I am Overwhelmed by Our Achievements, Says Aregbesola

BY ABU IDRISU:

State Governor, Governor Rauf Aregbesola has said he is overwhelmed by the achievements of his administration in the last three and a half years, promising that he will do more to further transform the state.

The governor stated this  at the weekend while relocating over 1,300 traders and shop owners along the MDS Road, Osogbo to a permanent site.
The governor said he had equally earmarked a sum of N2billion as compensation to traders and shop owners in the area.

He also handed over the parcel of land allocated to the traders and shop owners whose structures were affected by the road expansion.

Aregbesola said since the inception of his administration, numerous developmental projects had been completed, and thus had transformed the state beyond his expectation.

He noted that he was aware of the fact that the means of livelihood of the displaced traders under the umbrella of MDS Shop Owners Association had been affected by the demolition exercise, saying there was no gain without pain.

While making reference to those that were affected by the renovation of the railway area, now the Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, the governor said: “Most of them were not happy when we asked them to vacate the area but now, they are praising the state government for engineering the new look of the area.”

The governor said all the beautiful countries and cities of the world were not created by God said they were developed by the government of the countries and cities.
He, therefore, thanked the traders for their patience and cooperation with his government since they were displaced.

Earlier in his welcome address, the state Commissioner for Lands, Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Muyiwa Ige, said: “Everything that we see as being good and pleasant globally had at one time or the other passed through some processes with certain prices paid at each stage.”

Ige then appreciated the traders for their cooperation and understanding, saying that the parcel of land being handed over to them falls within the government commercial/industrial layout and covers approximately 20.919 hectares.

He said the new MDS Market situated beside the Aje International Market, still under construction by the state government, had already a borehole and electricity, adding that police post, health centre, fire station, filling station, banking mall among other facilities would be built on the market which would enhance immediate growth and economic empowerment of the traders.