Mogaji Wole Arisekola has appealed to Oyo State Governor, Engr. Oluseyi Makinde, to urgently intervene in the deplorable condition of the road leading to Ilaji Hotels and Sports Resort, Akanran, Ona-Ara Local Government Area of the state.
Arisekola made the appeal in an open letter to the governor after visiting the resort, describing his journey from Ibadan to the facility as unexpectedly difficult and unnecessarily long.
According to him, a trip that should ordinarily take between 30 and 40 minutes lasted more than two hours because of the poor condition of the access road.
Arisekola said the experience was particularly disappointing because he had always taken pride in Oyo State’s road network whenever he hosted friends and visitors from other parts of Nigeria.
He wrote: “Your Excellency, my journey to Ilaji Hotels and Sports Resort in Akanran was not smooth at all.”
He said his experience prompted him to question whether he was still within Oyo State, recalling the poor roads he had encountered on some routes in neighbouring Ogun State.
Arisekola stressed that good roads were essential not only for residents but also for motorists, farmers, investors, tourists and businesses transporting agricultural produce into Ibadan.
He said he attempted to contact Governor Makinde during the journey to draw his attention to the condition of the road.
“Governor Seyi Makinde knows me very well. Whenever I see something that deserves attention, I always speak up,” he said.
Despite the difficult journey, Arisekola said arriving at Ilaji Hotels and Sports Resort completely changed his perspective about the trip.
He described the facility, owned by businessman Chief Dotun Sanusi, as one of the finest and largest resorts in Ibadan, saying its quality could rival major leisure destinations outside the country.
According to him, the resort has also created significant employment opportunities for people in Oyo State and therefore deserves the support and encouragement of the government.
Arisekola placed Sanusi’s contribution within the broader history of Ibadan entrepreneurship, recalling the legacies of prominent businessmen including the late Chief Bode Akindele, Alhaji Abdul-Azeez Arisekola, Chief Yekini Adeojo and Chief N.A. Idowu.
He argued that Ibadan’s tradition of supporting indigenous businesses must be preserved, particularly by those entrusted with public leadership.
The publisher also recalled the support he received from fellow Ibadan indigenes when he began developing Oluyole Estate in Lugbe, Abuja, in 2013.
He said Chief Niyi Akinola made a N12 million deposit without visiting the site, while the late Chief Yekini Adeojo gifted him N3 million. Mr Oyesola, he added, deposited another N20 million.
“That was the spirit of brotherhood. That was the Ibadan I grew up to know—a city where love, unity, and mutual support flowed naturally among its people,” Arisekola stated.
Turning specifically to Governor Makinde, he noted that Sanusi is both the governor’s friend and fellow Ibadan indigene, stressing that allowing his business to suffer because of an inaccessible road would be unfortunate.
Arisekola also expressed concern that Governor Makinde might not have been fully briefed by the Commissioner for Works about the condition of the road.
He therefore urged the governor to mobilise the contractors handling the project back to site and ensure that construction resumes without further delay.
“This is not just about today. It is about tomorrow and what people will eventually say about us,” he said.
Arisekola further called for a stronger sense of unity among Ibadan indigenes and residents of Oyo State, arguing that collective interest must come before individual considerations.
He concluded by praying for Governor Makinde and wishing him a successful completion of his eight-year tenure in the state.
