Dayo Oderinu Pens Open Letter to Governor Ademola Adeleke: Osun is Bigger Than Ede

Dear Governor Ademola Adeleke,

Welcome back from the family function in America. I share in the joy of the Adeleke family over David’s beautiful marriage to his delectable wife, and pray their union lasts forever.

Now that you are back home, hopefully revitalized to continue serving the State, there is an important issue that should get your attention.

This open letter is not long, rather, it is a quick reminder of a few elements of the geography of Osun State.

Osun consists of 30 Local Governments, Mr. Governor, with 1 Area Office. These further break down into 332 Wards, each Ward encompassing a town or group of towns.

Ejigbo, the headquarters of Ejigbo Local Government (where I come from), sits on 373sqkm of land mass.

In 3 years of your Government, Mr. Governor, your government has ‘graciously’ constructed two roads that fall within this 373sqkm catchment area, both less than 5kms, combined.

Ede, the headquarters of Ede North and Ede South Local Governments sits on 330sqkm land area.

In three years, sir, you have constructed the almost-9km Akoda-Oke Gada dual carriage road. Within the same period, you have constructed several arterial roads in Ede. Within this same period, you have also now commenced dualization projects from Oke-Gada to Ofatedo (through Ido-Osun), and from Abere roundabout to Ede. These three roads sum up to almost 30kms of dual carriage roads in, through, and out of Ede ALONE!

I will abandon the possible needs for those dual carriage roads you are constructing in Ede so that I can focus on the real reason I typed this.

Reason I typed this?

It’s a simple question –

Do you remember, Mr. Governor, that there are lots of communities in Osun State other than Ede?

Do you remember, Mr. Governor, that the road from Ede junction to Dele Yes Sir in Osogbo has almost become a death trap?

Do you remember, that as much as you want to turn your little London (Ede) to a cynosure of all eyes, every other community longs for their share at the table of opportunities for their development.

Keep in mind, sir, that the Osun Map is bigger than Ede, and this means development and resource allocation must keep every town and village in mind. I speak especially for Ejigbo, and my own little London, Agurodo.

So help you God.

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AT.