Engr. Olatoke Olaniyan is an iconoclastic engineer of local and international pedigree, having invested over four decades in the profession. In this exclusive interview with Osun Newsroom, he presented a copious narrative about little known facts about the recently completed iconic flyover at Olaiya, especially how it is a blessing to the motoring and non-motoring public in Osogbo, the Osun state capital. The duo of Bukola Aderibigbe and Moshood Suleiman engaged the Iragbiji-born civil engineer, in this must read interview. Excerpts:
Osun Newsroom:
Congratulations on the successful completion of the Olaiya flyover, though not yet officially commissioned.
Engr. Olaniyan:
To God be the glory and we also give thanks and appreciation to the people of Osun state for their patience, love, perseverance, and of course, understanding while the project lasted. It couldn’t have been a success story that it turned out to be without the support of the good people of our dear state of Osun. On behalf of our Chief Executive Officer, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, we are deeply appreciative and we look forward to more of such wonderful gestures.
Osun Newsroom:
No doubt it was a project that generated what again could be described as ‘iconic noises and controversies’ (smiles). How did you eventually gain the last laugh today?
Engr. Olaniyan:
(Laughs).
Sincerely yours, we did not, throughout the period, feel intimated or disturbed by the unwarranted noises and comments from some quarters, knowing fully well that Oyetola’s intention to put such a project in place was genuine. The bridge, as Governor Oyetola rightly told whoever cared to listen, was a child of necessity waiting to be born alive until the advent of the administration of “Mr Project”, Adegboyega Isiaka Oyetola, who God specifically put at the helm of affairs to midwife the birth of the first and the only iconic flyover in Osogbo.
Osun Newsroom:
Our governor is, no doubt, a man of history; and that is why we are having it historically good beyond our expectations in Osun.
Engr. Olaniyan:
Yes, you are not far from stating the obvious. Here’s a Chief Executive who knows the historical antecedents of the state like the palm of his hands. He became fully challenged by his many dreams to put many things in place for the present and future generations of the people of Osun. Our governor is a foresighted individual who thinks far ahead of time. An Osogbo of twenty years back is not like an Osogbo of today in terms of rapidity at which it develops; more so, after becoming the state capital.
Don’t forget that the Olaiya junction was like a window to gain an inroad to any part of the state, through Osogbo. Vehicles coming from different parts of Nigeria must as a matter of necessity pass through this popular junction; hence, the intersection was plagued with traffic gridlocks of different kinds and incessant accidents along that axis. A desire to arrest the ugly trends was what necessitated the construction of a flyover at the intersection by the Oyetola administration.
Osun Newsroom:
Then began the process?
Engr. Olaniyan:
Not really. It took a bit of time. It was not hurriedly arrived at. Mind you, we are blessed with a leader who does not just begin a process of doing something on its face value. No. Mr Governor will not do that even in a dream. As a first step in the right direction, he first embarked on consultations by seeking people’s views as well as that of experts on the propriety or otherwise of having a bridge at the junction. In fact, Mr Governor sought the professional expertise of the officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps who masterfully carried out traffic counts of the number of vehicles plying that hitherto dangerous axis of the state capital on a daily basis. Secondly, the administration of Mr Adegboyega Oyetola was compelled by the need to add the necessary aesthetic values and nomenclature to that axis of Osogbo to give it a befitting outlook of what truly a state capital should look like. With all due respect, Osogbo was like a glorified state capital waiting for a man of vision and mission like Oyetola to give it a near, if not total perfection of what a beautiful state capital should look like.
Osun Newsroom:
But how would you place the high cost residents had to pay while the project lasted? Some people described it as ‘baptism of fire’…
Engr. Olaniyan:
Of course, for any viable and meaningful project, there must be a monetary and psychological costs. Like the Yoruba will always say, there’s no gain without pain. For anything good to see the light of the day, there must be element of pains and struggles. The same was true for the flyover while the construction lasted, but the government tried to put measures in place to alleviate some of the pains associated with the construction.
