Following the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued by the state government, residents affected by the Ibadan Circular Road Corridor project on Monday took to the streets to stage a peaceful protest.
The residents in their thousands, carrying placards, banners, and posters, arrived at the Ibadan end of the Ibadan-Ife Road at about 10 AM, causing a heavy gridlock in the axis.
The gridlock, within minutes, sprang into effect on the entire axis, both into and out of the capital city, with commuters stranded for several hours.
Early birds at work were spared, as those who had to get to work before 8 AM had no issue using the road until they assembled around 10 AM.
The residents who sang and shouted expressed their disagreement, saying they would not succumb to the government’s plan to acquire more land under the guise of the Ibadan circular road corridor.
The protesters also blocked other major roads, sending a signal to the government to drive home their intentions, while some were gathering at the State Secretariat.
The Nation reports that the idea of the Ibadan circular road was conceived when the current Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja he was the governor of the state.
But the idea suffered a temporary setback owing to the illegal impeachment of Ladoja that robbed him of the second term opportunity in 2006.
It was learnt that Ladoja marked 150 metres for the construction of the road, but the current governor, Seyi Makinde, is planning to extend the number of metres for the circular road corridor, which will affect more houses and community lands.
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Over a hundred communities, which cut across seven local governments, including Ido, Lagelu, Ona Ara, Akinyele, Oluyole, and Egbeda, urged the state government to maintain the 150 metres already marked by Ladoja.
The protesters later marched on through Idi-Ape to join their counterparts at the State Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, where the protest peaked.
The arrival of the protesters led to a temporary shutdown of the Secretariat as the protesters were denied access. Visitors and those who have business interests suffered a delay while the protest lasted.
The entrance gate, which was manned by a heavy security presence, also saw an increased presence of security patrol vans in strategic locations around the Secretariat.
One of the protesters, Akeem Olaiya, said, “We are law-abiding citizens. You can see that our protest is peaceful. What we need is very simple, it’s just for the State Government to maintain the 150 metres already marked by former Governor Rashidi Ladoja, now the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland.”
Highpoint of the protest was when the protesters observed the afternoon prayers on the road, causing a total standstill and stoppage for vehicular movements.
While addressing the gathering, the group coordinator, Prince Adeniyi Fasoye, said the protest was not political and that no politician was teleguiding or sponsoring them against Governor Makinde.
He said, “We are not politicians. This peaceful mega rally is not politically driven. We are protesting against the extension of the corridor for the circular road.
“We are appealing to the state government through the governor to leave the corridor alone. They should not extend it beyond the 150 meters already mapped out.”
The protesters who dispersed around 4:30 PM later vowed to continue the protest until they get the attention of Governor Makinde.
The Nation reports that the protest was a fulfillment of the vow by the residents to take to the streets, which was issued a week ago during a press conference.
