A lecturer with the Delta State University (DELSU), Paul Bebenimibo, PhD, has called on Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to reconstruct a 70-kilometre road spanning Sapele, Eku, Abraka, Obiaruku, Abavo, and Agbor.
Bebenimibo, who’s a member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and a rights activist, urged Oborevwori to put his acclaimed “street credibility” into action for the people’s benefit ahead of seeking re-election campaign come 2027.
He made the plea in an open letter addressed to the governor, with copies made available to journalists in the state on Monday.
The media consultant to Chief Government Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo admonished Oborevwori to emulate the former governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, and Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State to shed the narrative of “Federal Road” to reconstruct the critical road just as he’s constructing flyovers over the federal road at Effurun and Warri.
The former board member of the immediate past Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), who served between 2019 and 2023, said the deplorable state of the road has virtually destroyed economic activities in the affected eight local government areas of the state.
“I am a regular user of the road mentioned above. The road is dilapidated and impassable now.
“I know that the road is a federal road, which the Federal Government has purportedly worked on in the last 12 years or more.
“However, this road is right in the middle of Delta State, cutting across eight local government areas, including your local government area, Okpe.
“Others are Ika South, Ika North East, Ukwuani, Ethiope East, Sapele, and Ughelli North Local Government Areas.
“In other words, people from these local government areas have used this road before it became impassable.
“Even you, Mr. Governor, have used this road from Asaba to Osubi, your home town, and vice versa, because it is shorter to use from Asaba to Osubi juxtaposed to wherever you use today.
“If truth be told, the unpalatable condition of the road is a major contributor to the high cost of agricultural products in the state and other parts of Nigeria.
“The rickety state of the road also contributes to the prevailing insecurity in Delta State.
“It is also a significant contributor to the high cost of transportation in Delta State.
“The present state of the road is killing education in Delta State, as two universities in Delta State, namely Delta State University, Abraka, and the University of Agbor, are situated along the road; staff and students find it difficult to use the road right now.
“Your Excellency Sir, the reason for not intervening on this road—that it is a federal road—is untenable.
“It is Deltans that use this road; Deltans own farms along this road, and it is Deltans that are suffering.
“If you can construct fly-overs on a federal road in Warri and Effurun, there is no reason why you should not reconstruct this critical road for Deltans, including you.
“Sir, you have used this road before its present deplorable condition. Your Excellency Sir, it is time for you to approach President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to allow you to work on this road.
“Your colleague-governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, acted similarly lately, taking over the reconstruction of the 70-kilometre Lagos to Abeokuta Expressway.
“I respectfully remind you that former governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, constructed 12 fly-overs on federal roads in Rivers State to ease traffic in the South-South state.
“You can borrow a leaf from these two great men.
“Mr Governor, sir, you made it copiously clear that you are a man of the people during your campaigns in 2023 and that you have enough dosage of ‘street credibility.’ It is now that you have to demonstrate it against the time to come (2027).
“May Jehovah God see you through piloting the affairs of Delta State. Amen!” the Gbaramatu Kingdom-born scholar prayed.
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