Oyo State Government has released N750million to the State Road Maintenance Agency (OYSROMA) for the rehabilitation of roads as part of plans to ensure that local governments across the state get some of their roads fixed.
The governor debunked insinuations that he has hijacked the functions of local governments.
Makinde spoke yesterday during the inauguration of the 7.2km Idi-Ape-Bashorun-Akobo-Odogbo Barracks road.
Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi, who is also the Chairman, Nigeria Governors Forum, was the special guest of honour at the event.
Both Makinde and Fayemi took the opportunity of the event to call for greater and better collaboration across party lines and tiers of government in ensure that the dividends of democracy get to the electorate.
Makinde said: “We are aware of the state of our roads not just in Ibadan but the whole of Oyo State and as we have promised, governance will continue till the last day of the tenure of this administration.
“We are already doing something about those inner city roads. Earlier in the week, we gave Oyo State Road Maintenance Agency (OYSROMA) the sum of N750 million for the rehabilitation of roads.”
“The plan is to ensure that all local government areas get some of their roads fixed. The local government chairmen are here; we are working together. We are collaborating. It has nothing to do with local government autonomy because the other lane and another one there of the bridge is federal road but those who ply this roads are local people.
“So, both the local, state and federal government must collaborate to deliver dividends of democracy to our people. Its just that simple.
“Also, there is an issue that keeps coming up in conversations, that the state government has hijacked local government functions. We have not in any way, hijacked the functions of any local government. We are only putting in the work needed to assist them in their functions. Some people living here may not even know their local government or under what territory they are when it is election time.
“But, we all know the economic reality in our country right now, so this has often led to people making tough decisions.
“Sometimes we ask ourselves, should we use money to pay salaries or build roads because the money is not just enough to do both. Here we decided to make that decision easier for our local government areas, we tell them to pay salaries because when those workers take the salaries to the market to pay artisans, you have multiplier effect on the economy of the state.
“They are paying salaries but at the state level, we are helping them to do other things like waste management which should be a local government issue. I sign about N5billion for local government added to about N7billion at the state level; that is N12billion pumped into the Oyo State economy every four weeks.”
He harped on the importance of collaborations across party lines and tiers of government. He thanked and commended the guest of honour for honour g the invitation.
“We are here to communicate a message to those who think that politics is a do or die affair. And for those of them who think that collaboration across party lines for development is not possible, Dr Fayemi will always say to me privately that if it is about the development of our people, we are partners, so you are really appreciated.
“We belong to different parties. Our different parties, the APC and the PDP have different philosophies and ideologies but when it is time to do what is right for the progress of our people, we should all come together and get it done. And today, it is a testimony, it is a demonstration of that.
“Like I always, governors will come and go, parties will come and go, parties will come and go, but our state and our country will remain.
“When we came into government, we promised the people of Oyo state that all the road projects we will embark on will target our economy, and our slogan has always been that where road goes, development follows.
“The construction of this 7.2km Idi-Ape-Bashorun-Akobo-Odogbo Barracks road and the bridge has brought a new level of development to atleast three local governments. We have Ibadan North, IbadanNorth East, Lagelu and Akinyele that are being linked together by this road.
“Let me also say this, some people are saying and we recognised that the administration of late Governor Abiola Ajimobi started this road project. But, they didn’t even complete the payment of compensation.
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“I terminated the initial contract because the contractor was not doing well. And we reawarded to two contractors so that we can finish on time. And up till today, the contractor is still owing us N250million and I will collect it back from them because it is Oyo state money.
“If you have any doubt that road construction directly contributes to economic development, then you can use this road as a case study. People who have lived here for four years and above before now know how many hours they spend in traffic in this axis.
“The level of economic activities on this axis is really increasing. So, I can say with all confidence that’s his is another promise kept.”
Also speaking, Governor Fayemi called on all stakeholders to consider reworking the democracy as it is practiced in the country where the winners are allowed to take all at the expense of the opposition.
He said “I must thank Governor Makinde for doing this for those of us who are emotionally attached to this road. We all know the pressure that this lane put on people when it was a single lane axis towards Akobo and Odogbo barracks.
“I want to also use this opportunity to endorse the points earlier made by Governor Makinde and it is that, if what we are about is the development of our people, we can disagree without being disagreeable. We can still hold our principles as different party members but once elections are over and it’s time for governance, we all should rally round those who have been saddled with that responsibility via the ballot.
“I just returned from the Republic of Kenya where I went for the inauguration of their President. And this was an election that was won by a thin margin of 0.5 percent between the victorious party and the opposition.
“And in a divided society, where you have an election that has been fought, such vitriolic divisive manner, we all owe it a duty in the interest of the ordinary people to come together and work for the overall best of the ordinary people.
“As I advised my friends in Kenya, I said you cannot win an election with 50.5 percent and tell the person who lost the election with 49.5 percent to go to hell. It is not going to work.
“I hope we will ultimately get to a point in our country in which those who won 49percent will also have a sit at the table in a proportional representation manner to represent that 49percent that they have won, while the person who won with 50.5percent is also representing the majority of the people he has received their votes.
“This majoritarian democracy is not going to work if the winner continues to take all the benefits to the detriment of the ’49 percent loser’, because I do not believe that if you have 49 percent support, that should be totally discarded and thrown away while the person with 50 percent should take everything away.
“I hope that our constitutional arrangement would at some point begin to recognise this delicate balancing in order for us to deepen our democracy and to ensure that all our people enjoy the benefit beyond the generosity of the holders of public office.
“That is the point I believe Governor Makinde was making and in a state like Oyo where we have had a ding-dong affairs, we have all won.”
The event was attended by traditional rulers, community leaders, trade groups, top government functionaries, amongst others .