The Senate leader and lawmaker representing Ekiti Central senatorial district, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, has disclosed that the federal government has earmarked N4 billion for road construction and rehabilitation for Ekiti State in the amended 2022 supplementary budget.
In the amended N819.5billion 2022 supplementary budget passed last week, the Senate set aside total of N185 billion for road infrastructures through the Ministry of Works Housing across the six geo-political zones.
Speaking with newsmen at the weekend in Ikogosi-Ekiti, during the event marking the 90th birthday celebration of the Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s father, Pa Ezekiel Oyebanji, Bamidele said the projects allocated in the budget would be in the overall interest of the state.
He added that the supplementary budget was passed and approved for President Bola Tinubu to provide palliatives to Nigerians in a bid to cushion the effects of the fuel subsidy removal and address other nation’s economic challenges.
The lawmaker said, “One of them was the sum of N2 billion that was approved for the construction of Iyin-Ilawe Ekiti road which is something that we believe will connect, not only the two communities, but will connect Ekiti Central Senatorial District with Ekiti South Senatorial District.
“Recently, Federal College of Education was recently approved for Ilawe Ekiti, the road will also serve the purpose of trying to open up the community to make life easier even for that campus.
“And then of course, the other projects approved in the budget was also the sum of N1 billion for the construction of inner roads in Ado Ekiti and another N1 billion for the construction of inner roads in Ijero Ekiti.
“I want to say that these are all parts of the extension of the infrastructural development drives of His excellency, Governor Biodun Oyebanji. He met with all of us and he gave us list of projects that were of utmost concern for him.
“I appreciate the Governor for standing by me to be Senate Leader. His support was strong and solid. He did this because he had imbibed the culture of Omoluabi and love for Ekiti from his father.
“I will make sure that I join Governor Oyebanji to improve the wellbeing of Ekiti in terms of road construction and facilitating federal projects to Ekiti. This is what we owe Ekiti and we shall achieve it.”
Speaking, Oyebanji said he has no enemy to fight and that those postulating that he and Senator Bamidele would soon clash would be disappointed.
“The two of us are first and foremost friends and brothers, we believe in God as the sole determinant of the future and we are also highly experienced politicians who have committed our political future in the hands of God. So, stop speculating about any war between us.
“God is the Alpha and Omega of human beings, He does things at his own will. God is the decider of our fate. I want to tell you clearly that nothing can separate me from Senator Bamidele. We have built a strong relationship over the years, so politics can’t separate us,” the governor said.
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