Afenifere urges FG to fix bad roads in Southwest

The National Leader of the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and socio-political organisation, Afenifere, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, has called on the Federal Government to urgently fix major roads in the Southwest, such as Ife-Akure, Akure-Owo, Ado-Ekiti-Ilesa, Ibadan-Ogbomoso-Ilorin, and Ibadan-Abeokuta, among others.

The appeal was made after a delegation led by one of the chieftains and leaders of the organisation, Senator Femi Okunrounmu, visited the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, at his palace in Ile-Ife to celebrate the monarch’s 50th birthday.

Speaking on behalf of Pa Fasoranti, Okunrounmu pledged the organisation’s continuous support for the administration of President Bola Tinubu, stressing the need for infrastructural overhaul in the region.

The Afenifere leader said that the organisation is “conscious of the challenging times our citizens are passing through,” noting Tinubu’s efforts to address the challenges.

Fasoranti commended the National Assembly for passing the South-West Development Commission (SWDC) Bill and expressed hope that the Commission will take off soon to tackle the infrastructural challenges that the South-West is facing.

While commending the Federal Government on the renewed effort to complete the rehabilitation of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, the Afenifere leader called on the government to give urgent attention to some other major roads in the South-West, such as Ife-Akure, Akure-Owo, Ado-Ekiti-Ilesa, Ibadan-Ogbomoso-Ilorin, and Ibadan-Abeokuta, among others.

Fasoranti congratulated Oba Ogunwusi for spending 50 years on earth, describing the foremost monarch as the “physical and visible symbol of the progenitor of the Yoruba people.”

Addressing the delegation, Oba Ogunwusi urged leaders and chieftains of Afenifere to always support President Tinubu in his efforts to tackle the challenges confronting Nigeria.

The frontline monarch, who charged the leaders not to be far from the President, called on them to always provide laudable and pro-masses policies for Tinubu.

Oba Ogunwusi gave the charges while hosting the leaders of Afenifere, who visited him at his Ile-Ife palace on Tuesday to celebrate his 50th birthday anniversary.

The leaders were led to the Ooni’s palace by the National Leader of Afenifere, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, who was represented by Senator Femi Okunrounmu.

While commending Afenifere for standing by the Yoruba people, especially in difficult times such as the cashless period, the Ooni of Ife said it was pertinent that the organisation join forces with President Tinubu in proffering solutions to current challenges.

He expressed profound appreciation to the Afenifere delegation, saying he was particularly delighted and felt highly honoured that the leadership of the foremost Yoruba organisation thought it fit to come and visit him on the occasion of his 50th birthday.

“I want to thank you for supporting President Tinubu. You have been supporting him before he became President; please, let’s not stop praying so that challenging things will be made easy.

“As elders of Yorubaland, let’s remain steadfast; it is God that favoured us with President Tinubu. During one of the challenging moments of this country, during Naira’s redenomination, Afenifere stood behind unity, and it worked. And to the glory of God, they are still rock solid. We should not leave our President; we should continue to support him and complement his efforts to make things work in this country. We should continue to support his cause. Don’t be far from him. Always visit him to brief him on laudable policies that he would be implementing,” the Ooni urged the Afenifere chieftains.

Other prominent leaders who were present included former Governor of Ogun State and incumbent Senator Gbenga Daniel, retired Major-General of the Nigerian Army and former acting Military Governor of the defunct South-Eastern State, Prince Oluyemi Bajowa, former Deputy Governor of Osun State, Otunba Iyiola Omisore, Kole Omololu, the National Organizing Secretary of Afenifere, among others.

Others are Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu, Oba Solomon Owoniyi, Obaro of Kabba, Kogi State, Oba Adeniyi Ogunbiyi, Akire of Epe, Oba Adebayo Adewole, Owa Ajero of Ijero, among others.