Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke has disclosed that his administration is committed to the infrastructure development of Ile-Ife in a bid to make it a befitting tourism headquarters for the Yoruba race.
In a statement issued by the Governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed on Monday, he decried the low development of the ancient city, saying his administration would transform the town into a tourist attraction site.
Adeleke who spoke while hosting leaders of the Ife Development Board at the Government House, said his administration’s decision to change the face of Ile Ife was because the ancient city cannot continue to look like a village when global visitors come calling, affirming that Ile Ife is too important to remain low rated in infrastructure outlook.
Flanked by his deputy, Kola Adewusi, he lauded the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi’s support and the entire Ife sons and daughters on the road dualisation project embarked upon by his administration.
“Ile Ife is not only the cultural capital and source of all Yoruba people but also the global tourism and religious base of Yorubas in North America, South America and other parts of the world.
“Our administration is committed to completing the flyover as well as the dualisation of the road leading to the Ooni palace. I want to be recorded in history as the Governor who transformed Ile Ife into a modern cultural and tourist city
“I Thank the Ooni of Ife and other Ife leaders for supporting us on the ongoing flyover and dualisation projects at Ile Ife. Aside from the cultural and tourism factors, the economic case for the Lagere flyover has been well canvassed as the junction is the meeting point for business interaction from Osun West, from Ilesa and Ondo through Garage Olode”, the Governor told the leaders.
Speaking earlier, the President of Ife Development Board, Mr Gbenga Adefaye, commended Governor Ademola Adeleke for his development strides in Osun state and particularly at Ile Ife, listing requests touching on road expansion, security and agriculture.
His words, “Ile-Ife is our collective heritage. It deserves more than passing attention. As the ancestral home of all Yoruba both here in Nigeria and in the Diaspora, we all owe ourselves the duty to transform it and make it more amiable, more welcoming as the poster place for all proud Yoruba”.