Op-Ed | Kwara distribution of projects, Offa deserves more after six years
By Adeoye Babalola
Kwara State was established in 1967, alongside other states such as Lagos, Kaduna, Kano, Cross River, and Rivers. Before its creation, Offa had a rich history, existing for over 200 years. This long-standing legacy highlights Offa not merely as a settlement, but as an important city whose leaders actively participated in the struggle to form Kwara State. Notably, JS Olawoyin was a figure in this fight, and historical records provide an account of the essential role Offa played in this pivotal movement.
Over the past six years, I have personally observed, reflecting the spirit and concerns of a true Offa citizen, that our town has yet to reap the anticipated benefits of democracy, especially the Otoge crusade of 2019, where we had tied our hope, despite our historical significance. The quest for change commenced from Offa, particularly during the infamous Offa robbery incident in 2018. This event galvanized our community and showcased our resolve, which was crucial to the Otoge movement—a struggle that ultimately led to the election of the current governor of Kwara State, Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq, we regarded him as the “soludero” of Kwara, believing wholeheartedly that he would prioritize the development of Offa, alongside other towns in the state.
Regrettably, after six years of governance, it has become painfully clear that our community’s needs have largely been ignored. Offa has consistently communicated its pressing concerns, which include the urgent need for improved roads and access to potable water, among other essential infrastructural requirements. Despite our persistent advocacy, the present administration has failed to address these issues adequately. A staggering statistic reveals that we have more than 50 roads in serious disrepair, with many of the older roads completely eroded. While I acknowledge the recent renovations of Taiwo Road in Offa, it is crucial to note that this administration has only managed to construct or rehabilitate three roads out of the over 50 in dire need of attention during the last six years. This scenario reflects a troubling neglect of the second most populous city in Kwara State.
It has become apparent to me that while Kwara is not stagnant in its developmental efforts, the allocation of state resources for infrastructure projects appears heavily skewed. The majority of funded projects are concentrated in the Kwara Central Senatorial District, leaving the other two districts—Kwara South and Kwara North—largely underserved. While it is not fair to directly compare Ilorin, the state capital, to Offa or any other towns, it is important to underscore the disparities. Kwara Central continues to experience extensive road rehabilitation and infrastructure upgrades, while other regions, including Offa, have been systematically overlooked, resulting in significant inequities in development across the state. Ilorin Visual Art Center, Ilorin International Conference Center, Ilorin Innovation Hub, Garment Factory, Sugar Film Factory, Tanke Flyover, Unity Flyover, University of Education Ilorin among others are all domiciled in Ilorin, Offa has been a community whose development reflects the contribution and dedicaion of her people, in the last six years, government presence/patronage within our community is not different from what we had before the evolution.
I urge Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to use state resources judiciously, we are a people who don’t forget. Kwara Central has uncountable legacy projects with nothing close to them in Kwara South and Kwara North in six years in power.
Adeoye Babalola writes from Ilorin
