By Bode Monogbe
A group in Isolo Local Council Development Area of Lagos State, Awori on Top Development Association, has decried the deplorable condition of roads and marginalisation in the local government.
The group’s Governor-General, Prince Kabir Farombi, said lack of social amenities in major parts of the council area, especially bad roads, had affected the health and economic life of the people.
The chairman of the LCDA, Hon Shamsideen Olaleye, however, said the group was lying.
Farombi said: ’’Endeavour to visit these places and make your decision Aiye Bus stop, Aregbe Street, Moshalasi Street Godwin Omonua Street, Oludegun Junction, Jimoh Farombi Drive are all in Isolo town while Kamaru Adeyemi Street, Agbo-ola Fagbemi Street, Bello Street and Taiwo Street, in Ilasa axis of the council.
‘’The condition of the roads slows down economic activities as traders pay higher fares, which translates into higher prices for goods and services .This means residents are impoverished daily as government fails to act . Many areas have been experiencing black- out for upwards of six months now.
‘’We are a peace-loving and hardworking people giving our total support to this government at any given time. As indigenes, we tolerate others from any part of the globe, but it is as if we are deliberately targeted for neglect and marginalisation in the scheme of things in the state. Look at politics at just the local government level , how many Aworis are employed by the council? The number is so negligible. Look at our roads, most of them are in a deplorable condition, as they are full of pot holes and many are not accessible. In which way will such condition support economic growth?”
Farombi added that the group’s entreaties to the council chairman about the need to fix the roads were fruitless.
Responding to the allegations, Hon Olaleye said his administration had been alive to its statutory responsibilities with fairness in the provision of social amenities and basic infrastructure.
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He said: ‘’While I am not disputing the right of the group to express their views, I believe that developmental projects must be evenly distributed, therefore, while they look only at areas where Awori residents are located, I oversee the interests of all residents-indigenes and non-indigenes.
‘’Awori indigenes live in three wards-Akinbaye , Alagbeji and Ilasamaja wards. In Akinbaye ward, we are doing three massive road projects. We sunk a borehole, we have rehabilitated Akinbaye Primary School and the group needs to visit the school to confirm our efforts there. We have also rebuilt Goloba road with good drainage and streetlights, while failed portions on Akinbaye street are currently being fixed.
‘’In Alagbeji ward, we have Nureni Street, Sangobiyi Street and Hassan Street where work is ongoing. While it is true that Aiye junction is bad, the work there required us cutting off the road and we would have to provide alternative routes on Sangobiyi, Hassan and Shonibare streets so that when Aiye junction is cut off there would be alternative roads for commuters and motorists. Godwin Omonuwa road has to do with failed drainage which require desilting and we have done that.’’
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