A professor of law at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, and an elder statesman from Idanre Local Government in Ondo State, Professor Olugbenga Oke-Samuel, has criticized the recent unveiling of the Idanre/Akure dual carriageway construction by accusing the state government of misleading the people of Idanre by making them believe the contract for the dualization of the Akure-Idanre road has been fully awarded.
Professor Oke-Samuel argued that the supposed 10-kilometer road construction falls short of addressing the critical needs of the Idanre people, who have endured years of neglect and deteriorating road infrastructure. He noted that the section of the road extending into Idanre, which bears the brunt of heavy traffic caused by agricultural activities, remains in dire condition. This is despite Idanre’s huge contributions to the economy of the state.
You will recall that the Ondo State Governor, HE Lucky Ayedatiwa, while recently flagging off the construction of the Idanre/Akure dual carriageway branded the move as a fulfillment of his campaign promise to the people of Akure and Idanre.
In his critique, Professor Oke-Samuel accused the government of insincerity, stating, “What the state government is doing is hoodwinking Idanre people, making them believe they are dualizing the road to Idanre, whereas their focus is on dualizing Oke Aro road up to Adofure. If you say you’re dualizing Akure-Idanre road, why are you breaking it into two phases and only constructing 10 kilometers for now, without awarding the other section?”
The professor urged Idanre’s leadership, particularly the Idanre Development Assembly (IDA), to demand accountability from the government. He suggested that they seek a clear timeline for the completion of the road project and insist that the government fulfill its responsibility to the community. “Idanre people must make the government understand that constructing this road is not a favor but their responsibility,”*he emphasized.
Highlighting the economic significance of Idanre to the state, Professor Oke-Samuel pointed out that the area generates substantial revenue for the government through agricultural products such as cocoa, timber, and plantain. “Every day, trucks and trailers transport goods from Idanre to the state capital and other parts of Nigeria. The government regularly collects revenue from these activities, yet they fail to provide basic infrastructure for the community,” he said.
He further criticized the government’s piecemeal approach to the road project, describing it as a calculated attempt to raise false hopes among Idanre residents. “It’s a deception. How does a road that stops at Adofure help Idanre people when the larger portion of the road remains in terrible shape?” he asked.
The professor also shared his personal frustrations with the road’s condition, noting that he often hesitates to travel to Idanre due to the poor state of the roads. “If the government cannot dualize the road, they should at least reconstruct the existing one,” he added.
Professor Oke-Samuel however decried the neglect of the Idanre Hills, a major tourism attraction in the state. According to him, the facilities at the site, which were developed during the Mimiko administration, have been left to deteriorate. He described the tourism infrastructure as a “deception,” citing examples such as a leaky roof in the hall, a non-functional swimming pool, and inadequate maintenance of other facilities.
He accused the Ondo State Ministry of Tourism of mismanaging funds generated from the site, alleging that revenues are often diverted into private pockets. “Even when tourists are given receipts, a closer look reveals that the money doesn’t go into the system. If funds generated from the site were properly managed, they could have been used to maintain the facilities without waiting for government allocations,” he said.
To revive the tourism potential of Idanre Hills, Professor Oke-Samuel advocated for privatization. “The government is not serious about tourism. They should hand it over to private investors,” he said, urging Idanre people to take an active interest in the management of the site. He expressed optimism about the involvement of the local government chairman but called for tangible actions to back the promises.
He called on Idanre political leaders and stakeholders to hold the government accountable for its promises. He emphasized that the dual carriageway project and the development of Idanre Hills are not luxuries but necessities that the government owes the people of Idanre. “It’s time to stop living in delusion and demand sincerity and action from the government,” he declared.
