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Residents of Ogbomoso community on Thursday launched what could be described as a spiritual battle against forces militating against the completion of the Oyo-Ogbomoso road project.
About a thousand residents gathered at the Blind Centre Road, Isale Rounder Area, Ogbomoso, for an early morning interfaith, interreligious prayer led by Christian, Muslim and traditional religious leaders.
Community leaders, traditional rulers, members of the League of Imams and Alfas, clerics under the aegis of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), traditional worshippers among others were in attendance.
The residents also appealed to the National Assembly to vote more funds to the project in next year’s budget.
The Soun of Ogbomosoland, Oba Jimoh Oyewumi who was represented at the event by the Onjeru of Ijeruland, Oba Olaniyi Popoola, regretting that many lives have been lost on the road, said the people decided to take the spiritual route following the realisation that certain selfish interests were behind the project delay.
Chairman, Ogbomosho Community Forum, Dr Israel Olaniyan said what necessitated the prayer session was the fact that only the Oyo-Ogbomoso axis remained almost untouched out of the entire stretch of the road.
The coordinator, Ogbomosho Community Prayer Committee, Bishop Oyetunji Abraham said the divine intervention is needed to help get government attention to the road.
He said, “We have sent messages to the Federal Government through the Minister of Works, Power and Housing but its like we are not seeing any result yet.
“We have discovered that some people, despite collecting compensation from the FG, they have vowed and remained resolute that the project would not be completed because they don’t want their property touched.”
Meanwhile, the senator representing Oyo Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Sen. Monsurat Sunmonu, said she was sure of the Federal Government’s committment to the timely completion of the road.
Sunmonu who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, said she would not relent in her efforts in making sure that the road is completed as soon as possible. She recalled the efforts she put in to facilitate the rehabilitation of the road two years ago.
She then urged the people to remain positive, assurig that the rehabilitation of the road will soon be completed.