Osun Newsroom:
…and thank God that all is well that ends well.
Engr. Olaniyan:
On that ground, once again, we thank God and of course the entire people of the state for their patience, resilience and commitment to the ideals of Oyetola-led administration to give them a cynosure of all eyes that the yet-to-be-commissioned flyover has turned out to be.
Osun Newsroom:
To the Doubting Thomases who were hell bent on carrying out condemnation and castigation of the project, what have you to say?
Engr. Olaniyan:
They are forgiven, for they knew not what they were saying. Apart from not having confidence in the realisation of the construction of the bridge coming to reality, they were equally in doubt as to the possibility of other laudable projects coming to reality in Osun. But Oyetola keeps surprising doubters. You are all living witnesses to what the situations were when we came on board and what the situation is now in the about-to-be-completed first term of Oyetola. We inherited the half salary syndrome, incessant strike actions by workers and protests by pensioners among other unsavory developments in Osun. Today, Osun is steadily graduating to a state of milk and honey with life more abundant in line with the age-old philosophy of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Jeremiah Awolowo. Salaries of workers are now being paid as and when due, the incessant strike actions by workers have gone to the doldrums, Pensioners are having it good and the era of industrial showdowns have become old stories of the past. At the risk of overblowing the trumpet of the Oyetola-led administration, Osun is unarguably one of the states in Nigeria that pays the national minimum wage to its pool of workers today. I make bold to say that nature has been generous with us to have a governor like Oyetola. We are blessed and lucky to have his financial ingenuity and wizardry being brought to bear . I, Olatoke Olaniyan, is happy and privileged to be part of the Oyetola success stories in Osun in all ramifications.
Osun Newsroom:
To God be the glory.
Back to the flyover, it was in the first instance slated to be completed in nine months, but for reasons beyond the imagination of the state government, it went beyond the date initially projected. What were the snags or hinderances?
Engr. Olaniyan:
So many reasons accounted for the extra few weeks. In the first instance, we should be commended because there’s nowhere all over the world where a flyover of such iconoclastic standard and nomenclature is completed in a year. With my engineering experience spanning over four decades and still counting, such a project is not a thing that can be completed in a jiffy. Not because we were in a haste but because of the sheer sincerity of Oyetola to give Osun the best without much stress, we projected its completion in nine months. Those who have followed projects in Osun in recent years will know that this isn’t an impossibility because we have responsible contractors who work round the clock to deliver in good time. But we are sorry about the little delay as it were. Secondly, in the course of the project, weather factor set in as a result of incessant, heavy rains. Again we experienced project variations in the course of the exercise which of course is a normal thing for a mega project of that magnitude. I must emphasise again and again that notwithstanding the technological breakthroughs being made on a daily basis all over the world, no engineer can beat his or her chest with utmost certainty as to when a given project would be completed – because of unforseen circumstances. But our ambition for the people of Osun was tall and still remains so with other projects in the offing.
Osun Newsroom:
What then informed the opening of the flyover for use before the official commissioning ceremony and when will that be and who is expected to come and cut the ceremonial tape?
Engr. Olaniyan:
(smiles)
Three questions in one. We opened the bridge to assuage the growing urge of the people to start enjoying it, and also as part of sensitivity to the plight of the people plying their trades along that axis. Secondly, Mr Governor felt absolutely convinced that since it has been completed and certified safe for use by external consultants, there’s no point again delaying its usage. After all, it is for people and not otherwise. Delaying its usage could therefore be counterproductive. Thirdly, concerning when and who would officially come to perform the commissioning ceremony, well, this is just a matter of few days from now. But definitely, the commissioning will hold and it could be Mr President or the Vice President or anybody so appointed or invited by Mr Governor to cut the tape. You seems to be in a hurry to know, right? Don’t worry. Calm down (smiles). Your curiosity will soon be assuaged when the official date for commissioning is made known by our principal, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola anytime soon.
