Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has been hailed by the paramount ruler of Ondo kingdom, Oba Victor Kiladejo, the Osemawe of Ondo Kingdom over his developmental strides across the three senatorial districts of the state.
The monarch particularly commended the governor for roads construction and the qualitative health care being enjoyed by the people of Ondo Kingdom.
The monarch spoke on Tuesday during a courtesy visit to the governor at the Governor’s office, Alagbaka, Akure.
The monarch also appreciated the commitment of Governor Akeredolu over the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo (UNIMED).
He said: “We thank you for giving us the opportunity to visit you. We seize this opportunity to congratulate you.
“The purpose of our visit today is to thank you for the great work you have been doing. On behalf of the people of Ondo Kingdom, we want to thank you for the good work you have been doing in Ondo kingdom especially, the University of Medical Science.
“We are not unaware of your decision to make that university a center of excellence and to ensure the school grows in research and other activities.
“We want to also thank you for what you have done, not only in the university, because we are aware of what you are doing on our road construction and the qualitative health care that our people are receiving in our kingdom and other parts of the state.
“We will continue to pray for you and your administration. We are not unaware of what the situation is as far as the economy of this country and the paucity of fund in the state.”
The monarch, however, called on the state government to construct a by-pass from Ore linking Awoyaya to Akure in order to decongest the traffic frequently experience in Ondo town.
The Osemawe also urged the government to help the town in rehabilitation of internal road running through the chiefs court and the palace.
” We want to plead with you to construct a bypass, linking Ore road, through Awoyaya to Akure road. It will decongest the traffic in our kingdom, and shorten the journey of those traveling to Lagos.”
Responding, Governor Akeredolu said his administration will not leave any town in the state behind in its developmental efforts.
He said the by-pass is one of the major projects his administration is thinking of embarking on very soon.
According to the governor, “I am particular about the by-pass, it’s one of the major projects we are thinking of. What we have in mind, the road has been designed, it went to infrastructure bank and some China companies have shown interest.
“Some of them have raised that it should be five or six lanes, but I said let’s have dual carriage road for now. And infrastructure bank has said we should do it from Ore to Akure for now.
“The plan is to do the road up to Lokoja, but it means we will have to involve other states. Already, some companies have shown interest that they will do it and toll it. It is important for us to do it. If we want to make Ondo State a hub for Industrial growth, then, it must be done
“UNIMED is important to us. In our quest to ensure that it stands, you can’t have a university for medical sciences without a teaching hospital. We felt the need for us to have a specialist hospital here in Akure used for the interim for teaching purposes for now. Like the Obafemi Owolowo University (OAU) used Wesley in Ilesa for a teaching hospital in those days
“We have tried to improve our schools, we have had to put fence on our schools, put solar. We are working on the street light on Ondo, I have instructed them to make sure it works. Especially where we have dual carriage road.”
Packaged by Mariam Azeez
