Hendrix Oliomogbe
Peeved by the terrible state of federal highways in Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) led federal government of having a deep hatred for Edo people.
Fielding questions from journalists Wednesday in Benin during an interactive session at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) secretariat, a visibly angry Governor Obaseki said that all his determined efforts to make the federal government construct and rehabilitate federal roads in the state have been fruitless.
Making specific reference to Ovia River bridge on the Benin-Lagos, Benin-Auchi, Benin-Sapele and Auchi-Igarra-Ibillo Roads, he remarked that he was deeply troubled by the agonies and pains of Edo people and commuters who travel through the state because of the terrible state of federal roads in the state.
The governors said that very soon, if urgent rehabilitation and construction works are not carried out, vehicular movement will soon come to a halt as a result of broken down trailers and articulated vehicles just like it did last year.
Benin-Auchi Road
He added that as the gateway to the North, East, West and the resource rich but impoverished Niger Delta region of the country, there is a lot of pressure on federal roads in the state because of the high volume of traffic criss crossing them daily.
He declared: "It is like no body care in Abuja. Because we come from Edo, they don’t care about us, they don’t like us. If they do we will know. It is like you have no one to talk to on these bad roads. When you call the federal road controller, he will say he is in Abuja."
He further lamented: “We are in a very difficult situation in Edo. Our hands and legs are tied and they say we should run. because the only government people know is their state government.
He said that the confusing policies and procedures put in place by the Federal Government as regards the repair of federal roads has made it extremely difficult for state governments to embark on repair of federal roads in their domains.
While trying to figure out the reason for the total neglect of roads, the governor made a subtle reference to Edo political difference as the state is controlled by the main opposition People's Democratic Party (PDP).
He however quickly added that his intentions were not to criticize the federal government but to lay the facts bare to the world as Edo people are after all Nigerians no matter their political stance
He said: “I am not here to criticize the Federal Government. I am here to say that we are all Nigerians. So, it is only fair and proper that the Federal Government treats Nigerians like human being. Treating us the way we are being treated in Edo State, as if we do not belong to this country, is really really unfair. You don’t have to vote for a government for the government to care about you. We are all Nigerians."
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