A prominent voice from Ijesaland, Prince Sunday Adewusi, has written an open letter to the Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Nurudeen Jackson Adeleke, calling urgent attention to the state of infrastructure and development in the region.
In the letter, Adewusi commended Governor Adeleke’s administration for what he described as “bold and visionary interventions” in the ongoing Ereja Square–Brewery dual carriageway project, as well as some initiatives within the University of Ilesa. According to him, these projects have rekindled hope that the present administration is genuinely committed to the development of Ijesaland.
However, the Ijesa-born stakeholder highlighted what he termed “pressing challenges” still confronting the people. He lamented the deplorable condition of intra-city roads across Ilesa East and West Local Governments, naming areas such as Oke-Alaafia in Irojo, Ido-Ijesa, Obeta Sawmill, Peace Highland, Arimoro, Kayanfada–Oke-Ese–Eyin Ile-Owa–Banuso, and others as long-neglected.
Adewusi warned that the situation is not different in Obokun, Atakunmosa East, Atakunmosa West, and Oriade Local Governments, where several road networks and bridges have become either impassable or dangerous. “Oriade is perhaps the worst hit,” he stressed, noting that aside from the 1.5 kilometre Oke-Agunla road in Ipetu-Ijesa, none of its eleven wards has benefitted meaningfully in the last three years.
Beyond roads, he raised alarm over water scarcity, describing most borehole projects across communities as non-functional. He further decried the crisis in the education sector, where primary and secondary schools are grossly understaffed, with many schools relying on fewer than ten teachers. The absence of functional science laboratories, he argued, has continued to handicap students in crucial subjects.
Adewusi also drew attention to health and sports. While acknowledging the upgrade of the State (General) Hospital to the UniIlesa Teaching Hospital, he described it as “more symbolic than functional,” citing inadequate staffing and equipment. The General Hospital in Ijebu-Jesa, he added, remains in a pitiable condition, while the School of the Handicapped in Ilesa suffers from neglect. On sports, he lamented that the Ilesa Sports Stadium, once a pride of the region, has become overgrown with weeds and rendered inaccessible due to poor roads.
Despite the challenges, the Ijesa prince reaffirmed the resilience and industrious nature of the people of Ijesaland, stressing their willingness to support the governor if these issues are addressed. He urged Governor Adeleke to treat the concerns with urgency, insisting that doing so would cement his legacy as a leader who ensured no part of Osun State was left behind.
“Your Excellency, our people are resilient and willing partners in progress. We appeal that these challenges be addressed with urgency. Doing so will not only transform lives but also cement your legacy,” Adewusi wrote.
“The full text of the letter, as released to Peaknews by Prince Adewusi, is presented below.”
OPEN LETTER TO HIS EXCELLENCY, SENATOR ADEMOLA NURUDEEN JACKSON ADELEKE,
THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF OSUN STATE,
ON THE STATE OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND DEVELOPMENT IN IJESALAND
Your Excellency,
I write to you as a concerned son of Ijesaland and a stakeholder in the greater and brighter future of Osun State. Let me first commend your administration for the ongoing Ereja Square–Brewery dual carriageway project, a bold and visionary intervention capable of transforming commercial activities in our region once completed. This singular project has rekindled hope that your administration is genuinely committed to the development of Ijesaland.
Similarly, some of the interventions within the University of Ilesa are highly commendable.
Nevertheless, Your Excellency, I find it necessary to draw your attention to the many other pressing challenges confronting our people. Across Ilesa East and Ilesa West Local Governments, residents continue to endure the hardship of deplorable intra-city roads. Areas such as Oke-Alaafia in Irojo, Ido-Ijesa, Obeta Sawmill, Peace Highland, Arimoro, Kayanfada–Oke-Ese–Eyin Ile-Owa–Banuso, Gboworin–Afere, Ilaje, Ibala, and adjoining communities have suffered years of neglect. Many of these roads, abandoned since the exit of the previous administration, worsen each rainy season, making life unbearable for commuters and stifling economic activities.
In Obokun Local Government, once-thriving roads have deteriorated beyond measure. For instance, the bridge linking Ilesa and Ijaregbe has become a death trap, while the Esa-Oke–Okemesi-Ekiti junction remains in deplorable condition. A visit to towns like Ilare, Esa-Odo, and Ipetu-Ile paints an equally unpleasant picture.
Atakunmosa West fares no better, as the Osu Junction through Iwaro, Akola-Ijesa, Aba Prince, and Okebode down to Kajola has long been impassable. Similarly, the Isale-General (Ilesa)–Muroko–Ilaa-Ijesa road continues to frustrate farmers, traders, and motorists alike. In both Oriade and Atakunmosa East, road networks are in serious decay. Oriade is perhaps the worst hit, as aside from the 1.5 kilometre Oke-Agunla road in Ipetu-Ijesa, none of its eleven other wards has benefitted meaningfully in the last three years of governance.
Beyond roads, water scarcity has become another dire challenge. Most borehole projects executed by the state across political wards are now non-functional, leaving communities without clean water and exposing them to waterborne diseases.
Our educational system also faces alarming crises. Both primary and secondary schools are grossly understaffed, with many schools forced to make do with fewer than ten teachers. This has overwhelmed the existing workforce and denied children the quality education they deserve. The near absence of functional science laboratories further handicaps our students in science-related subjects and external examinations, limiting their prospects in today’s science-driven world.
Health care is another pressing concern. While the upgrade of the State (General) Hospital to the UniIlesa Teaching Hospital is commendable, the facility remains under-equipped and under-staffed, making the pronouncement more symbolic than functional. The State Hospital at Ijebu-Jesa is in a pitiable condition and urgently requires renovation, better facilities, and adequate personnel. Similarly, the School of the Handicapped in Ilesa continues to languish in neglect, with dilapidated infrastructure and insufficient funding to cater to the vulnerable children who depend on it.
Sports development, once a pride of Ijesaland, has become almost non-existent. The Ilesa Sports Stadium,once a hub of youth talent, is today a shadow of its past, overtaken by weeds and neglect long before your Excellency assumed office. The access roads to the once-famous stadium are now impassable. Likewise, the absence of functional sporting facilities in our schools has denied many children and youths the opportunity to nurture their talents.
Your Excellency, Ijesaland remains a proud and industrious region that has contributed immensely to the growth and prosperity of Osun State. With its largely agrarian population, our farmers need access roads to transport produce to markets, yet these roads remain dilapidated while local governments are largely administered by the state.
Our people are resilient and willing partners in progress. We remain committed to supporting your administration, but we appeal that these challenges be addressed with urgency. Doing so will not only transform lives but also cement your legacy as a Governor who ensured that no part of the state was left behind.
May God grant you the wisdom, strength, and courage to deliver lasting solutions that will uplift Ijesaland and Osun State as a whole.
Respectfully,
Prince Sunday Adewusi,
A Concerned Citizen of Ijesaland.
