…Commend Tinubu, Oyetola over approval of Osogbo-Iwo-Ibadan road

Traditional rulers in Osun West Senatorial District have commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the federal government’s approval of the 90.9km Osogbo-Iwo-Ibadan road, describing it as a response to decades of failed interventions on the route.

Speaking on behalf of the over 30 monarchs in Osun West Senatorial District, the Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi, said the approval marked a turning point in the history of the road, which he noted has faced structural challenges since its construction in the late 1970s.

The monarch spoke at his palace in Iwo, where traditional rulers from the district gathered to react to the development.

According to him, the road was initially constructed in two segments, Ibadan to Iwo and Iwo to Osogbo, in 1977, but began to deteriorate shortly after completion.

He said successive governments made efforts to rehabilitate the road, including interventions by the Osun State Government and engineering firms, but the results were not sustained.

“The road began to show deficiencies shortly after construction, and several attempts by successive administrations to fix it did not yield the expected results,” he said.

Oba Akanbi said the condition of the road had, at one point, forced commuters to rely on alternative routes, significantly increasing travel time between communities.

He added that following his ascension to the throne in 2015, he undertook efforts to make sections of the road motorable through local interventions.

“Commuters spent about three hours on a journey that should take less than one hour. We had to intervene to ease the suffering of the people,” he said.

The monarch said the recent approval followed engagements with key government officials, including the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, who facilitated discussions with the presidency.

He noted that previous attempts to secure federal intervention were unsuccessful, as the road was classified as a state project.

“Efforts to get federal attention in the past did not succeed, but the situation has now changed,” he said.

Oba Akanbi said the reconstruction of the road would improve movement and economic activities across major towns and communities linking Osun and Oyo states.

He listed key areas along the corridor to include Ibadan, Iwo, Osogbo, Ede, and several adjoining towns.

He also commended the federal government for taking over the project, noting that it would ease transportation challenges faced by road users.

“The approval will improve economic interaction between Osun and Oyo states and reduce the burden on commuters,” he said.

The monarch, however, urged residents and stakeholders in the district to support the administration, linking the project to broader governance outcomes.

“When you elect a son who knows and understands the value of power, who cherishes his name and protect, as a responsible, your primary duty is to ensure the sustainability of such power just like you protect and sustain your name on the throne. Tinubu is a prince committed to protecting the throne through an enviable legacy.

“His legacy in Osun State is unmatched. We have never had it so good like this. I challenge all of us to go back to our domain to inform our subjects of the significance of having our son at the helm of affairs.

“We should enlighten them on why Tinubu should be reelected. What we gather to celebrate here may be the tip of the iceberg should we support his re-election bid”.

The federal government recently approved the reconstruction of the Osogbo–Iwo–Ibadan road during a Federal Executive Council meeting.