Governors Gboyega Oyetola and Seyi Makinde commissioned the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the 84.6km Osogbo -Iwo-Ibadan Road, valued at N24 billion, on Thursday.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Oyetola said the road was one of the internal roads of the old Oyo that linked Ibadan with Osogbo via different towns and villages, including Iwo.

The Osun governor, who commended Mr Makinde for putting aside their political differences to collaborate with the Osun government, said the project would further entrench regional integration.

He said the road from the Osun side, measuring 55km, would cost N11.3 billion.

“This road project will no doubt further boost the socio-economic activities of our dear state, especially because it is an addition to the massive road networks our administration had unleashed on the state. It is our hope that the immediate benefitting towns and other parts of the state will take advantage of the road for personal economic gains,” added the Osun governor. “It is our hope that the immediate benefitting towns and other parts of the state will take advantage of the road for personal economic gains.”

Mr Makinde said the Oyo government would spend N 12.5 billion to reconstruct its portion of the road. The Oyo governor, who described the collaboration of the two states as a revolution, said, “The revolution we are leading is a revolution of thoughts and ideas. We are saying governance must always trump politics.”

He further noted that “when we make decisions as leaders of our people, we must put the interest of our people first,” stressing that despite “all these differences, myself and my brother have accomplished things that people from the same party were unable to do.”

“This is the revolution we are talking about,” stated Mr Makinde. 

(NAN)