Bridging Oyo towns after the floods

The natives of Oyo State have started heaving a sigh of relief as the government repairs damaged bridges and roads in parts of the state, writes AKINWALE ABOLUWADE

Most natives of Oyo State will not forget the event of Aug. 26, 2011 in a hurry. On that day, the skies pelted the earth with rain for about six hours and in the end, left the people groaning in pain.

In different parts of the state, especially Ibadan, the downpour resulted in a flood of huge proportions. Houses, shanties, shops and other structures, as well as some people were reportedly swept away by the floodwater.

The flood had severely damaged roads and destroyed bridges as well as other infrastructures. As the bridges collapsed, many communities were cut off from the capital.

The Abiola Ajimobi Administration  was almost 10 months in office when the flooding occurred. The challenge of fixing the damages that resulted from the disaster was so enormous that the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Dr. Festus Adedayo, said, “An unlucky fellow that he (the governor) is, the ceaseless downpour of last year, especially that of August 2011, was to expose the underbelly of his predecessors, depositing the pains of their inactions on his laps. Bridges that had been built for decades which were sparsely maintained, streams and canals, to whom dredging was alien, began to give way and overfill their brims.

“As the ceaseless downpour pounded the ageing bridges, in ones and twos, the poor bridges began to give way. And the masses, who would not take ‘No’ for an answer, wept like the Biblical Israelites in the wilderness. Not even the fact that rebuilding the bridges was not budgeted for in the year’s fiscal plan nor that money available to the government is not limitless.”

The state government had immediately responded by highlighting the steps taken and further stated that the bridges would be fixed within the shortest possible time.

Adedayo, while lamenting what he described as the sentimental posture of the opposition to a common problem, said that “no help was coming into the coffers of Oyo State from anywhere. The PDP in the state not only didn’t lend a droplet of tears. The PDP-led Federal Government, either by design or default, merely drafted President Goodluck Jonathan to Ibadan.”

Fifteen months after the disaster that swept across the state like a hurricane, the state government has embarked on repairs of some bridges and roads in the state.

The first item to be given attention was the Secretariat-Bodija Bridge in Ibadan. Adedayo said the bridge had become “notorious for over-spilling” at short notice, thereby inconveniencing passers-by and at one time or the other, “washing away some victims.”

Ajimobi awarded a contract for the rebuilding of the bridge. The state government said that the construction would have been completed but for the rains.

The Ogbere Babanla Bridge caused the death of some people during the flood incident. The people now heave a sigh of relief as the bridge has been expanded and fortified. Some spiritualists in the area have attributed the tragedy to the handiwork of “some infuriated gods.”

The Olomi, Ayeye and the Osoro River Bridges have either been repaired or currently under reconstruction. Adedayo said, “The bridges have been reconstructed and have assuaged the fears of the inhabitants that the goddesses of the rivers were the ones whose non-pacification resulted in the periodic flooding.”

The Alaadorin Sakutu Bridge in Oyo town, the Omowunmi-Olorunsogo Bridge in Ibadan, the Simeon Adebo-Adeyi-Awolowo Road Bridge and the Mokola-Cele-Baracks Junction Bridge, among others, were subsequently damaged by the flood, thereby making life difficult for the people.

Adedayo said the construction of the Mokola flyover which was started nearly a year ago to ease traffic around Mokola and link the road from Challenge through Ring Road, to Dugbe and the University of Ibadan to Ojoo Road, was conceived as a result of the centrality and the heavy traffic that characterised the area.

He stressed, “The last time such a bridge was constructed in Oyo State was under Gen. David Jemibewon over 30 years ago. Awarded to CCECC, that bridge is on the verge of completion with workers working day and night. At completion, it will make the people of Oyo State feel good, aside its ancillary role of easing traffic.”

He attributed the success made so far to the administration’s quest for the best brains across the state regardless of party affiliation. He said, “Immediately he came into office, he harvested quality brains from the PDP, Accord Party and Action Alliance into his cabinet. For an Oyo State which used to be governed by totalitarians, this bridge-building was a fresh and comely air.”

Punch Nigeria