My attention has been drawn to the comment by Mr. Abiodun Mathieu Lana-James attempting to portray the late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu’s barricades along Oba-Adesida Road as a permanent solution to Akure’s traffic congestion while condemning Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa’s proposed flyover project.

With due respect, this argument reflects a misunderstanding of what sustainable urban development entails.

First, the barricades installed during Governor Akeredolu’s administration did not eliminate the traffic challenges in the Oja-Oba/Old Garage corridor. They merely restricted pedestrian movement and redirected people to designated crossing points. Traffic congestion in that axis continued to arise from multiple factors, including increasing vehicle volume, commercial activities, and road network limitations. Temporary traffic management is not the same as permanent infrastructure development.

It is also worth recalling that the barricades generated public debate and inconvenience for many road users. Urban planning should provide safe, efficient, and lasting mobility rather than rely indefinitely on physical barriers.

Development is not measured by how cheaply a problem is managed; it is measured by how effectively and sustainably it is solved. Around the world, growing cities invest in grade-separated intersections, flyovers, underpasses, and other modern transport infrastructure because these projects are designed to accommodate future growth rather than merely manage today’s congestion.

Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa’s decision to construct a flyover represents a long-term investment in Akure’s future. A state capital cannot continue to rely on temporary traffic-control measures when it has the opportunity to build infrastructure that will serve generations yet unborn.

Criticising every major infrastructure project simply because it comes from a different administration does not advance public discourse. Governments should be encouraged to build on previous efforts by delivering more durable solutions where they believe they are justified.

The people of Akure deserve a debate based on planning, engineering, and the long-term needs of the city—not one driven solely by political sentiment. Whether one agrees or disagrees with the flyover, the discussion should focus on evidence, not on the assumption that a barricade was the ultimate answer to the transportation needs of a growing state capital.

Governor Aiyedatiwa has chosen to invest in infrastructure that he believes will improve mobility, support economic activity, and modernize Akure. History will judge the project by its impact, not by the volume of political criticism it attracts.

Signed:

Hon. Olasupo Olakunori Michael
Director General, Opomulero Group