A gubernatorial aspirant in the 2023 elections and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Segun Sowunmi, has expressed dismay over the deplorable condition of roads in the state.
In a candid Facebook post, Sowunmi described the situation as “appalling” and “embarrassing,” urging Governor Dapo Abiodun to declare a state of emergency to address the issue.
A Stark Reality
Sowunmi lamented that the state’s road network has become a source of shame, with visitors and residents alike wondering how the “Gateway State” has fallen so low. He attributed the neglect to the failure of local government and the prioritization of contracts over infrastructure development.
A Call to Action
Sowunmi emphasized the need for a rethink on road maintenance, suggesting the exploration of practical business models to mobilize private equity and fix the roads. He urged the governor to “reorder his priorities” and “buckle up” to tackle the infrastructural challenges facing the state.
The Consequences of Inaction
If left unaddressed, Sowunmi warned that the situation would continue to deteriorate, making the state a laughing stock. He stressed the need for accountability and a change in approach to address the embarrassment that has become Ogun State’s road network.
Sowunmi said, “Without a doubt our roads are appalling and we must own up to the fact that visitors, residents and all that know of our preeminence must wonder what has become of us and our reputation, for all that needs to happen is for people to either try to commute on our roads daily for residents and more dramatic for visitors who would be so surprised that is this it, is this who they are? Is this how they live?
“Well, we need to be embarrassed that things have gotten to this embarrassing state. We have been on a steady journey to this disgraceful state of affairs steadily.
“The state is large and mostly urban with many built-up areas, so many adjoining towns to Lagos, Oyo, Ore, Ondo, Republic of Benin making it a gateway state in the truest sense of the word, those who have governed and are governing now must look themselves in the mirror and be ashamed of themselves for how the state looks in terms of road infrastructure.”
