Ibadan – As part of measures for easy transportation of farm produce from Oke-Ogun to Ibadan and other south west geo-politcal zones, the Oyo State gubernatorial candidate of the African Democratic Congress, (ADC), Olooye Adegboyega Taofeek Adegoke (FCA) has pledged to build rail line from Moniya in Ibadan to Saki in the Oke Ogun Area of the State.
Olooye Adegoke made this known on Wednesday while answering questions from panelists on Arise News Television Morning Show Programme in Lagos.
In a statement by Adegoke Campaign Media Team on Thursday, he said the rail line from Moniya to Saki in Oke-Ogun area of Oyo state is to ensure easy transportation of farm produce from the Oke Ogun Area to the market in Ibadan, the state capital and other south western states.
When asked about the likely cost of the 100Km rail line, Olooye Adegoke said a Standard Single Gauge Rail Line he wants to build will be circa US$3M per kilometer. The US$3M is per kilometer of a Single Gauge Rail Line and not for the entire project. A Standard Double Gauge Rail Line is circa US$6M per kilometer.
According to the statement “I am going to build a Standard Single Gauge Rail Line at circa US$3M per Kilometer for economic viability and feasibility. We don’t need a Standard Double Gauge Rail Line which cost circa US$6M to US$6.9M per Kilometer.
“It will be in 3 Phases of: Moniya to Iseyin; Iseyin to Okeho; and Okeho to Saki. Projects like these attract Development Partners and Agencies. So, the entire burden will not be on the Oyo State Government alone. Similar thing is being done with the ongoing Muritala Mohammed International Airport Reconstruction in Lagos”.
He said the rail line project is becoming necessary and will be a top priority for his government because Oke-Ogun is the food basket of Oyo state, noting that easy transportation of farm produce from the area to the market will be a win-win situation for farmers and the urban populace in Ibadan and other states who are the major consumers.
Olooye Adegoke who said he studied Agricultural Economics at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile – Ife Osun state before becoming a Chartered Accountant noted that he will do everything to assist the farmers in the state when he assumes power in 2027.
Speaking on his economic blueprint, the ADC governorship candidate stated that they are embedded in his political slogan, SOLUTIONS 2027, which comprises of security of lives and properties; organic development of agriculture; let there be jobs, urban renewal of major cities; turning around of the health and education sectors; industrial revolutions and infrastructure development; on the job training for teachers and special schemes/status for them; new technologies deployment in every area of government businesses in addition to Socio-Economic development.
Adegoke also said his contract policy would be based on local content policy where contractors from Oyo state will be given priority rather than bring consultants from outside the state.
Speaking on his candidature, Adegoke maintained that he is the best among the three popular parties’ candidates, the ADC, APM and APC without any blemishes, noting that APM candidate is an extension of the current government going by their slogan of Omituntun 3.0, while the issue of god fatherism is hanging on the neck of the APC candidate.
According to him, “out of the three popular candidates of the three major parties the APM, APC and ADC, I’m the beautiful bride, not tainted with no God Father but God Almighty is my father”.
