*storms Ibadan to commission Makinde’s 7.2 km road project
By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
Chairman, Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi has advised governor’s in Nigeria to always look beyond political party affiliations in governance.
Speaking at the commissioning of the 7.2 kilometres Idi Ape-Bashorun-Akobo-Odogbo Barracks Junction Road dualisation project, complemented with a flyover across Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, linking Bashorun to Akobo in Ibadan on Thursday, the NGF Chairman said Nigeria governor’s should see themselves as one.
Dr. Fayemi pointed out that this is the only way to ensure delivery of real dividends of democracy to all and sundry in and across the country.
According to him,” as the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, my primary duty is to protect, defend, and promote the interests of all the 36 state governors in Nigeria, regardless of their party affiliation”.
” We have governors from all sides, including APC, PDP, and we even have All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). But APC happens to be, for now, the majority. This is why the responsibility of the Chairman ship of the forum rests on my shoulders”, he said.
Dr Fayemi added, ” I cannot deliver the responsibility without the cooperation and collaboration of all my brothers across the divides. I can tell you that Engineer Oluseyj Makinde is a strong pillar of support in that forum”.
” So, for me, this is a duty beyond party. It is a recognition of what we promised our people and the pledges we made when we were elected into office to serve the people, who elected us, without let or hindrance. I know this road will be plied by members of PDP, APC and those who do not belong to any party. They would go on this road regularly. “
The NGF Chairman stressed further ” if what we are about is development of our people, we can disagree without being disagreeable. We can still hold our principle corners as proud members of PDP, APC and any other party, to which we belong. But once the elections are over, and it is time for governance, we all should rally round those who have been saddled with that responsibility via the ballots”.
Oyo state governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde while speaking disclosed that the NGF Chairman’s presence at the commissioning of the projects “communicates a message to those who think that politics is a do-ot-die affair, and for those of them, who think that collaborations across party lines for development is not possible.”
“Yes, we belong to different patties. Our great parties, PDP and APC, have different philosophies. But when it is time to do what is right for the progress of our people, we should all come together and get it done”, he said.
The governor added , ” Today is a demonstration of that. I can only say that players will come and go, governors will come and go, and parties will come and go. But our space and our country remain.”
Oyo State Commissioner for Public Works and Transportation, Prof Kehinde Sangodoyin in his remarks said the 7.25 kilometre road “was originally awarded to ENL on 19th May 2017, but stalled at 35.76 per cent progress, till it was terminated for non-performance by 2020 For expediency. The project was split into two scopes, and re-awarded separately for expediency and timeliness.”
