Osun State Government has declared that the construction of the Olaiya flyover in Osogbo was needless, judging by the measures taken by the administration of former governor Rauf Aregbesola.
In a statement on Friday, Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, described the decision of immediate-past governor Gboyega Oyetola to construct the flyover as ill-conceived because the traffic situation in the area had been permanently resolved.
Osun Defender reports that Goke Omigbodun, governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the last governorship election in Osun State, had criticised the state government on its ban of heavy-duty trucks on the flyover, accusing Governor Ademola Adeleke of building ‘needless’ flyovers in the state.
Omigbodun also carpeted the present administration on its policy thrust on education, energy, infrastructure, improved allocation, and the welfare of workers.
But in his response, Alimi berated the social commentator, stressing that Aregbesola had provided four adjoining roads to eliminate possible traffic gridlock at the Olaiya junction, making no need for a flyover.
READ: INTERVIEW: Building Flyovers Across Osun Is Arrant Nonsense – Omigbodun
He argued that the ongoing flyover at the Oke-Fia junction is appropriate judging by the heavy traffic around the area.
His words, “The more ludicrous side of the piece was his postulation that, a flyover is more needed at Olaiya junction than at Oke-fia. He contested that there are more traffic jams at Olaiya junction than at Oke-fia. This postulation coming from the Architect is strange and far from the truth. Let me remind himt that, the traffic jams at Olaiya junction has been resolved by the Administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola by building four adjoining roads at Olaiya junction, leaving few vehicles to actually reach Olaiya junction, which are being controlled by the traffic lights.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the four roads are: the adjoining road from Alekuwodo to Fakunle area that takes vehicles coming from Oke-fia/Alekuwodo axis directly to Fakunle area without getting to Olaiya junction; The adjoining road from Asubiaro/Jaleyemi area to MDS area that takes vehicles coming from Jaleyemi to MDS directly to MDS without getting to Olaiya junction;
“Adjoining road from MDS to Alekuwodo axis, that takes all vehicles coming from MDS to Alekuwodo axis without getting to Olaiya junction;Adjoining road from Fakunle area to Jaleyemi area that takes vehicles vehicles coming from Ogoluwa/Fakunle area to Jaleyemi area without getting to Olaiya junction.
“I made bold to state that all the four adjoining roads have taken away the majority of the vehicles away from Olaiya junction, making any assertion of traffic jam at Olaiya junction a ruse.
“On the other hand, the reverse is the case about Oke-fia junction. There’s no adjoining roads that can take away any vehicles from Oke-fia junction, so all roads lead to Oke-fia junction, with the attendant traffic jams especially early in the morning and the evening time,” Alimi.
Debates on the quality of the flyover has dominated public discourse in the state in the last few days with interesting takes from stakeholders, political players and the state government.
Sodiq Yusuf is a trained media practitioner and journalist with considerable years of experience in print, broadcast, and digital journalism. His interests cover a wide range of causes in politics, governance, sports, community development, and good governance.
