Residents of the Ibadan Circular Roads Corridor on Thursday demanded a total reversal of 500 metre corridor benchmarks by the Oyo State Government.
The affected residents led by their leaders, Chief Hammed Adedeji and Olaide Abass, who trooped out in their number, were seen with diverse inscriptions asking for due compensations and reversal of 500 metre corridor benchmark to 75metre as approved in 2006 during the administration of former governor, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, causing gridlocks on Adegbayi/New Ife road.
Speaking with newsmen, the Secretary of the association, Abass lamented the pains and struggles of the affected residents, saying only 204 out of over 2000 affected persons have been compensated by the Seyi Makinde led-administration.
The members of the group, drawn from the six affected local government areas including Egbeda, Ona-Ara, Lagelu, Akinyele, Oluyole and Ido, urged the government to prioritize their welfare in all its programmes.
Earlier, the chairman of the association, Chief Adedeji appreciated governor Seyi Makinde for its administration’s development renewal plan, urging him to reverse the circular road status quo for an average living of the affected residents
While highlighting the plights of the people, he described the compensation plan as uneven, saying, “many of our house owner colleagues have died. Others have been incapacitated by the sudden development. Unfortunately, the compensation was too poor. For instance, a well built house, fenced and gated was compensated for #456,000. Is this fair?”
The old man appealed to well mean Nigerians and political leaders to support the affected residents against the continued diseases, shocks and deaths.
“We need the help of every well meaning Nigerian and government, we must not continue to die over the shock. Help us, let the government of Seyi Makinde and incoming government prioritize people centered policies. Our lands must not be transferred to aliens all in the name of development as Makinde says” he lamented.
Meanwhile, other affected residents urged the government to be transparent in the compensation plans for a lasting legacy and improved democracy.
Recall that the ongoing circular road project, which was said to have been conceived by the later former Governor of Oyo state, Alhaji Lam Adesina, and pushed to action from the administrations of Senator Rashidi Ladoja, Late Abiola Ajimobi and present Governor, Engr. Makinde, fraught with protests and tongue lashes since March 24, 2014, after the flag off of the East Wing of the project at Badeku Axis of Egbeda-Ona-Ara Local Government.
