Kabba-Olle-Iluke Road: Unilorin Lecturer Tenders Apology to Kogi Govt
A lecturer with the University of Ilorin, Kwara State, Chief Olorunsuwa Elijah Ola, has tendered an unreserved apology to the Kogi State Government over his earlier false claims that the World Bank was handling the rehabilitation of the Kabba-Olle-Iluke Road.
The Kogi Government had announced plans to rehabilitate the road, which has been in a dilapidated state, causing untold hardship to the people of Bunu land, who are mostly farmers.
The government had also announced the bidding process for the road, which had been approved by the State Executive Council, chaired by His Excellency, Alh. Ahmed Usman Ododo.
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However, Chief Ola, in a post on one of the social media platforms, claimed that the road was approved by the World Bank, though he could not substantiate the claim, as such a project would ordinarily be linked to World Bank-backed initiatives such as ACReSAL, RAAMP, and other similar projects.
Investigations by newsmen, however, showed that there was no truth to the lecturer’s claim.
During a visit to these World Bank Projects, the claims were denied as if it were to be so, they (ACresal and RAAMP) would have handing the bidding process in line with global standards.
Several attempts were made by government officials to reach out to him to retract the statement, but he refused, instead calling on the people to fact-check him.
He was subsequently given 48 hours to retract the claim, which was seen as antagonistic to a project that has long been the dream of many, both within and outside Bunu land.
Following his invitation by the Kogi State Police Command, Chief Ola, after realising he was wrong, apologised to the state government in a letter he personally signed.
In the letter, titled “RETRACTION AND APOLOGY TO KOGI STATE GOVERNMENT ON MY PUBLICATION ON CONSTRUCTION KABBA-OLLE-ILUKE ROAD,” he acknowledged his mistake.
In his words: “I had in my earlier write-up adduced that the construction of the said road is to be sponsored by the World Bank based on the information at my disposal as of the time of publication of the said WhatsApp piece.”
“Recent information has however confirmed that the said road construction is a sole project of the Kogi State Government.”
“This is to correct the earlier write-up and offer an unreserved apology to the State Government as the publication is not meant to cause any embarrassment to the state.”
With this apology, it is now clear that the road is solely sponsored by the Ododo-led administration, as two other roads, including the Bassa and Ibaji roads, are currently receiving government attention.
DemocracyNewslineNewspaper September 18, 2026
