Abusoro is a rustic community in Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo State. The community with a million population has for several years been in pains as no concrete development has come to the area.
Those living in Abusoro have prayed for successive administrations to come to their aids on road, water, electricity and other social amenities, but their prayers have meet brick wall. They have cars, some could not drive them home. Those who ventured have theirs damaged and many visited mechanics on daily basis. The road leading to the community is not only bad, but a death trap to motorists plying it.
During the raining season, the inhabitants with vehicles dare not go home. The major road leading to the community was always slippery and many vehicles have been damaged when they ventured to take owners home. The major means of transportation to Abusoro community is the popular "Okada", but the riders have become so exploitative that a journey to the inner streets cost between N200 and N300, and in most cases could be more depending on the stretch of the journey.
Okada as a means of transportation in Abusoro has caused many passengers their lives, and some today are in various hospitals lamenting riding bike home in the community. House owners who cannot bear the pains and sorrow associated with Abusoro had either sold their houses or relocated.
Abusoro community one day, one sorrow and lamentation came to an end three weeks ago when the Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu flagged off the construction of the road to the community.
The Governor has said that : " For us, bringing government to the people in all areas of the state is a vital pillar of Ondos development. We will continue to build on this progress".
Earlier in his inaugural speech, Arakunrin said that:" Our blueprint when unveiled shall explain in details our philosophy, vision, sectoral policies and comprehensive programmes of action clearly calendared over a period of a tenure of four years. With this document, our pact with the people will be clear our path well defined and expectations clearly understood"
He added that:" In building the structure to deliver on our campaign promises, I come to you with a clear mind and an honest heart, to serve and give the very best of my ability to restore hope and happiness to our people. I urge you to see hope the way I see it. I see hope with limitless boundaries for endless opportunities for all of us. I see hope for progress, stability and prosperity for all people of good will who are willing to contribute their quota to developing our state to a land of honour contented, smart, honest, diligent and patriotic people".
True to his inaugural speech, Governor Akeredolu matched his words with honour by unveiling a neglected road for construction. Within 100 days in office, he has fulfilled his electioneering promise to the people of Abusoro, in Akure South Local Government Area of the state.
The Governor while inspecting the work done so far was met by elated residents who trooped out in large numbers to appreciate him with songs of appreciation. They sang that their incessant plea, agony and pains for the road construction over the years by past governments has come to an end.
Governor Akeredolu too was elated as he expressed satisfaction over the quality of job being done by the contractor.
He said that his administration has come to put smiles on the faces of the people as part of government commitment towards fulfilling the pledge made to them during his campaign.
The youth of Abusoro were very happy. They said that the rains will no longer disturb them because the new drainage will carry the rain water away
The Olu of Abusoro, Chief Olajide Adeoye Adaramola was highly over joyous and said that the sorrow and pains of the community have gone for ever.
He praised Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu for coming to the rescue of his people. He said that since the inception of the present democracy in 1999, the community had done everything to attract government interest mostly on the internal roads of Abusoro community, but has been empty promises upon empty promises.
Chief Adeoye Adaramola posited that Abusoro, is the largest community in Akure South Local Government with 20 zones and about a million people but lacking social amenities like good road network, water, electricity poles, police station, market, school and good health services.
His words: " We have been praying for this day to come having suffered for long. Since 1999 we have done everything we could to get government attention, but no result".
" Abusoro lacks everything and there was no government presence until Governor Akeredolu come to our aid with this road construction. Many house owners have sold their houses because of this bad road leading to the community. Some packed out of the community and could not withstand the horror of sleeping outside their houses when it rains in Abusoro".
Chief Adeoye Adaramola therefore commended Governor Akeredolu for remembering Abusoro community, but like Oliver Twist asked the state government to extend the 7.5 kilometres road to Adofure, so that farm products in the community can be taken to the market with ease.
The Olu of Abusoro also called on the state government to provide a community school for the area, saying such would ease the problem of students in the community going to the main town to attend schools.
The Central Chairman of Abusoro, Mr. Adejugbagbe Sunday and Mr. Rotimi Atere appreciated the governor for coming to the aid of the community.
They lauded his achievements within a short period in office, calling him a Colosus and God sent to the community has has come to their aid.
According to them, Abusoro has.been in existence for years, but only now has a governor with humane kindness who deems it fit to attend to the yearning and aspiration of a community.
They asked the state government to provide polling booths for the people of the community, stressing that it was always difficult for them to vote during an election. They added that those with intent to vote in a long distance often stayed at home as they could not withstand trekking.
The Chairman Zone 5 Abusoro community, Mr Johnson Adebayo Ajayi expressed joy that the area was witnessing a good turn-around where they registered in the town in his lifetime. "I am so happy that I really don't know how to express myself for now. I must confess that I didn't expect this road to be constructed in my lifetime."
The story was the same for Akogun of Abusoro, Chief Olowosuru. He said that for years that he has lived in the community, life has been everything, but sweet.
Since that time, "we have always lived as a people that have been forgotten by the government," he said with a bright smile on his face.
Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has in his inaugural speech said that " I come to you this day, with a message of hope, a clear agenda of prosperity and a vision of life abundant… We can rise out of this dust and build a new Ondo State where honesty, prosperity and confidence can once again be our self-identity".
He promised to a lunch a five cardinal programme, tagged Platforms for Change (JMPPR), and anchored on job creation through agriculture, entrepreneurship and industrialization; massive infrastructural development and maintenance; provision of functional education and technological growth; provision of accessible and qualitative health care and social service delivery and rural development and community extension services.
In his first month on the saddle, Akeredolu has kept faith with the people with a determined effort to develop Ondo State and place it among one of the best three states in Nigeria.
"Ondo State has the deepest and longest shoreline in the country. It is a capacity that can rank us among the best three states in terms of internally generated revenue. That is our dream and we are determined to achieve it," Akeredolu said.
For the Akeredolu-led administration, part of the strategies to develop the state and improve its IGR is to open up the state to modern market opportunities with the construction of road networks across the three senatorial districts.
Therefore, Abusoro road is one of the dreams come true.
