Ogun residents Cries for better roads…
Good road is our right and not a privilege, save our souls and business, We are tax payers, We don’t want pillars, Fashola give us good roads, Stop playing politics with our lives, Save Agbara-Atan-Igbesa. These were the inscription on several placards, banners on display. Neglect of the goose that lays the golden eggs can be attributed to the plight of residents of Agbara-Atan-Igbesa which boasts of over 250 companies/ factories and one of the highest electoral population in Ogun state, this has being the case of members of this community since 1976, when successive governments have made promises and renewed their dashed hopes at different points in time only for their roads to be left worst than they met it. Alhaji Abioro Shakiru, a factory staff alleged that he pays over half a million naira as tax wondered what the government does with such funds other than to provide social services such as roads for the good of all, he lamented on how Igbesa people have shown support for the ruling government, with the aim of resolving it series of demands but to no avail. The most recent of such promises was by the current governor Senator Ibikunle Amosun, who promised members of this community of immediate attention to this road once elected in 2011, Hon.Chief B.A Obanla, chairman CDA’s in Igbesa appealed to the governor to remember his numerous promises and several interventions by good sons and daughters of Ogun state on the need for these roads to be fixed. For so long a time the people of Adodo-ota local government, Agbara-Igbesa local Council Development Area have been in dare need of social amenities from good roads, hospitals and electricity but topping the list of their request is the poor road network which has become a daily pain in the neck of this community, According the Aro of Igbesa out of the 150 vehicles plying Igbesa, route less than 5 are in current operation. Motor cycles have become the main means of transportation, because of this bad road there is a consistent fall of vehicles carrying containers which has taken countless lives, traditional rulers are made to put their crowns in bags till they get to better terrains.
This was what led to the recent protest organized by residents under the auspices of Save Agbara-Atan-Igbesa campaign, a protest group with the sole aim of achieving better road network for their community, Mr Ganiyu Fagbemi, another resident in reaction he encouraged the state / federal to look inward and give the roads face-lift, in particular he appealed to the Governor of Ogun state to emulate states that take on federal government roads because of exigencies of such projects, as they get refund from federal government. In an address by the president of Igbesa Youth Assembly Comrade Jide Aina, he appealed to the Governor of Ogun state to harness the economic potentials of Igbesa and it environs in order to move from third to first largest economy in Nigeria, he however issued a month ultimatum to the government to commence work before a total collapse but he expressed optimism that the government will not allow an expiration of the date before drafting men to site. This protest which witnessed a united front amongst students, teachers, artisans, professionals and chiefs in council as well as CDA leaders were in attendance . Another resident Com. Enijore Adekunle, an Estate Valuer, an ondo state indigene , who has being in Agbara -Igbesa for more than 18 years claimed that no angle of Igbesa-Atan-Agbara can boast of good road as all the roads are in deplorable condition. The warning protest was adjudged peaceful to a good extent as a portion of the lusada junction, near lusada market which served as venue of the protest was opened to allow motorists have right of way, this was changed due to several appeals from the Area commander on the need to be law abiding.
Our reporter, made several attempts to get the governor’s Special Assistant on media to get the position of government to no avail, From investigation Igbesa -Atan-Agbara boosts of industries which should be a plus for residents but the reverse is the case. Overtime there have been gnashing of teeth as a result of deaths resulting from accidents. Fears are rife that 13 companies are at the verge of closing down due to high risk involved in doing business in this axis, aside from the pain of losing an individual (paying for damages) from a fallen container it takes about 250,000 to tow up such container, imagine the number of times it falls on a daily, weekly, monthly, yearly basis and the cost of running the company so claimed a source. Residents were of the believe that what is mined out their community is used to develop other places like Abeokuta, Sagamu without any attention to Atan-Igbesa-Agbara. The advantages of opening these areas to civilisation are huge as it will not only increase the churned Internally generated revenue, it will boost employment, give members of these communities sense of belonging, increase the lifespan of residents who have been exposed to hard life for so long.
