The Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba Adekunle Aromolaran has pleaded with the Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke and the Contractor handling Ereja Square road dualisation to avert religious crisis over the project.

Governor Adeleke had in April this year flagged off the construction of the road awarded to Horizon Nigeria Limited and Showie-tee Global Services Limited at the cost of N16.5 billion with a duration period of 12 months.

As demolition of buildings on the road is currently ongoing by contractors, residents of Ilesa have alleged bias in the implementation of the road designs as some buildings, including religious centres marked for demolition, were allegedly spared.

Addressing journalists on Wednesday at the palace square after a stakeholder meeting, the monarch, represented by the Obaala of Ijesaland, High Chief Ibitoye Adeniyi demanded that the contractors handling the project should liaise with the palace committee on the road to assist them execute their responsibility effectively.

He charged the contractors not to be biased in executing the specifications of the project, especially the demolition of marked buildings in the line of the construction, including the central mosque at Ereja Square and also ensure timely completion.

“Our concern over the ongoing dualisation projects is the alleged selective demolition of properties marked for such action. We have heard that some places of worship, including the mosque around Ereja Square have been spared while some that were not marked at all are about to be demolished. These issues are about to create a crisis which the palace is not comfortable with.

“We therefore appeal to the contractors and the State Government to, in the interest of Ilesa town ensure objectivity in the execution of the project. We don’t want any religious crisis whatsoever. We also appeal to Governor Adeleke to help talk to the contractor to ensure timely delivery of the project”, he said.

The monarch also appealed to Ilesa residents, including homeowners to remain calm as the matter would be resolved amicably to ensure contractors adhere strictly to the contract specification.

Also speaking the Alagbeda of Agbeda-Ijesa, Oba Soji Adeniyi stressed that the monarch invited the contractors to give them support towards successfully executing the project rather than intimidate or frustrate the process.

Vanguard had reported that Governor Adeleke had in a statement in June assured the Muslim Community in Ilesa that the construction work would not affect the Central Mosque at Ereja Square. (Vanguard)