From Laide Raheem, Abeokuta
The Olota of Ota, Adeyemi Obalanlege, has called on the federal government to concede maintenance of federal roads to state governments, arguing that the federal government is too far away to look after the roads.
Obalanlege, who attributed the bad condition of federal roads in Ogun State, particularly in the Ota axis, to the refusal of the federal government to repair, maintain or concede the maintenance and repair of the roads to the state governments, insisted that states would be in the best position to give adequate maintenance to them.
The monarch made this known in an interview with newsmen after he led the Awori Obas Forum and the Olota-in-Council to the Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun, in his office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
He explained that the visit was to show the Forum’s solidarity with the governor for the good job his administration has carried out across the state.
The monarch noted that it is not the job of the Abiodun-led government to repair federal roads with its territory, saying that it became expedient for the state government to embark on the repair of the federal roads following the refusal of the federal government to repair and maintain them.
“In the first instance, it is not the job of Ogun State Government to take over federal roads, but because the federal government has refused to put these roads in order. And that is why the Ogun State Government wants to put it in order and that will help the people, especially in the Awori axis. So, whatever that is going to reduce the sufferings of our people, we are in support of it. All the Awori people are in support of His Excellency in ensuring that these roads are rehabilitated.
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“My advice to the federal government is that they should concede these roads to the state government and pay them based on the kilometre of federal roads that pass through the state. This is because they are far away from looking after these roads, so, they should leave them to the state government, that is the best option,” he said.
The Olota, however, applauded Governor Abiodun for taking the initiative to repair roads belonging to the federal government around Ota and its environs.
He bemoaned the poor condition of federal roads in the town, which he said had caused the people a lot of hardship.
The traditional ruler emphasised that he and other monarchs are impressed with the performance of the governor in the last three years, saying all parts of the state, including the Aworiland, had benefited from the projects executed by the government.
“We are pleased with the good work he has been doing and to assure him of our support in the coming election. He has done wonderfully well and we believe that by the time he returns to office for a second term, he will do more and better.
“We, members of Awori Obas Forum, in Ogun State and the Olota in-Council, are together and we want to assure the governor that we will support him. With our daughter as the deputy governor, they are going to perform very well in their second term in office,” Oba Obalanlege stated.