An Open Letter To The Distinguished Senator Jide Ipinsagba: A Call to Action on the Abandoned Road Infrastructure of Ondo North
13th October 2025
From: The Concerned Youth and Residents of Ondo North Senatorial District
To: The Distinguished Senator Olajide Ipinsagba Senator Representing Ondo North Senatorial District Chairman,Senate Committee on Public Procurement The National Assembly,Abuja.
Your Legislative and Representative Failure on the Ikaram-Iyani-Ibaram-Erusu-Imo-Arigidi-Agbaluku-Ikare Road
Your Distinguished Senator,
We, the concerned youth, residents, and constituents of the Ondo North Senatorial District, write to you today with a profound sense of disappointment and frustration. Our primary grievance is the continued and shameful neglect of the critical road network connecting our communities: the Ikaram-Iyani-Ibaram-Erusu-Imo-Arigidi-Agbaluku-Ikare road.
This road is the economic and social lifeline for our people. Its current deplorable state, riddled with potholes and eroded sections, is a direct impediment to commerce, a hazard to the safety of commuters, and a barrier to accessing healthcare and education . The situation has reached a crisis point, compelling residents of other communities like Arigidi Akoko to stage peaceful protests to draw attention to the terrible state of federal roads in our district .
As our Senator, and notably, an indigene of Ikare-Akoko, a pivotal community on this very route, we expected your utmost dedication and urgency in addressing this issue. Yet, we have observed a disheartening pattern of neglect, which we must now bring to public light.
A Record of Inaction Amidst Claims of Progress
While your office has published a list of achievements, including a 1.5km road in Oka-Akoko and the construction of a civic centre in Ikare , these projects stand in stark contrast to the overwhelming infrastructural deficit plaguing the senatorial district. The selective development raises questions about the equity and prioritization of your projects. The reality for thousands of residents along the Ikaram-Ikare axis is one of continued suffering and isolation.
Furthermore, the concerns we raise are not isolated. The Akoko Youth Forum has previously issued a public demand, lamenting your “silence, detachment, and a worrying lack of engagement” and the “absence of meaningful government-backed programs” that address critical infrastructure like roads . Your reported commitment to “lobby for federal intervention on road repairs” has, from our vantage point, yielded no visible results on this specific and crucial corridor.
A Breach of Representative Trust
The core of representative democracy is accountability and responsiveness. The failure to address an issue as fundamental as a road that connects multiple communities, including your own hometown, is perceived as a severe breach of this trust. Your role as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Procurement places you in a strategic position to ensure transparency and efficiency in national projects , yet this has not translated into tangible benefits for this vital piece of local infrastructure.
We are aware of your legislative efforts, such as the bill for an ICT University in Ikare-Akoko . While education is important, it cannot be pursued in isolation. What good is a university in Ikare if the roads leading to it are impassable, thereby limiting access and hindering its potential for economic integration?
Our Demands for Immediate Action
Our critique is intended to be constructive. We therefore demand the following immediate actions:
- Public Acknowledgement and Assessment: Issue a formal public statement acknowledging the catastrophic state of the Ikaram-Ikare road. We demand that you personally, or through a delegated team from your office and the relevant federal ministry, conduct an on-the-ground assessment tour with community leaders and the media to witness the situation firsthand.
- Transparent Action Plan: Provide a clear, publicly accessible, and time-bound plan detailing the steps you are taking to secure federal intervention. This must include:
· Evidence of your lobbying efforts with the Federal Ministry of Works.
· A detailed status report on any proposed bill or motion you have sponsored specifically for the funding and rehabilitation of this road.
· A clear timeline for when constituents can expect remedial work to commence. - Inclusive and Transparent Engagement: Move beyond closed-door meetings with community youth leaders and hold a public town hall meeting specifically dedicated to the issue of road infrastructure across the senatorial district. The people you represent deserve to hear your plans directly and to hold you accountable.
Conclusion
The people of Ondo North deserve more than curated lists of achievements; they deserve tangible results that uplift their standard of living. The continuous neglect of the Ikaram-Ikare road is a testament to a failure of representation that spans across political tenures. We call on you, Distinguished Senator, to break this cycle of failure.
We expect and demand decisive action. Our patience has been exhausted. The time for excuses is over; the era of accountability is now.
Yours in the service of our community,
Signed Prince Kayode Bode Ariwajoye President Ikaram Youth for (08069743304)
The Concerned Youth and Residents of Ondo North Senatorial District.
