The All Progressives Congress in Osun State has pushed back against plans by Governor Ademola Adeleke to rehabilitate the Olaiya Flyover in Osogbo. The opposition party argues the structure is in good working condition and doesn't need repair work.
Governor Adeleke ordered the immediate rehabilitation of the flyover before commissioning the newly built Okefia Flyover. During an inspection, he expressed concern about what he saw as the bridge's deteriorating state.
The governor directed the Ministry of Works to begin work without delay. In a statement from his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, Adeleke said the bridge needs cleaning and proper upkeep as a state asset.
"The Ministry of Works should immediately act on this Olaiya bridge. Let us clean it up.
It is a state asset. We must ensure its proper maintenance.
This should be done before we commission the Okefia bridge," he said.
Adeleke stressed that his government remains committed to maintaining projects it inherited from previous administrations. He noted that governance doesn't stop when administrations change.
"I believe government is a continuum. All inherited projects are being completed by our government and all completed projects by previous administrations must be appropriately maintained," he added.
The APC hit back through its Osun spokesperson, Kola Olabisi, who questioned why rehabilitation was needed at all. Olabisi noted the flyover was built during former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola's tenure and remains structurally sound.
The party spokesman alleged the rehabilitation plan amounts to wasteful spending when other state sectors need urgent attention. He suggested the move was really about creating jobs for the governor's political allies.
"We consider the proposed rehabilitation of the flawless Olaiya Flyover by Governor Adeleke as a means of securing jobs for his political associates when other vital sectors of government are crying for urgent attention," Olabisi stated.
Olabisi demanded that Adeleke explain his reasoning for approving the rehabilitation. He pointed out that no professional engineering body has reported structural defects on the bridge since its commissioning roughly four years ago.
The APC spokesman called on residents across Osun to oppose the planned work, describing it as an avoidable waste of public money. He urged stakeholders to question the necessity of the project before funds are committed.
