By: Ike Phiip Abiagom
SUCCOUR came the way of the people of Umueze yesterday in Oshimii North Local Government Area Council of Delta State as one of their illustrious sons, Pastor Idowu Okeze, put smiles on their faces by attracting the construction of Ibusa internal roads from Anioshe Primary school farm road to Ashiaeke”, which is located in Umuisagba a major road in the Ibusa community, saving them from agony of bad roads.
Commissioning the Anioshe Primary school farm road at Umueze in Ibusa Yesterday, the traditional ruler of Ibusa, His Royal Majesty Obi (Prof.) Chelunor Nwoboshi commended Pastor Idowu Okeze for his gesture and called for more grassroots support and assistance in the provision of social amenities in the town.
Obi Nwoboshi said such private interventions from the likes of Pastor Okeze motivate and encourage the government and called on other well-to-do Ibusa indigenes to emulate Okeze’s gesture. The Obuzor also called on the citizens of the Umueze community to take ownership of the infrastructure in their area and protect them too.
In his remarks, the Ide of Ibusa, High Chief (Dr) Austin Izagbo commended Pastor Idowu Okeze for attracting the road project, saying he had once again risen to the occasion to prove himself to be selfless, a true patriot and worthy son of Ibusa. The Ide of Ibusa further lauded Okeze, saying that he has clearly taken up the task of putting smiles on the faces of people around him, especially Ibusa people.
In his remarks, Pastor Idowu Okeze said he embarked on the project to ameliorate the hardship his people go through on account of bad roads in the community especially during the rainy season and appealed to other affluent citizens in the community to seek out other areas that need assistance in the development of Ibusa.
Also speaking after the commissioning of part of the Umueze Farm Road by His Royal Majesty, the Odogwu of Ibusa , High Chief Charles Okonkwo cry out to the Oshimili North Local Government to complete their own side of Ashianta road project.Chief Charles Okonkwo confided to Newsmen that their son Pastor Idowu Okeze attracted this roads project of 1.8 km from Federal Government which covers from Anioshe Primary School farm road to Ashiaeke”, which is located in Umuisagba market and during the flay-off of internal road project, the council Chairman Hon. Innocent Esewezie, who also hail from Ibusa told Pastor Okeze to handle the road project from Anioshe Primary School Farm Road to Ashianta junction while the local government take care of Ashianta Umueze to Ashiaeke market round the Okanga routs.
The entire Umueze Community was against this local government arrangement with Pastor Okeze because we know the local government council might not have the capacity to complete the road project on time, but the council chairman insisted that the road will be completed in no distance time, but as we speak today the projects is still pending but Pastor Okeze has completed the Local Government portioned to him and only God knows when the Local Government Council will complete their own portion of road project. The entire indigenes of the Umueze community and ibusa in general are lamenting that residents are suffering because the Aisha Nta road is the only gate way that links various villages and quarters in Ibusa and residents are stranded. The Umueze roads are not accessible and motorable again making life unbearable for residents. The state of living is poor and residents live in pain unsure of when the pain would lessen especially when raining season soon comes.
Umueze Residents cannot use the Aisha Nta road to Isieke or KEFAS road because the roads are now in a horrible condition, People have to make a diversion using the Oponta road (Umuagwu) to connect Isikisi road leading to Isieke High Street off Umuejei road or detour through Okponta through Umuneze, Ezukwu and Ogboli to access Kefars Road. This detour adds to the length of the journey and people have to spend more money on buying fuel and cost of commuting with Okada and Keke. Even the in-roads most of us are forced to take are not in a good condition, they are just a little better than the Aisha Nta road.
The journey to Isieke which should take less than 3 minutes from Ashianta Umueze will now take 20 minutes, the suffering is too much for my people, the effect of the delayed road project by Oshimli North LGA isn’t only felt by motorists but commuters also have nasty stories on the situation.
A resident of Umuneze, Mrs Grace Okeleke who lamented the hardship they undergo in the communities, stated that the roads had caused untold suffering .She noted that most times motorists, especially commercial keke drivers, explore inner streets to navigate their ways.
She added, “Many of us don’t even pass through the main road anymore. We now pass through the back of the street after making several turns. Many of us don’t take our vehicles out. We usually make use of motorcycles and tricycles to hasten our trips. Even at that, we still go through hell.’’ I was glad that hope had come when the news came that Pastor Idowu Okeze attracted federal government for our roads but when the news came that he will execute part of the road and leave other parts to politicians, we already knew that it was a false hope. Now, nothing seems to have been done on the project.
Another resident, Mr Okey Okafor, popularly called Okey Money, said the roads are no longer motorable, making life unbearable for residents. He blame Pastor Okeze for giving part of the road project to the council, afterall we all know that it was a federal government project he attracted and the project would have been better executed than what the local government would do. We all know that they will turn the road project to politics as usual, for three months now all you will be seeing on social media is Puta-Ife on same road that is yet to be completed, I can beat my chest that this road will not be ready in the next six months or before the rain comes.
“The state of the bad road is really affecting many things including our health, finances and safety. It has always been like this. There is nothing we haven’t done to get the government to help us fix the road. Whenever it rains, the whole place is usually flooded and it affects the free flow of traffic. People who come here often wonder if it’s human beings who live in this place.
When our correspondent contacted one of the top Management Oshimili North Local Government Council, who would not like his name on print on the said delay of this important road project, he assured that the project has not been abandoned but noted that he was not authorize to give an official statement on the issue. we are calling the Oshimili North Local Government Council to expedite action by completing this project soon because the delay on this gateway road have caused more harm than good to the good people of Ibusa.
Further to all these Odogwu Charles Okonkwo appeals to Pastor Idowu Okeze to kindly liaise with the Local Government to allow him take over the rest stranded road project from Ashianta Umueze to Ashiaeke market in Umusagba and have it completed for us before the raining season begins.
