Politics
PDP Chieftain Berates Ogun Road Network
Eko Hot Blog reports that a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State and one of its gubernatorial aspirants during the 2023 elections, Segun Sowunmi, has criticized the current state of the road network in the state, calling it shameful and embarrassing.
Sowunmi expressed his concerns on his verified Facebook page on Saturday, highlighting the deteriorating conditions of roads across the state.
He noted that this situation has led to widespread criticism from both residents and visitors, who question the state’s former status as the “Gateway State.”
According to Sowunmi, one of the primary reasons for the poor state of the roads is the failure to empower local governments effectively.
He emphasized that without functional local governance, infrastructure challenges cannot be adequately addressed.
“Without a doubt, our roads are appalling and we must own up to the fact that visitors, residents, and all that know of our preeminence must wonder what has become of us and our reputation,” Sowunmi wrote.
“We need to be embarrassed that things have gotten to this state. The state is large and mostly urban with many built-up areas, so many adjoining towns to Lagos, Oyo, Ore, Ondo, Republic of Benin making it a gateway state in the truest sense of the word.”
He further criticized the state government’s focus on infrastructure contracts rather than sustainable road maintenance and improvement.
Sowunmi mentioned the Ogun State Road Maintenance Agency (OGROMA) as a model that could have built local competence for road repairs at a more sustainable cost but lamented its underutilization.
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Sowunmi urged Governor Dapo Abiodun to declare a state of emergency on the roads in Ogun State and prioritize their repair.
He also called on the Federal Government to stop being an obstacle under the guise of federal road jurisdiction, suggesting that practical business models could be used to mobilize private equity for road repairs.
“It is time to declare a road emergency in Ogun State and the Federal Government needs to stop being an obstacle to our desire to fix our roads under the guise of a terminology called federal roads,” he stated.
“Well as for the present Governor Dapo Abiodun, reorder your priorities… Ogun cannot look like an infrastructural disaster.”
Sowunmi’s statements reflect a growing frustration among the citizens of Ogun State regarding the state of their infrastructure and the apparent lack of effective governance to address these critical issues.
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