By Mary Agidi
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Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, has expressed the determination of his administration to embark on projects that would benefit the masses without considering which administration started such, saying government is continuum.
Akeredolu who stated this in Ikare-Akoko at the weekend while inspecting the ongoing reconstruction of Oke-Alabojuto road said his administration is determined to complete the project since it is for the benefit of the electorate not minding the fact that the contract was awarded by the previous administration.
The governor who earlier visited the collapsed Ikun/Oba-Akoko bridge in company of the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Rt Hon Taofiq Abdusallam and Special Adviser on Works, Lands and Infrastructure, Engr Raimi Aminu, urged the people of Ikare whose properties would be affected by the dualisation of the township road, to cooperate with the contractors, assuring that their compensation will be paid in due time.
His words: “There is a major road in Ikare that we are going to dualise. Even before the completion of this Oke-Alabojuto dualisation, we will start.
“We have done the enumeration, the properties have been valued and we have spoken with our people, what is left now is for the people to cooperate with the contractors, let them start the work even if you have not been paid.
“Just like when we started here, some people were not paid but now they have all been paid; everybody will be paid compensation for the affected properties.
On the quick response to the collapsed Ikun bridge that is being reconstructed, Akeredolu said that being a passionate government, the best he can do is to come to the rescue of the people and squeeze out the needed fund despite the paucity of fund.
He commended the leadership and staff of the ministry for a job well-done and the numerous interventions they have provided in similar emergency situations.
The Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure noted that the essence of the inspection was to allow the governor to see what he released money for and the speed and quality of the work.
According to him, the people of Ikare have witnessed so many accidents on Oke-Alabojuto road, adding that in two months, the road would be motorable and its dualisation will start.
The Olukun of Ikun-Akoko, Oba Adedoyin Olokunbola said, “it gladdens my heart that we have a governor who has the interest of the people at heart, and puts priority on their needs so that they will not suffer.
“Immediately the bridge was washed off by rain, we sent a message to the governor and he instantly mobilised people to the site.”
He, however, appealed to the government to help the community find an alternative route which is Ikun-Iwaro Oka road by repairing and making it motorable pending the completion of the bridge.
Speaking with The Hope, the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Akoko South West Local Government Area, Mr Augustine Oloruntogbe lauded the prompt response given to the collapsed bridge by the governor, and described the gesture as a testimony of having a good leader at the helms of affairs in the state.