Monarch, residents commend Adeleke over Lagere Flyover, other road projects in Ile-Ife

The Obalufe of Ile-Ife, Oba Idowu Adediwura, has commended the Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, for enhancing the cultural heritage of the ancient city through the ongoing construction of the Lagere flyover and other road projects.

Oba Adediwura said the improved road network would play a significant role in promoting Ile-Ife’s rich cultural heritage, especially as the city prepares to host major traditional festivals.

Speaking during a spot assessment of the projects in Ile-Ife on Monday, the monarch expressed appreciation to the governor for the development strides recorded so far and for planned projects yet to commence in the town. He also prayed for continued divine guidance for the governor.

“With the good roads now, it will promote our culture in Ife as a whole. As we prepare for the Olojo Festival in September and the Aje Festival coming up next week, visitors will have better access to the town, which will help promote our culture. We appreciate the governor for what he has done. He also promised us during our visit to Osogbo that he would construct three additional roads for us. We believe he will fulfil that promise because we trust him,” the monarch said.

Also speaking, former National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Professor Adewale Oladipupo, described the flyover as a historic and monumental project in the ancient city. He admitted that the idea initially generated anxiety among some residents because it was unprecedented in Ile-Ife’s long history.

“We cannot thank the governor enough. When the idea of constructing the flyover was first introduced, some people were apprehensive because it is a novel concept in the history of this ancient city. Historically, Ile-Ife was one of the five major cities in the world over a thousand years ago, but urbanisation in other parts of the country and the Yoruba land has shifted attention elsewhere.

“Many of those towns were founded by people who left Ile-Ife in the early days, so we are proud of their growth. However, we cannot quantify the historical and developmental impact of this monument that Governor Adeleke has decided to build in Ile-Ife,” Oladipupo said.

Meanwhile, residents of Ile-Ife, including Mr Adeyeye Olaposi and Mrs Elizabeth Owolabi, praised the Osun State Government for the ongoing road construction, describing the projects as timely, visible and economically beneficial to the community.