The deputy governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Osun State, Mr Benjamin Adereti, has once again questioned the importance of the flyover being constructed by the state government in Ile-Ife.
In a statement by his media office, a copy obtained by NAIJAONPOINT on Thursday, Adereti said that the Lagere flyover bridge was a misplaced priority compared to Ile-Ife’s pressing infrastructural needs.
The running mate who is from Ile-Ife, however, said he did not oppose development projects in the ancient community, noting that he only questioned the relevance, timing, and impact of such a project on residents’ daily lives.
“Our attention has been drawn to recent commentaries attempting to misrepresent the position of our principal following his interview on the Lagere Flyover bridge project in Ile-Ife.
“For the avoidance of doubt, our principal’s position has been consistent, objective, and rooted in the genuine needs of the people. His remarks were made during a public engagement, in which he clearly stated that the Lagere flyover bridge was a misplaced priority compared to Ile-Ife’s pressing infrastructural needs.
“At no point did he oppose development. Rather, he questioned the relevance, timing, and impact of such a project on residents’ daily lives.
“It is important to state that this position was expressed well before the current stage of completion, as part of his responsibility to provide constructive criticism and policy direction,” the statement noted.
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Adereti slammed the opposition for politicising his view on the development, adding that, “unfortunately, instead of addressing these concerns, some have chosen to politicise the issue and misinterpret a sincere call for better prioritisation.”
He claimed that many inner roads in Ile-Ife remain in poor condition and there is a clear need for a comprehensive ring road system to ease movement and support economic activities.
“The fundamental issue remains unchanged: Ile-Ife has more urgent infrastructural demands. Many inner roads remain in poor condition, key routes require dualization, and there is a clear need for a comprehensive ring road system to ease movement and support economic activities.”
He also said available data has shown that a flyover is not needed at the Lagere axis.
“In most cases, delays do not last beyond a few minutes. This raises valid concerns about value for money and strategic planning,” the APC chieftain said.
Adereti also alleged bias in the developmental priorities across the state, stating that, “while some areas benefit from road dualization and targeted upgrades, Ile-Ife has been presented with a project many consider more symbolic than impactful.
“Our principal remains committed to people-oriented governance, where development is driven not by optics but by real-need projects that directly improve mobility, boost commerce, and enhance the quality of life,” he noted.
Olamilekan Adigun is a graduate of Mass Communication with years of experience in journalism embedded in uncovering human interest stories. He also prioritises accuracy and factual reportage of issues.
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