Osun Newsroom:
There was also the noise at one time or the other regarding the structural integrity of the bridge…
Engr. Olaniyan:
(Laughs).
Well, it was expected that people, especially members of the opposition parties in the state or elsewhere, would ask this question just for political and mischievous reasons. In the first instance, from its design to its total completion, competent engineers and (even regulatory authorities) were involved. They were all indigenous experts with wealth of local and international competence and experiences in the field of engineering, those who could compete favorably with their counterparts anywhere in the world. At every level of the project, we did what in engineering parlance is known as Quality Control. No single aspect of the project from A to Z was done without quality control methodically carried out by experts. Added to this, we engaged the services of internationally qualified and recognised consultants that carried out thorough supervision of the bridge. No single expatriate was called to do anything. The engineers were all Nigerians with all that it takes to be called engineering gurus all over the world. On the viability, especially the number of cars it can accommodate at a time, I challenge anyone of these doubting Thomases to take a drive or walk to the bridge to prove us right or wrong. Not only cars but articulated vehicles can conveniently have a smooth ride on the bridge without any hassle.
Osun Newsroom:
The sight of the bridge, no doubt is a beauty to behold. The artistic imprints on different sides of the bridge are also superb and numero uno. One tends to ask whether apart from being a bridge put in place for motorists there could have been other factors taken into consideration by government to make it look like a place to go and catch fun?
Engr. Olaniyan:
You are correct with all these observations and descriptions. To appreciate the bridge is to take a visit to the place physically. To answer your question, let me tell you that all the decorations are direct reflection of what nature has endowed us with in Osun; a home of culture and tourism waiting to be fully tapped by people from different parts of the world. At the bridge you have the drawings of different cultural artefacts and historical monuments. We have the beautiful paintings of the Osun votary maid, we have the Oranmiyan staff, we have ‘Ori Olokun’, we have the Oke Iragbiji double hills, Iwo Odidere paintings, the famous Kiriji war site, etc. All these are conspicuously emblazoned on different parts of the bridge coupled with other niceties. A visitor to the bridge would want to explore all these attractions to a logical conclusion by being eager to take a visit to the different places where all these historical monuments are located in Osun.
Osun Newsroom:
What plans are in place for the maintenance of the bridge, the paintings and other items on the bridge?
Engr. Olaniyan:
These and others have been taken care of. As an interim measure, we have given the contractor that handled the project another six months assignment to ensure the cleanliness and maintenance of the iconic bridge. Thereafter, the state government would put in place a body of specialists for its cleanliness and maintenance. I must also emphasize that for a 24-hour surveillance, security personnel will be stationed to look after the bridge. Anybody caught or seen defacing any part of the bridge, either with a poster or billboard would be made to face full prosecution of the law. For traffic violators, it is no longer business as usual as there’s a CCTV camera device planted all round the bridge to capture full details of any violator found commiting any traffic infraction. The bridge is fashioned after what obtains in advanced countries of the world. You can’t believe this. It is a bridge with a difference.
Osun Newsroom:
Are you saying Oyetola is working and Osun is progressing?
Engr. Olaniyan:
Exactly. What else can we hoped for in a man and a governor whose day-to-day dream is to leave Osun far better than how he met it. The success story behind this is due to his prudent nature in plugging all the loopholes that hitherto drained the purse of the state to the advantage of some few people at the expense of the larger public of the state. Today, the era of abandoned projects no longer exist. My dear brother and sister, Osun would have by now gone totally insolvent if not because of Oyetola’s mastery of what it takes to run the financial affairs of the state, a virtue which might not be unconnected with his background as a private sector, boardroom player with financial acumen and finesse. I can confidently tell you with all sense of responsibility that no more white elephant project in any part of Osun. Here’s a governor who ensures that whatever little resources accruing to the state either locally or from the federation account is put to maximum use for the overall development of the government and people.
I am delighted to tell you that we can not be luckier than we are today with Mr Adegboyega Oyetola at the helm of affairs. To God be the glory.
