Benin - Agbor Road Protest Enters Day 6, Youths Insist Road Must Be Fixed

...we are determined to see the road repaired-- Barr Omoruyi 

By Chris Tony Akhabue

There seems to be no respite in sight for the agonizing residents, motorists and Commuters on the Benin- Agbor Express Way as protest by Ikpoba Hill Youth enters the sixth day.

Recall on Tuesday last week that the Youths of Ikpoba Hill in Ikpoba Okha local government area of Edo state took to the streets to protest the deplorable situation of the Benin-Agbor road and in the process barricaded the road leading to Agbor in Delta and other South South States.

The blockage which has successfully cripple commercial activities in the area is likely not going to be over soon as it is alleged that neither the Edo state governor nor any of his representatives has visited the scene of the protest to address the agrieved youth who have barricaded the express way since Tuesday last week.

Responding to the Press, Comrade Osazee Aigbovho Ehijiator, a resident of the community said that the road has become a major concern for everybody in the community as its deplorable condition is negatively affecting everyone.

According to him," the disrepair state of the road has become very worrisome as it is negatively affecting everyone in the community and we are begging the government to listen to us and come to our rescue but unfortunately the government has not come out to address us and I think such is not expected of a listening leader".

According to Mr Friday Ehijiemen, a commercial bus driver, " the bad road situation is making transportation business very difficult for us as our vehicles break down frequently and we are spending so much money on repairs and the Youths coming out to block the road has further compounded our situation as passengers are no longer coming out as much as before because of the long distances they have to trek to get out of the troubled spot before they can get vehicles and as such we are suffering so much"

Speaking with Champion Newspaper correspondent this morning, at the scene of the barricade, the Chairman of Ikpoba Hill Youths Forum Comrade Kingsley Osemwigie said that they are still expecting the 50 hard core the state government promised to send for the remedial work expected to be done to make the road motorable until comprehensive rehabilitation is done.

According to him," the Edo state governor Mr Godwin Obaseki has deployed three catapillers for the remedial work expected to be done on the failed portions of the road and his CSO said that by 12pm today, the hard core would start arriving but as responsible and concerned youths, we are determined to be sure the road is repaired and as such we have decided to also be involved in the repair work and because of that we have decided to bring out money from our account and some well meaning individuals also supported us with some cash to get two trucks of hard core to support the government expected efforts. Some well meaning individuals have come out to support our agitations for the repair of the road and we are expecting more hard core from concerned individuals to complement what the government will do.

" The only aspect that has been worrisome is the fact that since last Tuesday when we embarked on this protest, neither the governor nor any of his representatives has deem it fit to come out and address our Youths and we feel that is not too good, however, we want the Edo people and the government to know that we have decided to embark on this protest for the good of all and that is why we are also spending our money on it because we are citizens of this state and we have no other state than Edo"