THE development experienced by the masses is often measured by physical or psychological testimonies. This means that constituents must see or feel the effects of the work done by their government. If there is nothing new to see or feel positive about, it is usually not too far away from the truth that development is getting scarce.
A tour around Mosan-Okunola will expose you to the ugly aspects of the buildings and roads of this Local Council Development Area. The denizens of this Local Council Development Area must be left dissatisfied and frustrated with the level of degeneration many of their roads have been subjected to.
Honourable Olabisi Adebajo, the chairperson of Mosan-Okunola LCDA, has been responsible for a lot of good things in her LCDA and it will be unfair to opine that she has not done her bit. However, the bit of the LCDA boss does not seem to be enough, yet.
Her government has been credited with developing the Akinogun Ultra Model Mall, 5th Avenue Gowon Estate Market stalls, the rehabilitation of Abesan Estate Gate Road down to Ogundare Road, the construction of Wesley Street, the rehabilitation of 411 Road and 5th Avenue in Gowon Estate, among other constructions and rehabilitation.
Adebajo's leadership is also credited to have brought about the construction of the ultra-modern car park and bus stop shelter at Bola Tinubu Market, the renovation of Mosan-Okunola multi-purpose hall, and the construction of drain culverts in eight locations including Keda Junction Abesan Estate, Odemuyiwa Street, Okunola, Remi Ogunjimi Street, Mayowa Olaiya Street and Council Junction.
With these many renovations and constructions in the name of the Local Council Development Area administration, how then is it that there are still many more unsightly roads in Mosun-Okunola? Gowon Estate and Abesan Estate both boast of a burgeoning population and the living conditions of the inhabitants of these places are highly representative of their Local Council Development Area.
The living conditions in Gowon Estate are not the best in particular. The level of government responsible for the general management of Gowon Estate may be open to debate, but it is not up for debate what LCDA the estate falls under. There is barely any form of basic amenities to show the steadfast commitment of the leadership of the LCDA in this estate in recent times.
There are other locations in the LCDA that present eyesores as street bends and ponds as potholes. The roads are bad enough. So bad in some areas, it is an understatement to say that they are deplorable. Unfortunately, what these roads look like right now is a shadow of what happens in the rainy season. The roads are the discomfort of visitors, and sadly too, the shame of the hosts. It is obvious that the constituents who live by these roads detest their current conditions, but their hands are tied.
Can the same thing be said about the local authorities chaired by the capable Princess Olabisi Adebajo?
The LCDA is big on empowering its constituents and this can be seen in the community work done to improve the lives of children, widows, and underprivileged persons. The LCDA is doing a lot to improve the standard of living of some of its constituents who are struggling, but it is failing to make Mosan-Okunola a wholly conducive environment, literally. The picture is testimony to that. So, why is the LCDA not doing enough to prevent the roads from looking like a dump? Could it be that the LCDA has got its priorities wrong, or are the local authorities so hamstrung by a limited budget that the roads cannot even be made to look at least patched?
We need answers.
