The commencement of construction work on the new Oko-Olowo flyover in Ilorin, Kwara State, has triggered a fresh dispute between Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and the Senator representing Kwara Central, Saliu Mustapha, over who deserves credit for facilitating the long-awaited project.
The project, which is expected to improve traffic flow and ease transportation challenges along the Oko-Olowo axis, has become the subject of competing claims from the two political figures.
Senator Mustapha attributed the commencement of the project to his intervention on the floor of the Senate and subsequent engagements with officials of the Federal Government.
The senator has maintained that his advocacy and interactions with relevant federal authorities helped advance the project towards implementation.
Governor AbdulRazaq, however, has presented a different account, saying the project is the fulfilment of his administration’s longstanding advocacy for federal intervention on the strategic road corridor.
According to the governor, efforts to secure the project date back to 2019, suggesting that the development should be viewed as the outcome of sustained engagement by his administration rather than a recent intervention.
The competing claims have added a new dimension to the political relationship between the governor and the senator, whose once-close alliance within the All Progressives Congress (APC) has deteriorated in recent years.
The disagreement comes against the backdrop of growing political manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 elections, with both camps increasingly asserting their respective influence within Kwara’s political landscape.
Beyond the political contest over credit, the commencement of the flyover project is expected to be significant for residents and motorists who regularly use the Oko-Olowo corridor.
The project has therefore attracted public attention, with residents more concerned about its timely completion and the impact it will have on traffic congestion, road safety and movement of people and goods.
As the political debate over who facilitated the project continues, the key question for residents remains whether the construction will be completed within schedule and deliver the promised relief to commuters.
For now, both camps appear determined to establish their respective claims over the project as the political temperature in Kwara rises ahead of 2027.
#TheCrownOnline #Kwara2027 #Okolowo
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