The Executive Assistant on Security Matters to Oyo state governor, retired Commissioner of Police, Sunday Odukoya has appealed to residents of Ibadan whose properties were affected by the 500 meter step back along Ibadan Circular Road Corridor.
Odukoya gave the appeal on Wednesday, September 18, while addressing the affected property owners who stormed the state government Secretariat to protest against the 14 days ultimatum issued to them.
While emphasizing the necessity of development which he said has become inevitable in Ibadan, Odukoya acknowledged the fears and worries of affected property owners assuring that their plights would be duly addressed.
Odukoya, while expressing the governor’s commitment to ensuring fair compensations to affected persons, he reiterated that infrastructure development is essential for the city’s growth and economic progress.
The governor’s aide noted that the construction plan for the Ibadan circular road and its corridor did not start with the Seyi Makinde’s administration adding that the present government only fine tuned the plan in tandem with current peculiarities in line with the governor’s urban development drive.
While acknowledging peaceful protest as their legitimate right to express their grievances, the former police commissioner stressed that government owed the people the duty of adequate security and would not tolerate any act that would cause breach of public peace or prevent others from going about their lawful duties.
Odukoya maintained that the protesters have been advised to make some strategic moves in terms of consultation and engagement with their various local government chairmen and come up with resolutions that would onwardly presented to the governor for consideration and further action.
He stressed that Governor Makinde has placed the people’s welfare and well-being his topmost priority since inception of his administration, and has equally demonstrated same in several ways insisting that the people must show understanding and cooperation for the needed urban development to be achieved.
“The Executive Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, understands the emotional and financial impact this project may have on property owners but it is for the greater good of the state.
“We must endeavor to balance your concerns with the overarching need for urban development, improved transportation network, and connectivity in Ibadan.
”The Ibadan Circular Road Corridor is part of a broader development plan aimed at ensuring that Oyo state is not left behind among other fast developing states in the country.
“Dialogue is crucial. We encourage affected property owners to work with us to ensure a smooth and seamless resolution because no society can develop where the people fail to cooperate with government with genuine intentions,” Odukoya stated.
In his reaction, Coordinator of the protest and affected property owner, Niyi Fashoye, who spoke to newsmen on behalf of the protesters said, the protest was not targeted at painting the governor in bad light but to register their frustration and displeasure over the 14 days ultimatum issued to them to vacate their properties with nowhere to go.
He appealed to the governor to immediately rescind the 14 days ultimatum issued as affected property owners overwhelmed with what he called acute fear and frustration, have died while others are currently battling with different degrees of ailments.
While acknowledging efforts of the governor in bringing the needed infrastructural development to all parts of the state and Ibadan in particular, Fashoye maintained that affected property owners also want the 500 meter step back along the Ibadan circular road corridor rescinded to prevent avoidable casualties from affected persons who have nowhere else to go.