Drivers, commuters and residents plying the ever-busy Benin-Ekpoma-Auchi Road, in Edo State, on Wednesday, bemoaned the deplorable condition of roads in the state.
It would be recalled that after running into a gridlock occasioned by the failed portion of the Sapele Road, penultimate week, Governor Godwin Obaseki mounted billboards depicting that the bad roads belonged to the Federal Government and urged the residents to bear with the state government.
One of the drivers, Mr. Anthony Isesele, who works with one of the popular transport companies in the state, and plies the eve- busy Benin-Ekpoma-Auchi Road, said the situation was becoming unbearable, as kidnappers and other criminals took advantage of the state of the road to kidnap unsuspecting commuters.
This was just as he lamented the huge cost of maintaining their vehicles.
“Edo State is a transit state that connects the South-West to the South-Eeast and as well the south to the North. The government of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole expanded about 16 billion Naira to rehabilitate federal government roads in Edo State. Oshiomhole knows that the ultimate beneficiaries of the so-called federal government roads are Edo people.”
“Has Obaseki fixed the state roads? Just go to the communities in Edo State and see the kind of roads that are there. I am coming from Auchi now, take your time and go to the villages in the three senatorial zones and see for yourself. And in any case, why is the Edo State Government collecting taxes from vehicles plying these federal roads?”
“The situation is unbearable, as kidnappers and other criminal-minded people take advantage of the state of the road to kidnap unsuspecting commuters. Again, the cost of maintaining our vehicles has become a burden.” He further lamented.
Also, Agnes Moses, a trader in Ekpoma, said they were surprised to see the screaming billboards that tell you: “This is a Federal Road. Please bear with the Edo State Government”, over the deplorable state of the roads.
“I was surprised to wake-up last week to see this billboard in Ekpoma. The road has become impassable. How long are we supposed to bear with the state government? expressing worries why the state government could not embark on palliative measures to make the federal roads motorable.
This is part of the reasons, why food items are expensive, because fuel subsidy removal and the bad state of the road also contributes to the high cost of food stuff in Edo and and states.” She said.
Earlier, commenting on the state of the federal road in Edo State, the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) accused Governor Obaseki of failing in his responsibilities to the people of the state.
The State Chairman of the party, Col. David Imuse (retd), while addressing journalists in Benin, said: “I am addressing you today with regards to the recent statement made by the Edo State government regarding the state of Federal Roads in the state. We want to use this forum as a vehicle to bring the attention of the good people of our state to the failures of the current administration, led by Governor Godwin Obaseki, which greatly exacerbated the issue at hand.
“First and foremost, it is important to note that the Benin Storm water project, which was intended to address the issue of flooding and erosion in Benin City, was not completed by Governor Obaseki. This lack of progress has contributed to the worsening flood and erosion problems in our state.
“Furthermore, the state government led by Mr. Godwin Obaseki has engaged in gross misuse of funds allocated to Edo state by the federal government over time. You are aware that over N16 billion was refunded to the state under the watch of Obaseki for the federal roads fixed by his predecessor in office, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, during his tenure as governor.” Imuse noted.
and then