Dangers of Abandoning Unity Road Project
When disadvantages, losses and disasters over weigh any situation, then such circumstances could be classified as not only damaging but dangerous.
In the wake of gubernatorial election in 2007 across the Local Government Areas and Communities playing host to the UNITY ROAD, the Rivers State Government and ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has chosen to make the UNITY ROAD a subject of attraction and attention to completing it, enumerating its economic importance to the State and People of the affected areas.
That 4 years term of administration has come and gone and another general election was conducted in 2011, yet with the UNITY ROAD is still creeping and snail walking without assurance of completion even in the next decade to come.
As if the people were ignorant of the promises made to them concerning the road, they came out and voted enmass in 2011 for the same ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Fellow Rivers People, did you know the promise during the 2011 general election? They said the People of Andoni will drive to their headquarters, Ngo town before December ending 2013. Do we say that in November, 2013, the year is only but beginning? Can this be a paradox, a tale, a story, a dream or reality of the people or government against the people of the area? O God, come and deliver us from our government.
Those shouting for the completion of East-West road, have they seen the UNITY road? If federal government is working on the East-West road, can the Rivers State Government stand bold to state that it is working on the UNITY ROAD? How long will it take the Rivers State Government to conclude the Unity roads to ease the current fears and nerves of the people of Andoni, Ogoni and Opobo extractions.
It is on record that the Opobo axis of the road was originally not included in the design or master plan of the Unity road. However, as an entity in the state, it was further curbed in to ease the transportation difficulties faced by the people.
But, how the main project was abandoned has become worrisome to most citizens of the state. An assessment carried out indicates that, the Opobo axis of the road was given greater and speedy attention than that leading to Andoni. This was the scenario beginning from the regime of the ex-commissioner for Works now member House of Representatives, Senibo Dakuku Adol Peterside.
Currently, the serving commissioner for Works, Chief Victor Tombari Giadom who has been traveling always to Andoni is equally abandoning that road with attention on the Opobo axis, not minding that the Andonis pay the highest fare in Rivers State to and fro their communities.
The questions begging for urgent answers are, what crime has the Andoni Man committed in Rivers State especially in Gov. Amaechi’s government? Has 2013 December promised deadline not due? What is happening to the Unity road project? Is Rivigo not technically sound to handle such project? And others are in need of urgent answers to justify the continue delayance of that road.
December 2013 as promised by Gov. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi to the people of Andoni is here without any tangible effort on completing the road.
What will Rivers State Government give as reasons for not completing the project as said? What will be their ground for campaign in the upcoming gubernatorial election in January 2015.
We assume that the Deputy Governor, Rivers State, Engr. Telenyem Renner Ikuru as professed by the governor himself is a very good rally, friend, loyal and obedient deputy to the governor, but we wonder why anything concerning the Deputy Governor is treated with levity and disdain.
In Rivers State executive cabinet, it is only the allocation to the Deputy Governor’s office that is the least, a situation that the Deputy prior to 2013 wanted to resigned his position but not for certain intervention by some senior stakeholders.
The Deputy Governors’ in other States Government are given opportunities to nominate people for certain positions from their constituencies and local governments.
In like manner, commissioners in Amaechi led government of Rivers State are accorded the respect to nominate persons for specific positions including local government chairmen but the reverse is the case with the Rivers State Deputy Governor, Engr. Tele Ikuru. Does this simply mean that because he is from Andoni. Or is that how deputies are treated elsewhere?
Could it be said that this hatred and disgust has been transferred to the project linking Andoni nation to other parts of the State? We are in dare need of the answers to these questions as to be acquainted with our status in the state under this administration, which Andoni provided for the second highest vote cast to enthrone the incumbent Governor.
In the senatorial seat and House of Representative elections, Andoni Local Government provided the highest vote cast to enthrone the distinguished senator Magnus Ngei Abe and Dakuku Adol Peterside, but little wonder why the issues relating to the development of the area will always be lopsided when they (Andonis) have all it takes to move the state forward.
If the Unity road linking Ogoni, Andoni and Opobo Local Government Areas is abandoned its dangers would be better experienced that imagined. The economic importance of that road will be eluded as the various ethnic groups in Rivers State finds it difficult to transact their businesses.
Few days ago it was reported in the media how sea pirates attacked some persons and killed about two soldiers in the waterways of Andoni. Such manner of incident maybe prevalent indeed as the road is yet to be completed. However, that action is regretted and condemned.
You now why, Naval operations might be hindered in the areas since the Creeks and Rivers are only very shallow not to allow for proper effective and efficient operations on the waterways.
However, if the road is completed, there are many ways to track down any form of arm robbery on the roads by both State, Federal and Citizens of the area giving a cooperating attitude of the concern units.
Curbing the menace of arm robbery on the Unity road may be easier than it will be on the waterways, if the relevant agencies could be sincere to themselves, having the security of the people at heart.
To this end, I therefore call on the Rivers State Government led by Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi to brace up to the challenges of completing the Unity Road for the people of the area to have feeling of concern and a touch of the dividends of democracy.
May I also implore the governor as an urgent State matters to urge the State Ministry of Works headed by the Honourable Commissioner, Hon. Victor Giadom to without further delay resume work on the road construction and on an acceptable speed to enhance speedy completion, as the current political tenure elapses.
It is by doing this that the inherent dangers associated with abandoned projects and lives of the people and security operative could be averted.
It is also by the deliberate effort to conclude this so called abandoned project that the people of the areas, especially the Andonis be relieve of their fears of marginalization, hatred, maltreatment and suppression of their son, the Deputy Governor, Tele Ikuru and by extension Andoni ethnic nationality.
Indeed let it be that the State Government assuage the anger of the Andonis by making them drive home within the summer period as it is impossible to meet up with their flattered December deadline.
To win another election in Andoni, that road is of essence to the people of Andoni, Opobo and Ogoni ethnic groups. No point to doubt or try it … ###
With James Mgboineme
Jamesprojectgodwin@yahoo.com.
