Residents of Aratumi and 24 other communities in Osogbo, Osun State, on Monday, staged a peaceful protest to draw attention to the deplorable state of their roads.

The protesters appealed to Governor Ademola Adeleke to urgently intervene and facilitate the construction of the road network linking their communities to the Atman area along the Osogbo–Ikirun expressway.

Gathering at the Kelebe–Aratumi axis, residents displayed placards with inscriptions such as “Our roads are in shambles,” “Kelebe-Aratumi is part of Osun State: We reject the neglect,” and “Governor Ademola Adeleke, approve construction of our roads.”

Speaking to journalists, a community leader, Kehinde Olusegun, said the protest was aimed at drawing the attention of the state government to their plight and years of infrastructural neglect.

“We have gathered here today to appeal to the state government to intervene in the terrible state of this road. It connects about 25 communities from Kelebe, along Iragbiji Road, to ATMAN in the Kobo area on the Osogbo–Ikirun Road,” he said.

Olusegun revealed that residents had made self-funded efforts to grade and maintain the road twice annually but could no longer cope with the burden. He noted that several official letters had been written to the government, with responses often citing paucity of funds.

“We believe that even with limited resources, the government can still give us attention. This road serves over 5,000 houses across these 25 communities,” he added.

He listed some of the affected communities as Aratumi, Araromi, Akogun, Okete Igbale, Asejere, Alagbede, and Isundun, all located in Olorunda Local Government Area.

Olusegun also expressed frustration over unfulfilled promises by elected representatives, saying the residents felt abandoned despite their significant voting population.

“We have reached out to the lawmakers, but it’s always promises without action. We’re using this opportunity to call on Governor Adeleke to have pity on us and come to our aid,” he pleaded.