Residents of Ona-Ara local government are vented their anger over statement by Wasiu Olatubosun, information commissioner, who said that contractors are working on sites within and around Ona-Ara local government.
The residents, who spoke to this newspaper via their representatives— Bayo Oyeleke and Mutiulah Akinkunmi, said it is either Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo State, is pretending not to know or that he prefers his commissioner to feed him lies.
According to the duo, who said they are concerned residents of the area, “We are disturbed to hear Governor Makinde’s commissioner, Dr. Olatubosun, saying that works are ongoing in construction sites across Ona-Ara. Despite the anchor, Alhaji Abolade Salami’s explanation that he lives in the area and that nothing was ongoing, the commissioner still insisted.
“If the governor has forgotten, we will remind him. We thank God that the commissioner came on Abolade Salami’s Agbami Oselu on Fresh FM. For many months now, the people of Ona Ara have been facing untold hardship following the caving in of the bridge linking our area. Yes, the government assured us and moved in, but many months after, we have been left in a state of abandonment.
“Many business owners have been forced to close down, thereby making them to downsize. Those who make a living by receiving salaries to fend for their families have become something else. For many months now, we have been left to our fate. No passable road. Those who have cars have to drive longer kilometers. Their cars now get spoilt at any time.
“So if baffles us listing to the information commissioner spewing lies. That is is crass irresponsibility. Yes. It is like adding salt to someone’s injury. If you can’t alleviate our problems, you shouldn’t lie. And we didn’t expect that from a person of Dr. Wasiu Olatubosun.
“We wouldn’t know why contractors have abandoned various project sites in the local government as we believe government is in better position to do that, we want to ask them what our sins are by demolishing those bridges. At least, if you can’t maintain the existing ones, they shouldn’t have been demolished.
“We have decided to let the whole world knows that we are suffering. We need help. The governor should come to our aid. He knows the problem. The commissioner for works is aware. The council chairman is not unaware. The information commissioner should have parried the question rather than misinforming the people in order to make the government looks good. He should not only retract the statement, he should inform the governor tomorrow that the people of Ona-Ara are suffering.”
