Senator Olubiyi Fadeyi, representing Osun Central, has defended the decision to leave an electricity pole standing in the middle of a newly constructed road along Oduola Street, Oke Okanla in Osogbo. The controversial image of the pole embedded in the road sent shockwaves through social media earlier this week.
Several residents voiced concerns, warning that the pole poses a severe safety risk. One resident lamented, “The pole ought to be removed before the asphalt,” adding that “the position of the electric pole could cause an accident.”
In response to the criticism, Senator Fadeyi took to X (formerly Twitter) to clarify the situation. He noted that the last time the road was reconstructed was back in 1988, highlighting that no previous administration had deemed it necessary to work on the stretch until now. Crucially, he emphasized that relocating electricity poles was not included in the project’s Bill of Quantities, asserting that such moves fall under the jurisdiction of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC).
The matter gained traction after a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Rasaq Gafar, shared the photo on Facebook, drawing widespread condemnation. Some political commentators speculated that the road may have been constructed before Fadeyi’s defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC, adding layers of political undertone to the issue.
In Summary:
- A newly paved road in Osogbo now has an electricity pole standing awkwardly in its centre.
- Locals are worried about safety; one explicitly warned it could lead to accidents.
- The Senator clarified that pole relocation wasn’t part of the project’s scope and is the responsibility of the IBEDC.
- The project’s origins—whether under the current or previous party affiliation of the Senator—have added a political dimension to the controversy.
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