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In the campaign trail leading up to the 2019 gubernatorial elections in Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde paid a visit to residents of Ita/Faaji Road in Ibadan. As he walked the community’s dusty paths, he publicly acknowledged the terrible state of the road and made a clear promise: If elected, the road would be fixed. It was a moment of hope for residents who had suffered for years; potholes that turned to ponds during rainy seasons, damaged vehicles, skyrocketing transport fares, and delays that impacted business and daily life.
Months went by after he was elected into office, and no work commenced on the road. For the people of Ita/Faaji, the pain only deepened. Parents carried children across flooded stretches during the rains. Traders lost income due to reduced foot traffic. The governor’s promise, like many others, seemed on the brink of being forgotten.
At AdvoKC Foundation, we are committed to one thing: tracking political promises and pushing for accountability. We had tracked the Governor's promise to the Ita/Faaji community as part of our Oyo Progress Watch, and when no action followed, we knew silence wasn’t an option.
In 2021, we launched a two-pronged advocacy effort:
1. Documenting the Reality: We visited the community and created a documentary-style video that captured raw, emotional stories of residents including taxi drivers, traders, young people sharing how the bad road was hurting their lives and livelihoods. The visuals were powerful and undeniable. The people were tired. The government had to listen.
2. Online Campaign: We then launched a targeted social media campaign, using our platforms to tag the official handles of the Oyo State Government, the Governor, and other state actors. We posted video clips, images, and powerful captions urging the government to remember the governor’s promise. The campaign gained momentum. Tweets and reposts spread the message. It caught attention. The push worked.
Shortly after our online campaign gained traction, we received a public response from the Oyo State Government on X (Formerly Twitter), acknowledging the complaints and promising action.
Within weeks, palliative work began on the Ita/Faaji Road. It wasn’t a complete reconstruction, but it was a much-needed intervention that was enough to ease the suffering of residents and allow for safer passage and improved mobility.
This moment was not just about a road. It was about community voice, organised advocacy, and the power of tech-enabled civic engagement. We didn’t build the road but we built the pressure that helped make the government act. We didn’t just track a promise, we followed up, spoke out, and stood with the community until results came.