Osun APC, PDP Supporters Clash Over Quality Of Oke-Fia Flyover
- As Residents Slam Ex-Works Commissioner, Omowaiye
Members and supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State have traded words over the quality Oke-Fia flyover in Osogbo, the state capital.
The party loyalists had taken to social media to attack themselves over the size and standard of the bridge, with the APC members claiming the ongoing project is substandard and not a dual carriageway.
The APC supporters claimed the bridge was too narrow and should not have housed a median, with the PDP loyalists hitting back.
One of the APC supporters, Misbahudeen Ibrahim in a Facebook post, said the Oke-fia bridge cannot be considered a dual carriageway because the remaining space left after two cars occupy the lane is a mere 0.1 meter and too short.
He said referring to the bridge as a dualized carriageway is unprofessional on the part of the engineer and contractor.
According to him, “The minimum width for a single traffic lane should be at least 7.6 to 8 meters. Architecturally, we use a principle called ‘Anthropometric Data’. This involves measuring the objects that will occupy a designated space to ensure efficient circulation and free movement.
“Now, analyzing the picture circulated on social media to defend the project only reinforces the claim that it is defective.
“The anthropometric data for a car shows it requires between 2.7 and 3 meters of space, depending on the vehicle’s width. However, the sectional lane of the Oke-fia bridge is less than 5.5 meters; it is 18 feet (5.4m). Let’s assume it is equivalent to 5.5m.
“Calculation: 5.5 ÷ 2 = 2.75 meters. This means the remaining space after two cars occupy the lane is a mere 0.1 meter.
“In construction, engineers must account for extra space for steering control, avoiding road defects, and spontaneous human movements. The question remains: will a 0.1-meter space suffice for these activities?
“Therefore, bisecting the road to justify the narrative of a dualized carriageway is unprofessional on the part of the engineer/contractor. It is also a dubious move by the project sponsors to approve such a design if human safety is truly a priority.”
But the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Ademola Adeleke on the Bureau of Social Services, Akintunde Sheriff, slammed the APC supporters, noting that the bridge meets the minimum standard specification.
Sheriff in a statement, claimed that the Oke-Fia flyover was an improvement to the standard of all the flyovers constructed under previous administrations in the state.
The statement read in part, “I have seen the feeble attempt by some members of the Ileri school of thought of Osun APC to downplay the flyover, a significant infrastructure the Government provided at Okefia, which we are now about delivering as we round up the completion.
“The road is a dual-lane flyover with a corresponding length never witnessed before in the history of our State, as far as flyover antecedents are concerned. Each side of this new flyover has a carriage way of nothing less than 5 metres. What this means is that the width of the Okefia flyover constructed by this Government is 10 metres and it meets the minimum standard specification.
“Also, the road divider is movable or removable in case there is a need to ease traffic tension that may result from an accident or damaged vehicles. This flyover is an improvement to the standard of all the flyovers we have witnessed under previous administrations in our history as a State.
“We therefore seek the APC cult members loyal to Oyetola to stop being blind to the progress recorded by this present administration of His Excellency Asiwaju Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke. You may hate the Leader of the State but stop hating on the land. Osun State is our Jerusalem. Whoever wishes well for her will do good.”
Meanwhile, residents have slammed the immediate past Commissioner for Works in the state, Remi Omowaiye, for contributing to the debate.
Omowaiye had reposted the claim by an APC supporter that the bridge is of low standard and not a dual carriageway.
But commenting on his post, residents berated Omowaiye for condemning the bridge, questioning if he did better while he was in office.
A Facebook user, Ajala Joshua, while reacting to Omowaiye’s post, wrote, “Omowaye, why are you not ashamed of yourself by sharing this kind of post on your personal wall. Because when you are serving as a commissioner for workers under the immediate Governor Adegbiyega Oyetola, you know, the kind of bridge that you build in Olaiya that you are calling the flying head bridge. Shame on you.”
Another person who commented on the post, Ares Itunu, wrote, “Hon. Omowaye, was what you did at Olaiya good? You shameless APC urchins. You don’t even have the right to talk.”
Kazeem Badmus is a graduate of Mass Communication with years of experience. A professional in journalism and media writing, Kazeem prioritses accuracy and factual reportage of issues. He is also a dexterous finder of the truth with conscious delivery of unbiased and development oriented stories.
