Kwara community seeks construction of road abandoned 21yrs ago

Residents of Elerinjare community in Ifelodun LGA of Kwara State have cried out to the state government to help in the construction of the 3.7 kilometre Idofian-Elerinjare road.

Making the appeal on behalf of the community, the traditional ruler of Elerinjare Ibobo land, Oba Tajudeen Olanrewaju Bello (Olaitan II), lamented the harrowing situation experienced by the people due to the bad state of the road, which has been abandoned for over 21 years.

In a statement by the publicity secretary of the Elerinjare Ibobo Descendants Union (EIDU), Abdulhakeem Garba, the monarch said, “The road was first awarded during the first term of Governor Bukola Saraki in 2003 and during the second term of the immediate past Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed.

“However, its construction did not see the light of the day. It is always a challenge yearly for indigenes who travelled far and near to access the agrarian community as rain usually flooded the way leading to the area.

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“The situation forced indigenes to park their vehicles along roadside for days without gaining access to the community, while others would rather turn back,” the traditional ruler stated.

He said when constructed, the Idofian-Elerinjare road would benefit other adjoining agrarian communities of Oko-Okuta and Okoya and reduce hours spent travelling on the road.

Oba Bello, who said that communal efforts had sustained the road from getting dilapidated, added that each household was levied yearly, especially, during the rainy season to maintain the road.

The monarch said that it was collective efforts of members of the community that brought about construction of primary and secondary schools, adding that projects such as electricity, hand pump boreholes were also realised by taxing each household since 1984.

He passionately appealed to Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq to urgently intervene on the cries of the people who had supported the administration since inception.

“But despite our support, the dividend of democracy are yet to reach the community. We are, therefore, appealing to our able Governor to consider our plight,” he submitted.