The Oyo West Local Government Area of Oyo State has named the defunct Western Nigeria Tobacco Company Road in Oyo town after the late Prince Akee Obayanritan Ladigbolu, father of a cleric and chairman, Oyo Metropolitan Development Association, Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu.

The naming of the road after the cleric’s father, according to the LG, was in honour of the archbishop’s contribution to the development of Oyo town and environs.

A statement on Tuesday noted that Prince Akee died on February 7, 1973.

It said the naming of the road, originally opened up by Archbishop Ladigbolu in 1983, was contained in a letter signed by the chairman of the LGA, Akeem Salami, dated March 27, 2024.

The letter titled ‘Approval of Naming of Road,’ read, “I wish to refer to your letter dated November 4, 2023, in respect of a longstanding request for road naming and graciously approve that Your Lordship be honoured with the naming of the road that stretches from Tobacco Junction and terminates at Dacamca Junction as Obayanritan Apewo Road as requested, please.

“The naming of this road after your Lordship’s preferred individual has been approved in recognition of your past efforts and contributions to the progress and development of Oyo town and environs.

“In essence, you’re not expected to pay a dime to the coffers of this local government in respect of the road naming, please.”

The letter also enjoined Ladigbolu to reciprocate the gesture with his “continued contribution to the development of the town and environs.”

Oyo West LGA with its headquarters at Ojongbodu, Oyo, was created in 1996 by the late General Sanni Abacha-led regime out of the defunct Oyo Local Government, Kosobo, Oyo.

The LGA shares common boundaries with Atiba LGA to the North, Afijio and Akinyele LGAs to the South, Iseyin LGA and a big river beside Ilora Grammar School to the West; Oyo East LGA to the East and finally Ido LGA. According to the year 2006 population census, Oyo West was put at 136,236 consisting people of different religions and cultural groups.