Kazeem Badmus
RESIDENTS of the State of Osun have been expressing their displeasure over the abandonment of Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo.
Nelson Mandela Freedom Park had hitherto served as a recreation centre for residents of the state, but it has turned into a shadow of its old self since the State Government handed it over to the Nigerian Railway Corporation last year.
The Freedom Park, built by the Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola administration, is an exceptional tourist haven for residents of the capital territory and visitors from far and near and adjudged to be the most beautiful park in the state.
When OSUN DEFENDER visited the park on Thursday, there was no life in the tourist site, as everywhere was overgrown with grasses, while some residents had turned some sections of the park to clothes’ drying site.
The abandonment of the park has been generating hues and cries on the social media, as residents of the state unanimously condemn its ‘disheartening state’.
A resident of the state, Com. Lamina Kamiludeen, who is the Chairman, World Institute for Peace, called on Governor Adegboyega Oyetola to act fast in bringing the park back to life.
Kamiludeen, in an open letter titled ‘Call for Retract from Railway Management: Nelson Mandela Freedom Park Losing Its Value’, said it was embarrassing and disturbing that the park, which had hitherto been full of life, is now being abandoned.
Reacting, the State Commissioner for Commerce, Industries, Cooperatives and Empowerment, Dr. Bode Olanipekun, in an interview with the medium, said the government did not abandon the park, but is rather trying to give it a new and better look.
According to Olanipekun, there were some anomalies that needed to be corrected in the area of managing the place, hence the delay in redesigning and renovating the place.
The commissioner said both the government and Nigerian Railway Corporation were working hard to come to an agreement on the issue
He said: “There were anomalies that are being corrected. The Freedom Park originally belongs to the Nigerian Railway. The State Government took the initiative of making the place attractive by redesigning the place.
“But if the government is repairing what belongs to somebody else, there must be an agreement between both parties in order to know their responsibilities and that did not happen between the State Government and the Nigerian Railway during the time of the immediate past administration.
“So when we came in and there were issues about control over the place, we looked into our book and discovered that there was only draft agreement that was not signed. We now said let us work together on it, since there was an understanding that the state should take over and manage it, let us now go into proper cultivation of the agreement.
“Also, we consider that the place should take a better look than it is wearing now. More so, the overhead bridge coming around that place will also bring a new design to the park.
“For everything that we are taking over from the Nigerian Railway which comprises both operational and non-operational segments of the park and other ones that is not park-related, we should do an agreement that will be all-encompassing, touching on everything that is Railway which the State Government is interested in, and that includes Dagbolu Axis, Osogbo Axis, Parking Area, Tarmac and the Garden.
“And we cannot agree if we do not know the quantity of what we are agreeing on. That put us into making designs, drawing, architectural and engineering work, for us to have the basis for our agreement.
“This is all we have been doing that has delayed what the State Government and the Nigerian Railway are working on, and you know COVID-19 has not helped things either, but very soon by the grace of God, the place will wear a new look.”
