Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun, on Wednesday, attributed his administration’s resolve to upgrade infrastructure at Ile-Ife and other major towns in the state to the need to boost economic development.

The governor, who made this disclosure in Ile-Ife while inspecting the Lagere Flyover bridge and other projects, deplored the neglect of Ile-Ife and abandonment of several projects by previous administrations, saying the cultural capital of Yoruba people deserves the best roads and other infrastructure.

While accusing the opposition of deliberately withholding Osun local government allocation to stop the completion of critical projects by his government, Adeleke vowed to push ahead with all the projects, which he said were designed to transform the state into an economic hub and a tourism capital of the South West.

He, however, charged the contractors and officials to expedite actions towards the completion of various projects, pointing out that his administration had broken the jinx of underdevelopment in Ile-Ife and other towns in the state.

Adeleke stated, “I am elated to see rapid progress already recorded in our unprecedented moves to modernise and upgrade Ile Ife, the cultural capital of Yoruba people. Many doubt the need for our ambitious approach to the development of Ile Ife and other ancient towns in Osun State.

“We told them we must think big, we must aim very high, and we must seek and deliver the best of infrastructure and services to our people. We decided to make history by breaking from the history of abandoned projects whose funds were diverted into private pockets. We rejected private enrichment at the expense of our people.

“The people of Ile Ife remember the many tales of abandoned projects and diverted funds in this community. Our administration opted for the people’s way; Osun money must serve the Osun people. That mantra of state money for state development is manifesting in Ile-Ife, Ilesa, Osogbo, Ede, Ila-Orangun, Iwo, and other parts of the state.

“Some critics with low governance ambition had dared us and declared that Ile-Ife needed no flyover bridge. We ask: ‘Why did you hate Ile-Ife so much? Why do you think so low of our ancestral capital? Why must Ile-ife be kept under perpetual state of under-development?’

“This flyover is strategically located at an economic nerve centre of Osun East, connecting Osun West, Ijesaland and Ondo State through Garage Olode. An economic hub is being created through this iconic flyover bridge,” the governor remarked.

“Almost N100 billion of Osun fund is unjustly seized in a bid to stop the completion of the Ile-Ife flyover, Ilesa township dualisation, Iwo township road dualisation, Ila Orangun township dualisation, reconstruction of the Iwo-Osogbo Road and the Lameco flyover bridge, among others. The opposition has unfortunately chosen to play politics with the urgent need of our people to exit from decades of underdevelopment,” he added.