Controversy is now trailing the approval and commencement of the dualisation of Akure-Ondo-Ore express road as two National Assembly lawmakers from Ondo state, Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire and House of Representatives member, Abiola Makinde are laying claims to the feat recorded on the project.
Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire represents Ondo Central senatorial district while Abiola Makinde represents Ondo West / Ondo East Federal Constituency, both from the same Senatorial district.
Makinde had disclosed that the motion for the dualisation of the Akure-Ondo-Ore express road was raised by him on December 14, 2021 on the floor of the House and seconded by Mr. Okwudili Nwankwo, a member representing Orumba North/ Orumba South Federal Constituency of Anambra state.
Setting 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, Makinde, in a posted on his Facebook page, stated that his intention was to ensure safety of the lives of the people who make use of the road.
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.
He stated that there was a 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 claim credit for it.“
He said, “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 Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire thorough his Senior Legislative Aide, Bolarinde Akinloye described Makinde’s claims as untrue.
He said, “In the interest of setting the records straight and ensuring that due recognition is accorded to all those whose efforts contributed to the realization of the Ore-Ondo-Akure Federal Road Dualization, it has become necessary to respond to the claims made by the office of Hon. Abiola Makinde, member House of Representatives, representing Ondo East and West Federal Constituency of Ondo State.
“Hon. Makinde did, in fact, sponsor a motion regarding the dualization of the Ore-Ondo-Akure road during the 9th Assembly. However, the actualization of a project goes way beyond moving a motion on the floor of the House of Representatives.
“It is, however, a laudable step.Legislative intervention as it relates to getting the Executive arm of Government to approve and execute any project, involves varios steps such as getting the relevant MDA to buy into the project and for the Executive arm of Government to provide for its funding.
“The Legislature itself recognises this, hence the use of the word “urge” in such motions. Urge, as we all know, means to persuade.The executive arm of the government, therefore, has to be persuaded to approve and execute any project, the subject matter of a motion.
“Despite Hon. Makinde’s efforts in the 9th Assembly, the project was neither approved nor implemented at that time. The matter again gained significant traction in the House of Representatives, when Hon. Festus Adefiranye moved a similar motion. Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire, SAN, on his part, elected to approach the actualization of the said project from a different angle.
“In ensuring the actualization of the project, Senator Adegbonmire played a critical role in ensuring that the project moved beyond legislative discussions to actualization. As a member of the Appropriation Committee of the Senate , he had the strategic leverage to lobby for the necessary funding.
“Understanding the fiscal constraints involved in executing a project of this magnitude, he held the view that a phased funding approach would be the best option. This would entail first getting the design for the project funded and then lobbÿ for the project to be funded through a special intervention fund. This strategy, in his opinion, would ensure that the financial commitment required for the project was sustainable and achievable.
“Senator Adegbonmire, in pursuance of this strategy, made direct appeals through official correspondence to key decision-makers.“
