Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Wednesday praised Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde for transforming Ibadan into a more liveable city, spotlighting the commissioning of the sprawling Ibadan Central Bus Terminal at Iwo Road as a game-changer for urban mobility.
Speaking at the event, Obasanjo described the N5.5 billion project—featuring two mega stations with waiting halls, ticketing areas, eateries, restrooms, open parking, power generation, water reservoirs, elevators, and escalators—as a testament to Makinde’s engineering prowess and commitment to people-centered development.
“Governor Makinde, you have done so well. You are making Ibadan liveable and trying to make everyone in the state comfortable,” Obasanjo said. “Ibadan is Nigeria’s third-largest city by population but the biggest by land area, so moving from point A to B takes longer than in Lagos or Kano. These terminals—at Iwo Road, Challenge, and Ojoo—will make that easier.”
The elder statesman, who accepted the invitation just three days prior, likened Makinde to himself, calling him an “Omoluabi” (a person of integrity) and a master of both “professional engineering” and “political engineering.” He urged the governor to ignore critics: “Those abusing you today will praise you tomorrow. I was abused too, and now they praise me.”
Obasanjo also called on residents to maintain the facility, emphasizing its regional significance. “Ibadan isn’t just Oyo’s capital—it’s the heart of Yorubaland, the old Western Region, and Western State. Developments here benefit the entire South-West.”
#### Makinde Defends Circular Road Amid Protests, Eyes Economic Boom
In his address, Governor Makinde announced the completion of all four modern bus terminals in Ibadan—Challenge, Ojoo, New Ife Road, and Iwo Road—fulfilling a promise delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic and supply chain issues.
“We projected 12 months, but global realities slowed us. Today, the cycle is complete—a celebration of promises kept,” Makinde said. He recounted demolishing a mosque on the site for the project but replacing it with a modern one, despite political backlash.
The governor framed the terminals as part of a non-politicized push to “engineer a modern Oyo State,” including a new dual carriageway from Iwo Road to Adegbayi and plans to extend it to the Oyo boundary at Asejire with federal support.
Turning to the controversial 110km Senator Rashidi Ladoja Circular Road, Makinde addressed recent protests over property impacts. “It’s not just a road—it’s our economic backbone,” he asserted. “We’re building a corridor for industries, logistics hubs, and estates to drive growth over the next 20 years. Cities that don’t plan for tomorrow drown in today’s chaos.”
He pledged to visit the site with the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) and Mogajis to engage legitimate property owners, dismissing name-calling as “part of leadership.” With 18 months left in his term, Makinde said future administrations would extend similar upgrades to Ogbomoso, Saki, Iseyin, Ibarapa, and Oyo.
“This restores dignity to movement, beauty to our cities, and hope to our people—one project, one reform, one vision at a time,” he added, thanking Obasanjo for his inspiration and the people of Oyo for their support.
#### Official: Terminals Symbolize ‘Purposeful Governance’
Oyo State Commissioner for Works, Infrastructure, and Transport, Hon. Abdulmojeed Mogbonjubola, hailed the terminals as a “significant step” toward global-standard urban mobility, emphasizing sustainability, safety, and comfort. “This reflects intentional engineering under our sustainable development roadmap,” he said, urging stakeholders to own and protect the facility.
The event drew a constellation of dignitaries, including Deputy Governor Barr. Abdulraheem Bayo Lawal; former Deputy Governor Engr. Hamid Gbadamosi; Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin; Chief Judge Justice Iyabo Yerima; former Minister of Trade Chief Mrs. Onikepo Akande; Oyo State Elders’ Council leaders Elder Wole Oyelese and Chief Saka Balogun; House of Representatives member Hon. Najimdeen Oyeshina Oyedeji; former lawmakers Hon. Saheed Akinade-Fijabi and Hon. Shina Peller; Secretary to the State Government Prof. Olanike Adeyemo; Head of Service Mrs. Bunmi Oni; commissioners; local government chairmen; and representatives of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Alaafin of Oyo, and other traditional rulers.
The commissioning underscores Makinde’s infrastructure drive, which has positioned Oyo as a model for urban renewal in Nigeria’s South-West, even as it navigates the tensions of rapid development.
