The Deji of Akure Kingdom, Ondo State, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi, Odundun II, and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Olu Falae, have called on the federal government to include Akure in the proposed railway route that is expected to pass through the South-west.
The monarch stated this while inaugurating the Odun Ulefunta/Oyemekun 2018 Committee at his palace during the weekend.
The advertised route of the railway is said to be from Calabar-Uyo-Aba- PH- Yenagoa-Otuoke-Ughelli-Warri-Sapele-Agbor-Asaba-Onitsha-Benin-Ore-Ijebu-Ode-Sagamu-Lagos.
While raising concern on the publicized putative route of the railway as indicated in several media reports, he said it will be a great disservice to the people of Ondo State and will equally place it at great economic disadvantage if the railway does not pass through the state capital.
Oba Aladetoyinbo said that the federal government cannot afford to shy away from the economic potentials of the state and more importantly, the strategic position of Ondo State and Akure in particular in the geographical setting of Nigeria, maintaining that the inclusion of Akure in the railway route will also be in the best interest of national development.
"As we speak, Akure remains a vital link between the North and the
South. It is strategic to the proposed bitumen exploration and the seaport in the riverine area of the state," the monarch said.

Oba Ogunlade also appeals to the State governor, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to link up with the presidency and the Minister of Transport on the matter, stating that Ondo State is too important to be ignored in this kind of project.
Speaking earlier in the same vein, the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Olu Falae, while commending the monarch for his love for the progress and development of Akureland as demonstrated by his speech, expressed happiness at the new crop of Akure sons and daughters who had shown interest in the development of the land, recalling years of his headship of similar exercises to bring development to the land.
While inaugurating the Committee, Oba Ogunlade charged the members of the committee to be proactive and raise the festival to an enviable height like other renowned festivals in Nigeria.thanks
The monarch stated this while inaugurating the Odun Ulefunta/Oyemekun 2018 Committee at his palace during the weekend.
The advertised route of the railway is said to be from Calabar-Uyo-Aba- PH- Yenagoa-Otuoke-Ughelli-Warri-Sapele-Agbor-Asaba-Onitsha-Benin-Ore-Ijebu-Ode-Sagamu-Lagos.
While raising concern on the publicized putative route of the railway as indicated in several media reports, he said it will be a great disservice to the people of Ondo State and will equally place it at great economic disadvantage if the railway does not pass through the state capital.
Oba Aladetoyinbo said that the federal government cannot afford to shy away from the economic potentials of the state and more importantly, the strategic position of Ondo State and Akure in particular in the geographical setting of Nigeria, maintaining that the inclusion of Akure in the railway route will also be in the best interest of national development.
"As we speak, Akure remains a vital link between the North and the
South. It is strategic to the proposed bitumen exploration and the seaport in the riverine area of the state," the monarch said.

Oba Ogunlade also appeals to the State governor, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to link up with the presidency and the Minister of Transport on the matter, stating that Ondo State is too important to be ignored in this kind of project.
Speaking earlier in the same vein, the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Olu Falae, while commending the monarch for his love for the progress and development of Akureland as demonstrated by his speech, expressed happiness at the new crop of Akure sons and daughters who had shown interest in the development of the land, recalling years of his headship of similar exercises to bring development to the land.
While inaugurating the Committee, Oba Ogunlade charged the members of the committee to be proactive and raise the festival to an enviable height like other renowned festivals in Nigeria.thanks
