AN OPEN LETTER TO THE GOOD PEOPLE OF OYO STATE

Good day and compliment of the season to all sons and daughters of Oyo State.

Precisely on the 3rd of February this year, Oyo State clocked 38 years. In 1976, our able State was created by the then military government led by Late General Murtala Mohammed from the then old Western State which was divided into Ogun, Ondo and Oyo states respectively. In 1991,Osun state was carved out from Oyo state which as of today is having 33 local governments.

Our dear state, Oyo is noted for its prominent historical and physical landmarks in art, science and culture. Up till date, the exploits and brilliance of our warrior-forefathers in the old Oyo Empire is still being talked about. We are proud to have the first University in Nigeria (1948), the first teaching hospital in Nigeria (UCH), the first television station in Africa (NTA Ibadan), the first ever sports stadium built in Africa (Liberty Stadium-now Obafemi Awolowo stadium), the first skyscraper to have been built in Africa (Cocoa-House). All these were efforts of the sacrificial initiative of late Obafemi Awolowo as the first Premier that spent government money to better the lives of the citizens. No generation will forget him.

My people of Oyo State, now, thirty-eight years after the creation of the State (from 3rd of February, 1976) and fifteen years of democratic government in the state (from 29th of May, 1999), we have not seen any major development in the state apart from the continuation of roads construction and rehabilitations by subsequent governments without time-limit. It is so difficult to point to any landmark or significant infrastructure in the state in the past 38 years ago as a Pace-setter of all State (am not talking of Shoprite or eatry joints). As Pacesetters, we are meant to be setting the pace for others to follow. “Aji se bi Oyo laari, Oyo kii se bi enikookan” which when literarily translated means that Oyo will always set the pace and never copy others. The understanding of greatness to new generation leaders seem to be skewed around making their pocket “great” and not making their foot-prints known in the history of the state. They have refused to take care of the poor, the sick and the underprivileged. They are a set of leaders that take from the poor and give to the rich. That is why they cannot be remembered for good things.

Meanwhile, on a more serious note, by now the State is supposed to have embarked on free, compulsory and qualitative education for all school age children to the University level(children are still hawking during school time at Dugbe, Challenge, Iwo Road and Ojoo roads respectively). By now we are supposed to have the best designed, constructed and maintained roads network in our cities especially where people live (the city roads with side-walks and bus-stops) and even take a bold step to construct four-lane carriageways linking and leading to IGBETI-SAKI-KISHI-SEPETERI-OKEHO-ILORA-AWE-ILERO-OYO-ISEYIN-ERUWA-LANLATE-IGBOHO-IGBOORA-OGBOMOSHO respectively. Is it a taboo to have a railway transport along with four or five lanes highway from Ibadan to Ogbomosho?. By now, all the 33 Local Governments should have gotten their befitting and well-equipped Health Centers, Sports Complexes / Mini Stadia, and Libraries (please check around if there is any public library near your house). We have not seen any International companies or new important private companies springing up apart from “owanbe” Event Centers or Shopping Plazas syndrome that litter our landscape. We have not thought of constructing the biggest hospital in Nigeria to consolidate our first teaching hospital record in Nigeria. When are we going to have a road traffic management with zero pot-holes commitments on all state roads for other State to emulate? Great development is possible with great cabinet.

Roads are being constructed and rehabilitated in the cities without making necessary provision for pedestrian side-walks, bus-stops and drainage mechanism, but flowers are given priority-we could not even see professional touches from the planting of those flowers as if there are no horticulture graduates in the State. Our new markets and the old ones like Akesan, Oja-Igbo, Akangbe, Sango (Saki), Anko, Maya, Towobowo, Bodija and Sango (Ibadan) markets should be giving a face-lift respectively with well-managed modern entrance tolls to generate revenue for the State. The government has to invest more on agriculture and wood production. Where are our streets public tap-water gone to when there is a Ministry of Water Resources with engineers?I remember my secondary schools when coming back from school to stop for a drink at nearby government tap-water. Why is it difficult to number and name our streets when there is a Ministry of Land and Housing? Our subsequent leaders do not make provision for public toilet as basic necessity for human beings, talk-less of thinking about public parking space for vehicles, motorcycles and bicycles.