Member representing Ondo East and West Federal Constituency at the Federal House of Representatives, Honourable Peter Abiola Makinde, has set the record straight regarding the process and efforts which led to the approval and commencement of the dualisation of the Akure-Ondo-Ore express road.
In a message made available on his Facebook page, Hon. Makinde recounted that he moved the motion for the dualisation of the road on the floor of the house on the 14th of December 2021, and that the motion was seconded by Hon. Okwudili Christopher Eze Nwankwo, Member representing Orumba North/ Orumba South Federal Constituency of Anambra.
Makinde, recognised the contribution of Hon Festus Adefiranye, member representing Odigbo-Ile oluji/ Oke-Igbo federal constituency who moved similar motion in 2023 for the rehabilitation and dualisation of the said road.
The ranking MHR made specific reference to the sterling leadership of RT Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, the then Speaker of the House of Representatives who now serves as the Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The statement, also made reference to the strategic leadership of Hon Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the Governor of Ondo State for making particular reference to the road when the Minister for works, Dave Umahi, visited the state.
“As a member of the House of Representatives representing Ondo East/West Federal Constituency, I moved the motion on the floor of the House on December 14th, 2021, stated the issue whilst compelling Ministry of Works to priotise work on the said road.
“Hon Okwudili Christopher Eze Nwankwo, a member representing Orumba North/Orumba South Federal Constituency in Anambra State, seconded the motion and the whole House Members agreed to it. The then Speaker, now Chief of Staff to Mr President, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila said.
“This is an infrastructural motion of very important infrastructural motion.
“We thank him for his leadership, most especially in making sure it comes to reality. The Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the State House,Abuja acted on the resolve of the House and approved N134b for the dualisation of this road.
“I appreciate my colleague, Hon. Festus Adefiranye, Member representing Odigbo Ileoluji Okeigbo for moving similar motion in 2023 for the dualisation of this said road.
“I must also thank the ever-working governor of Ondo State, His Excellency, Lucky Orimisan Ayedatiwa for demanding immediate action from the Minister of Works, H.E. Dave Umahi, when he visited Ondo State in September 2023,” Makinde said.
However, Hon. Abiola Makinde warned that people who are not directly involved in the process which led to the actualisation of this infrastructural feat should not attempt to take credit for it; stating that there similar attempt at usurping and taking credit for the upgrade of the then Adeyemi College of Education to a university was blown when they were confronted with incontrovertible facts.
“When Adeyemi became a University, some persons came out to claim it as their initiative. It was until we presented documents to disprove their claims, that they put a stop to their agitation to usurp the work of others.
“Now, the construction of Ore-Ondo-Akure federal road dualisation has kick-started, some people are out to claiming credit for it,” he concluded.
