People and residents of Wire & Cable/Orisunmibare/Ita Faaji/Oganla Community in Ido Local Government Area have appealed to the Oyo State governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, to remove an age-long curse allegedly cast on the only road serving the community.
They appealed while speaking with the Nigerian Tribune on the deplorable state of the road, which serves as an important link to some other communities in the local government area.
Wire & Cable/Orisunmibare/Ita Faaji/Oganla Road is a state road that has been suffering years of neglect by successive administrations.
The community lamented their plight in commuting on the road, claiming that past administrations had variously promised to construct the road, but all to know avail.
Some of the residents however said they cannot blame any of the administrations for the neglect as they claimed that a generational curse must have been placed on the road, making the state government to overlook it.
Chairman of Gbogun/Otu Community Landlord Association, Mr Yomi Olaniyi, appealed to Governor ‘Seyi Makinde to alleviate the people’s suffering by ensuring the road’s construction.
He said, by doing this, the governor must have succeeded in removing the alleged curse placed on the community road and also put a smile on the face of the residents.
“Wire & Cable/Orisunmibare/Ita Faaji/Oganla Road is very important to the community and beyond. It is a state road that serves several other communities.
“Unfortunately, the road has been neglected over the years. One could argue that the road has been cursed, leading past administrations in the state to neglect it.
“I was made to understand that many landlords, both living and dead, made incursions into the road while building their houses.
“These affected landlords were said to have placed a curse on the road, saying its construction would not be in their lifetime. We are appealing to Governor Makinde to help us to break this curse and construct the road,” he said.
An elderly female leader in the community, Madam Rafaatu Abdulai, said, “I have been living in this community for more than 25 years.
“Much as I love its peaceful ambience, the state of the only road serving the community from Wire & Cable has been a source of concern for us the residents over the years.
“I want to believe that this is beyond the ordinary. Our road must have been cursed. I learnt that a former governor, the Kate Senator Abiola Ajimobi, once awarded the contract for its construction.
However, more than four years after the end of the Governor Ajimobi administration, nothing was done on the road.
Another resident, Michael Adewale, asserted that the state’s successive administrations must have been enchanted if they overlooked the road in their development plans.
“It is becoming very clear that Wire & Cable/Orisunmibare/Ita Faaji/Oganla Road is under a curse and this may be the reason for its deplorable condition.
Apart from the late former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala who was grading the road when he was in power, no other governor, before or after him, has done anything to improve the condition of the road.
“Incumbent Governor ‘Seyi Makinde was in our community in January 2019 to campaign for election. We told him then that the only thing we want from him is to lay asphalt on the road and good drainage.
“Governor Makinde, then a candidate, promised to meet our demand. But nothing has been done so far, even as he is rounding off his first term of office.
“I will not blame the governor. Rather, I want to believe that our road is under a curse. However, Governor Makinde should let us enjoy his Omitutun 2:0 and construct the road for us,” Adewale said.
Another resident, Mrs Fausat Olanrewaju, also appealed to the state governor to alleviate the suffering of the community’s residents caused by the bad road.
“Your Excellency, we want to thank God for your recent re-election as the governor of Oyo State. It is a show of the support of the people for your administration. I am to tell you, sir, we in this community voted for you enmasse in the election.
“Our dear governor, I want to believe your victory is a good omen for us. I think that your second term will be beneficial for our community.
“Under your Omituntun 1:0, you executed various projects that benefit many people in this state. We commend you for doing these.
“Sir, please consider us for your Omituntun 2:0 programme. Also, please intervene and remove any curse they might have placed on our road.
“You are a God-fearing, people-loving governor executing people-oriented projects across the state. Sir, remember us and fulfil the promise you made to us in January 2019 concerning our road,” Mrs Olanrewaju said.
