Oyo State Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde today renamed the 8.3-kilometre Akobo-Olorunda Road after the immediate past governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike while flagging off the dualisation of the road.
The road was awarded at a cost of N9.6billion.
Makinde, who revealed that 30 percent of the total sum has been paid to the contractor, stated that upon completion, the road would provide relief for motorists and residents and enhance the development of the axis.
His words, “We kept our promise and awarded the project and today, we fulfilled our promise and the reconstruction work has started,” declaring that the project will be completed in twelve months.
However, there is a mixed reaction to the renaming of the road as some residents showed displeasure saying that the governor should have named the road after a non-controversial person.
A woman said, “Why would he name our road after Wike, who goes about abusing everybody? He does not even have respect for traditional institution. Is Wike not the one publicly abusing a king in his state saying that he knew the king when he was wearing pampers? Why did Makinde do that? Anyway, he is free to name the road after anything but we, who are living here will continue to call it Akobo-Olorunda Road. How can someone change the name of a community that has God-Olorun to a human name? He now changes that to a name we don’t even know the meaning.”
Another resident stated, “Whatever name he gives the road is immaterial. What matters to me is that the road is constructed and we have a motorable road. Let them be fast about the construction so we will stop visiting mechanic shop almost everyday.”
