by Avann ‘Esohsa’ Harvey
Given that road rehabilitation and reconstruction is one area this present administration can hardly be criticised for. Even though I’m not a fan of Adams Oshiomole, I can’t help admitting that he has been able to raise the bar in the areas of road rehabilitation and reconstruction. When I visited Edo north, I see good quality roads constructed by Oshiomhole’s government. When I visited Edo central, I see good quality roads constructed by Oshiomhole’s government. I also saw good quality roads reconstructed in some parts of Benin City by Oshiomhole’s government.
At different forums, Governor Adams Oshiomhole have boasted that the Ugo – Urhonigbe road is the longest road project embarked upon by his government in Edo state. Though this claim is contestable, this is not the focus of my observation.
Orhionmwon is the most naturally endowed local government in Edo state. The deputy governor, Dr. Pius Egberanmwen Odubu hails from Urhomehe in Urhonigbe North ward, Orhionmwon local government. Urhonigbe (the second largest Bini community in the Benin Kingdom) is located in Orhionmwon. Orhionmwon produces more than 70% of the oil and gas in Edo state.
SEE Images of The Road Below
We were all happy in Orhionmwon when we heard, more than six years ago, that the government of Adams Oshiomhole has agreed to reconstruct the road which runs from Ugo to Urhonigbe. This road was purported to have been completed in February 2013
Recently, I drove through the road from Ugo via Area 34 and Urhomehe to Urhonigbe.
The only part of the road that was poorly constructed is the Urhonigbe end of the road. This part of the road was reconstructed without befitting side drains. What the contractors did was to put asphalt on the middle of the road with the old dilapidated side drains which could not hold the amount of flood that runs through this end of the road.
It beats my informed imagination to see the Urhonigbe end of this road in a very bad shape.
Considering the fact that the number two man (the deputy governor) is from Urhomehe in Urhonigbe, this would’ve made the contractor do a good job. I wonder why they chose to treat us in this manner.
I want to remind us that in the next 20 to 40 years government could hardly talk about reconstructing this road in question.
Remember that the first time this road was constructed is over 40 year ago.
I’m aware that, apart from the deputy governor, we have many self acclaimed political leaders from Urhonigbe some of whom are close to the governor.
If none of them could muster the courage to bring this very ugly job, by the contractors, to the knowledge of our comrade governor, I think they lack any moral right to claim political leadership over Urhonigbe vis-a-vis Orhionmwon.
Mr governor sir, we ask that you personally embark on an inspection tour of this said road with all the usual media coverage so as to unravel the mystery this road was poorly constructed and possibly to burst the conniving silence of our so called political leaders from Urhonigbe and Orhionmwon.
“Anything that is worth doing is worth doing well”.
“We must speak out and take side, silence only help the oppressors and not the oppressed”.
Avann ‘Eghosa’ Harvey can be reached on Facebook.
The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.
