journalists in Ibadan on Thursday, accused opposition elements of “weaponizing the pains” of persons affected by the project for what he described as “cheap political points.”
He likened the project to the ongoing Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road being executed by the Federal Government, arguing that such large-scale infrastructure comes with temporary discomfort but delivers long-term value.
“If Oyo state was an APC state, it wouldn’t be an issue. What we are seeing now is politicians playing on the pains and emotional intelligence of affected persons.
“They are turning a development project into a political battle because they have no other message to sell to the people,” Adekanbi said.
He decried what he called the selective outrage of critics, noting that similar projects across the country, including the Coastal Road by the Federal Government, have faced initial resistance but are now being hailed for their economic potential.
“Nobody is saying relocation and compensation are not important. They must be handled with transparency and empathy. But let us not pretend this is about the people alone. It is about 2027 politics,” he added.
Adekanbi emphasized the long-term economic benefits the road would bring to Oyo State, stating that improved connectivity would attract investment, reduce travel time, and open up new commercial corridors for traders, farmers, and young entrepreneurs.
“When this road is completed, the same people shouting today will be the first to ply it and to cite it as a reason to invest in Oyo,” he said.
“Infrastructure is painful at the point of construction, but it is the foundation of prosperity. Oyo people deserve leaders who will take tough but necessary decisions for the future.”
He urged residents to engage government through proper channels on issues of compensation and resettlement, rather than allow politicians to exploit their situation.