This open letter to Governor Seyi Makinde is a thoughtful and well-articulated plea for mercy and consideration in the planned road construction project from Akinyele to Ojoo. The writer, Surv. Busari Olakunle Ibrahim, commends the governor’s developmental projects but expresses concern about the potential demolition of properties along the proposed road.
The letter highlights the writer’s:
- Appreciation for the governor’s projects
- Concerns about the impact of the road project on property owners
- Suggestions for alternative solutions
- Emphasis on mercy and consideration for affected individuals
The writer’s tone is respectful and constructive, offering suggestions while acknowledging the governor’s efforts. The letter demonstrates a deep understanding of the issues and a commitment to the well-being of the community.
The letter reads:
Open letter to H.E Gov. Seyi Makinde
Greetings to you sir, your Excellency.
My name is Kunle Busari from Saki, Akabiako Compound.
I am writing to commend you on the various developmental projects you have embarked on to reposition Oyo State to be economically viable. To mention but a few:
- 90km Solar Street Lights to illuminate our roads at night.
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Olorunda Abaa/General Gas road – I am aware this is completed.
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Old Bodija and Bodija Oju-Irin to Ashi road – also completed.
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Iseyin-Ijaye road – completed.
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Ogbomoso-Iseyin road – completed.
I read that you are starting the construction of Ikere Gorge dam road and it gladdens my heart to see the potentials in Ikere Gorge dam unlocked. I will plead that the Okeogun zone should benefit from the road construction in our local governments.
I am an advocate of developmental projects, I am an activist in this regard. If my community is lacking anything, I find it hard to keep quiet. That is why I have been a critic of your government in the past. I am glad I have reasons to speak on your policies and projects.
Your Excellency sir, I read on the news about the proposed road from Akinyele to Ojoo. I have been driving along that route and I saw the notice of the distances written on the walls. I understand measurements well enough because of my profession and I can appreciate the magnitude of demolition that would happen if the right of way of this road is to be claimed.
So, I have written about the impending transfer of Apapa gridlock to Moniya – Ojoo axis due to the train station and the dry Port and the need to make Moniya to IJaiye road to be 8 lanes. That road has been completed, the need to create a new access becomes compulsory.
To this extent, I appreciate the proposed road from Akinyele to Ojoo. But, as people wake up to see the red marks on their property walls, they die slowly.
Your Excellency sir, the people have erred, no doubt, but all we can plead for is mercy to show a human face that your government is known for.
Remember that these people are your followers that God has privileged you to govern and manage their affairs for the period of your reign. Let them say good thing about you that you are a listening Governor now and in the future to come.
Therefore, I will plead with you not to demolish that much in Ibadan city because there are alternatives and I like to share my thoughts with you that it is possible to have minimal destruction:
Option A:
i. The existing road from Ojoo to Akinyele needs rehabilitation and expansion.
ii. Considered 2 meters of trapezoidal drainage on both sides of the road. We can have 2 lanes of 10 meters each. This would be 24 meters in total.
Option B:
i. Explore the existing right of way on the Lagos – Ilorin express way. We can comfortably have 7.3m lanes on both sides of the expressway way from Akinyele market to Toll gate.
ii. Dedicate item i above to trucks/trailers just like BRT in Lagos state.
Now, it is important to acknowledge the fact that the law still remains the law. The right of way to Federal roads remains 45 meters. This has been contravene along this route. But I must say here that a government official approved those buildings and money paid into government purse.
Your Excellency sir, for the sake of emphasis, I plead that you should avoid too much demolition of buildings along Ojoo -Akinyele road.
Then, going forward sir, I will suggest you work with professionals in building industries and the legislative arm of government to proffer solutions to the problem.
The Nigerian institution of surveyors, Oyo state branch, the town planning association of Nigeria, Oyo state branch and other relevant professionals are readily available to collaborate with your government on this matter. The law should give the town planning authority the teeth to bite, so that, whoever commences construction project without survey plan and subsequent approvals of such project by the town planning authority should be prosecuted. In the same manner, any surveyor or town planner that is found culpable in producing fake plan, town planners approving developmental project without a registered survey, should be prosecuted.
In addition, I would have written you on this recent development on Ojoo-Akinyele road, Circular road corridor and the land between Agodi garden and premier hotel before now; but, I thought the needful would be done as your people have cried to you for mercy, and you have been engaging the leaders of thoughts, stakeholders as well as the concerned people who are victims.
However, when I heard the demolition exercise has started on Akinyele road, my heart aches and I felt I should say a few words to plead that you should use your privileged office to allow God to intervene in the matter.
Furthermore, the intended project is for the benefit of the masses and the law is clear, but I want to say again that the law was made for the man not man made for the law. All these can be integrated into whatever scheme you want to do on that corridor, while the ministry would observe a reasonable offset distance well enough for safety of lives on the federal road.
The truth of the matter is that people have been living in that axis for years and the new generation in the family sees those buildings as a family house. So, no amount of compensation, if any, would be sufficient to pay for the attachment the people have with those family properties.
Finally, it was and is God almighty who has given you Oyo State to govern the first term in office. Again, it the same God who has giving you the privilege for the second term. It is the same God who has made the Oyo people governable for you. I like to put it to you that the only reason why God has giving you privilege to be Governor is to make His people and put smiles in their faces, which you have already been doing.
In conclusion, as the case is, the best thing is to listen to God’s guidance. And, as someone with the Spirit of God in him, I know you will not forget that God will not do anything that will make His people weep or cry.
So, I advise that you should not listen to the advice of those who would never have the gut to tell you the feedback from the citizens or those who would never interrogate whatever decision your aids are taking. I like you to know that I am not writing this letter as an opposition; rather, I am doing this to satisfy my conscience and I will be happy if you charge those residence some token as tenants on government land. This will continue to say a lot of good things about your person when you must have left office.
Your Excellency sir, I wish your government a successful tenure sir and best of luck in all you are doing to put Oyo State in better shape.
Yours faithfully,
Surv. Busari OLakunle Ibrahim, busarikunle@gmail.com
Akabiako Compound, Saki (Your Critic).