Motorists Stranded As Oyo Residents Protest Road Extension

Motorists stranded on Monday as thousands of Oyo residents affected by Ibadan Circular Road Corridor project take to di streets for peaceful protest. Di protesters carry placards, banners, and posters, start dey gather by end of Ibadan-Ife road around 10am, wey cause serious gridlock. Dem block other major roads to send clear signal to Oyo State Government about dia demands, while some gather for State Secretariat. Dem later march through Idi-Ape join others for State Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, where di protest reach peak. Di protest make di secretariat temporarily shut down as protesters no gree make anybody enter, and visitors or people wey get business suffer delays till di protest end. One of di protesters, Akeem Olaiya, talk say, “We be law-abiding citizens. Our protest na peaceful one. Wetin we need na simple: make Oyo State Government maintain di 150 metres wey former Governor Rashidi Ladoja, now 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland, don mark.”

Di group coordinator, Adeniyi Fasoye, add say di protest no get political motive, and no politician dey sponsor or teleguide dem against Governor Seyi Makinde. E talk say, “We no be politicians. Dis peaceful rally no political. We dey protest extension of Circular Road Corridor. We dey appeal to state government through di governor make dem leave di corridor alone, no extend am pass 150 metres wey don already map out.” Di Ibadan Circular Road idea start when Oba Rashidi Ladoja still dey govern Oyo, but e suffer setback after illegal impeachment in 2006. Ladoja don mark 150 metres for road construction, but Governor Makinde plan extend di corridor, wey fit affect more houses and community lands. Over 100 communities across seven LGAs including Ido, Lagelu, Ona Ara, Akinyele, Oluyole, and Egbeda, urge state government make dem maintain 150 metres wey Ladoja don set.