Stop politicizing Apete bridge, Ajimobi tells politicians
Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has warned the opposition in the state against politicizing the collapsed pedestrian bridge at Apete Area of Ibadan with a view to scoring cheap political points.
The governor, who gave the warning while briefing newsmen shortly after inspecting the collapsed pedestrian bridge as well as the main bridge still under construction, told politicians, particularly those from opposition parties, to desist from playing politics with human lives which, he said, were sacred.
“The politics we are playing in Oyo State today is politics of development. If you want to contest for any political office, come out and tell people what you have done before which qualifies you for the office you are running for. Show the people your credentials.
“It is unfortunate that some politicians, who have nothing to offer the people other than character assassination and name calling, have been visiting this bridge, politicizing human lives which are sacred. Let me tell them that the good people of Oyo State are now more politically sophisticated and they can understand their antics,’’ he said.
Governor Ajimobi particularly berated members of a certain political party who, he said, had been tampering with the pedestrian bridge under the guise of showing concern, a situation which he said had affected its foundation.
“They are not engineers and so, they are not qualified to tamper with the bridge under the guise of fixing it. We don’t want anyone to politicize human lives or the good works that our government is doing.
“We are for politics of development and not the pedestrian politics or politics of destruction, rumour and innuendoes which they are playing. We are not in the jungle. This government will not allow it,’’ he said.
The governor thus directed the contractor handling the bridge to ensure that a temporary pedestrian bridge was put in place latest by this week-end, and that the main bridge should be completed before the end of the year.
“The contractors has met with us. We have given them target and they have been mobilized to meet the target. The temporary pedestrian bridge will be ready by this week-end, and people will be able to cross the river. We have told our supervisors and the Ministry of Works to supervise them to ensure timely completion,’’ the governor said.
He explained that the completion period for the project was the end of the year in view of his administration’s resolve not just to rehabilitate the bridge but to also expand and modernize it in line with his government’s transformation agenda.
Governor Ajimobi frowned at the vandalism of the properties of the contractors handling the project, warning that people should desist from taking laws into their hands.
While addressing the students of The Polytechnic, Ibadan who had gathered at the foot of the bridge, the governor assured them that his administration would continue to provide conducive environment for them to aid their academic pursuit.
The President of the Students’ Union Government of the institution, Mr. Iyiola Mubarak, thanked the governor for his concern for the lives of the people of the area, pledging that students would continue to support his administration.
