I Got AfDB Support To Fix Akure-Ado-Ekiti Road, But Fashola Stopped It—Fayemi

Former governor of Ekiti state, Dr Kayode Fayemi has been speaking on how the minister of works and housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola prevented him to fix Akure -Ado-Ekti road after he secured a loan from African Development Bank.

Fayemi who spoke with some selected editors before he handed over on October 16 said he was not happy that the road was horrible inspite of the fact that he was ready to rehabilitate it.

He said; ”First, the immediate response is that we are unhappy about the condition of the Federal roads linking Ekiti to other states and we have decided, as a policy, to take over those roads, using my network and influence, just as I said about development partners, we got money from development partners, we got in principle support from the African Development Bank to reconstruct the Akure – Ado-Ekiti road and dualise it. But the owners of the road – the FG – blatantly refused.

He explained that the ministry of work refused that he shouldn’t repair the road.

“Yes, the owners of the road said ‘leave our road alone and if you do it, you cannot toll it and we will not refund you. Just stay off our roads.’ This started in 2018. I was able to convince President Akinwumi Adesina of AfDB to support the reconstruction of the road because of his own experience travelling on the road when he came to receive a honorary degree from Afe Babalola University and on his way back, he called me and said ‘Kayode, I’ve just travelled on your road to catch my flight. This is horrible’.

“I said Mr President, you’re correct and I gave him the story of the road and asked him for money (to fix the road), that’s what I’m looking for.’ And then we started talks on the road and other projects in Ekiti. I went to Abidjan and Dr Adesina pledged to support us but the Federal Government insisted we could not do it. I am sure you can guess which of my friends. You know who my friend is. He’s the friend I was in cabinet with, who was also our captain when we were all Governors in the South-West.” He said.