ESAN WEST: COMMUNITIES DECRY DEPLORABLE STATE OF ROAD, CALL ON EDO SPEAKER

The Residents of Ihumudumu, Idumebo and Ujemen Communities in Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State have decried the deplorable state of the road from Ekpoma to Iruekpen.

Some of the Residents who narrated their ordeals said that they are in agony as a result of the  road which has been abandoned by the Edo State Government. 

A Resident in the Area who introduced herself as Odiase was visibly angry that a road of not more than fifteen kilometres (15km) was still under construction for the past 

six years. She reteirated that at anytime it rained, the road would be impassable as a result of the flood that takes over and spread into the Communities. She went further to say that all vehicles especially the trailers pass through the road because Auchi -Ekpoma -Benin Road is bad.  She said that the road is like a River that people could even swim. She called on the State Government to come and complete what they started because the road was better when they did not start works on it.

Christabel collaborated what Odiase said. According to her, " Everybody knows that the road is bad. It is an understatement to say that the road is bad. The most annoying part of it is that the trailers which used to ply the Highways now follow the road, thereby destroying it the more. From the Glo Mast to Idumebo is horrible. At any time it rained, the flood takes over the road and spread into houses in the area. The drainage is not properly done, the flood does not flow into it. 

Governor Obaseki tarred  the G2 road where the family House of the Edo State House of Assembly Speaker is and commissioned Ihumudumu road that is not done along with the G2 road. We are tired of the Government. All we wait now is for him to complete his tenure and leave the office.

Everyday, motorists are visiting the mechanic's workshops for repairs of their vehicles. Even the car I bought few months ago is like seven years old as a result of the bad road. Right now, I park the car and take motor bike to anywhere I am going.

Let me use this medium to call on the Edo State House of Assembly Speaker, Hon. Marcus Onobun, who is from here, Esan West to use his his good offices to prevail on the State Government to come and  finish up the work on the road. He made promises that the road would be completed as scheduled, but over four years now, the road have deteriorated more than before. He should come and rescue us from the incessant flood ravaging us and making us not to sleep with our eyes closed".

A Youth in the area who simply introduced himself as Okosun said that they all voted for Hon. Marcus Onobun, that they were very happy when he became the Speaker of the State House of Assembly and that they expected much from him as he promised. But, almost four years down the line, virtually all the promises especially this our road have all been vague. He emphasized that as a result of the non performance of the Edo State Government concerning the road, many of the youths have left the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and they were waiting for them during campaigns.

Another Resident who claimed to be a member of PDP and would not want his name in print said that they were not and are still not happy with the state of the road. According to him, "work started on this road over five years ago and nothing tangible had been done by the Government. I asked one of our leaders who is very close to the Speaker, he told me that they will start work on it when the rains subside. We are hoping that during the dry season, Hon. Speaker will ensure that the road is completed. Anything short of the road being completed latest December this year will not augur well and it will be most unfortunate. But I believe that the Speaker will do something about the road".