The Bridge
Ultra Modern Palace of the Olowu of Kuta in Ayedire Local Government Area of Osun State
By Banji Ayoola
Arrangements peaked on Thursday for the reception of the Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Gen Tukur Yusuf Buratai, who is coming to Osun State to commission the age-long Osun Bridge, which links Kuta, Ikoyi and Ede; the ultra modern Palace of the Olowu of Kuta, in Ayedire Local Government Area, Oba Adekunle Oyelude, popularly called Makama; and an hospital at Asamu.
Buratai would commission the newly completed projects on Monday September 14, 2020.
The bridge was recently completed by the Engineering Corps of the Nigerian Army, as directed by the COAS, through the connection of Oba Oyelude.
Since the people’s forefathers settled at Kuta and Ikoyi, the impassable Osun River had cut them off the wider world, and tucked the communities into a dead end, thereby frustrating any meaningful socioeconomic interactions or development.
On their own, the people started the bridge project many years ago, but abandoned it midway due to its enormity, expertise and huge resources required, which surpassed their ability. This led to a further degeneration of the Kuta-Ikoyi-Ede Road especially on the side of Kuta and Ikoyi; aggravated the disconnection and deepened the people’s frustration.
Execution of all the plans for the commissioning began on Thursday as the umbrella organisation for all sons and daughters of the communities, Kuta United Front, KUF, at a crucial meeting by members of its Central Planning Committee, at the Olowu Palace, started disbursing budgeted funds according to jointly agreed plans. The meeting was presided over by Prince S.A. Aminu of the Front’s Elders’ Committee.
KUF President, Mr Adegboyega Adeniran, who was away on other official duties, assured that adequate arrangements have been made to ensure success of the commissioning programme.
In an interview with The Radiance, he said that he has been receiving numerous telephone calls from Kuta and Ikoyi sons and daughters far and near, expressing the resolve to be part of the programme; while friends of the communities including the neighbouring Ileogbo and Oluponna communities have signified interest to be part of the celebration.
His words: “We have been able to set in motion all committees to run with the plan. The feedback after the meeting depicted that work has started towards getting a befitting programme. To the Glory of God, things are in place and we believe in Him.
“The committee members are encouraged to be at home from Friday evening. All of us are to be at home early enough to fine-tune and assess what have been done to ensure that we succeed according to plan.
“I believe that with what we have done and what we would still be doing along the line, we believe in God for a glorious day come September 14, 2020. Adequate preparations have been made.
“Friends of the community are willing to be part of the programme. The neighbouring communities including Ileogbo and Oluponna have expressed willingness to be part of the celebration. Calls from sons of Kuta and Ikoyi have really been encouraging and they have expressed willingness to be at Kuta for the commissioning.
“Really I am looking forward to that date. I can hear many who have been far away from home calling and talking to me that they would be there. Really the crowd would be there. It is likely that we have a turn-out far beyond our expectation.
“It is my pleasure to be at home tomorrow (Friday) to ensure that I am part of the goings on at home, and that we have a successful programme. The whole essence is to go home early enough and for each committee to carry out evaluation day by day before the D Day to see that all goes well.
“It is really something one has to experience. It is better to see it in the light of what is going on within us sons and daughters of Kuta and Ikoyi.
“For this exercise, the togetherness and cooperation have been very total and I believe that in the next two days, we would have reasons to say that the Lord is good.”
The Radiance also spoke with Prince S.A Aminu, who chaired the meeting. He praised Oba Oyelude for his performance since he ascended the throne about eight years ago. He rallied the communities to continuously pray for the royal father.
Aminu said: “The meeting was fine. It held to prepare for the commissioning on Monday. It was a good meeting. We worked on the schedules of the Budget and people were sent to execute all plans.”
On how he feels with the ongoing development in the town, the elder statesman said: “Everybody is happy. There is nobody as old as I am who did not go through that problem of transportation in Kuta.
“The bridge has opened Kuta to economic development. In the next five years, that road would make Kuta better.
“We praise the Kabiesi. Since he ascended the throne, he has been making the best to see that the community improves. We should be praying for him.”
On his own, the Chairman, Publicity Committee, Mr. Adisa Iwinlade, said: “After the meeting, we went to Osun River Bridge. We met the man coordinating affairs there. He told us that everything is taken care of, but that whatever is missing he would report to his superior.”
He said that the general mood in town is “marvelous” as “everybody is happy.”
Iwinlade said: “New things are happening.”
On security arrangement, the Chairman of the Security Committee, Supol Lateef Ajani, retired, told The Radiance that “the security arrangement is adequate.”
He said: “The arrangement involves the military who are coming with their security arrangement. We have equally written a letter to the Commissioner of Police at the Osun State Command Headquarters in Osogbo and the Director of SSS.
“We have local arrangement with the local police, the Area Command Headquarters Iwo, and Ileogbo Police Station under which we have jurisdiction.
“We have arranged local hunters to take care of the local areas that are vulnerable to thefts. All other security arrangements are under cover.
“The route lining of the Governor and Chief of Army Staff would start from Ori Eeru. The DSS, policemen and the military with their security gadgets are coming.”
The commissioning programme would start on Sunday according to Ajiroba Olowu, Chief Adesoye Adedapo.
He said that there would be Dance round the nooks and crannies of Kuta and back to the palace for the Cultural night and preparation for the commissioning. He added that there would be a candle procession night. He said that the general mood in town is high while the people are in a festive mood.
Elaborating, a member of the Publicity Committee, Prince Afiz Alimi, said that preparations are in top gear, while the two sides of the bridge have been bulldozed both at the Ede and Kuta, Ikoyi ends in preparation for the commissioning.
According to him, canopies would be displayed on Sunday, and decoration by the bridge would be done by the Army that day. The palace shall first be commissioned before moving to the river side for the commissioning of the bridge.
A speech would be delivered by Prof Olatoye Ojo, a professor of Estate Management at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, while a brief history of the road and bridge would also be read.
There would be a cultural display on the D Day by Ajofoyinbo Cultural Group from Oyo which has been representing Nigeria and Africa at the international level.
All compounds would make provision for their canopies, feeding and drinking. There would be Fadaka Band.
