By Nchetachi Chukwuajah
Residents of Ibadan, Oyo State, grounded movement along major roads in the city on Monday, November 10, as they protested against alleged plans by the state government to acquire more land for the Ibadan Circular Road corridor.
This is even as the Oyo State chapter of the African Action Congress (AAC) accused Governor Seyi Makinde of a “massive and deceitful land-grabbing campaign” targeting residents along the Ibadan Circular Road.
The Ibadan Circular Road was conceived when the current Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja, was the governor of the state and had marked 150 metres for the construction of the road.
However, Governor Makinde is planning to extend the project by 500 metres for the circular road corridor, which the protesters said would affect more houses and community lands, demanding that the state government maintain the 150 metres already marked by Ladoja.
The protesters, who are from Ido, Lagelu, Ona Ara, Akinyele, Oluyole and Egbeda, blocked access in and out of the Iwo Road end of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, which is one of the major roads in Ibadan, leading to a gridlock in the area.
Some of the protesters were also at the entrance of Agodi government secretariat, bearing placards.
Recall that the AAC, Oyo State chapter, in a statement signed by its state chairman, Kayode Babayomi, had threatened to shut the state for seven days in protest against the planned extension of the Ibadan Circular Road.
It said: “We, the African Action Congress (AAC), Oyo State chapter, stand in solidarity with the victims of Makinde’s land-grabbing spree, particularly the residents along the Ibadan Circular Road. We are aware of the PDP-led government’s ulterior motives in seizing more land under the pretense of corridor extension and selling it to their cronies and associates.
“Makinde initially claimed he wouldn’t seize more than 150 meters and assured that no houses would be demolished.
“However, months later, he backtracked and claimed he needed an additional 500 meters for the corridors. This deceitful act is despicable, and we will not allow him to get away with it.”
Lending their voice to the protest, residents took to social media, with the hashtag, #NoMoreCorridor, to urge the government to halt the proposed extension.
On X (formerly Twitter), @haykins002 tweeted, “People want the Circular Road, not the Corridor. We support development, but not at the expense of people’s homes and lands. The government should listen to the cries of affected residents. Development should build lives, not destroy them. #NoMoreCorridor #Ibadan #CircularRoad.”
@kunle_adesina wrote, “We don’t want a corridor, circular road is okay. #NoMoreCorridor.”
