OPEN LETTER TO THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF DELTA STATE, HIS EXCELLENCY, SENATOR DR IFEANYI ARTHUR OKOWA
Your Excellency,
RE: INTERNAL ROADS CONSTRUCTION IN URBAN AREAS: POLITICAL LOYALTIES, NON-PUBLIC AND PUBLIC INTERESTS. PLEASE SPEAK
Alongside the star attraction in the latest round of infrastructure construction approvals by the Delta State Government, is a number of internal roads in urban areas across the State.
The latter, internal roads, are deserving of more than a cursory interest because, like political wards on a political map, they are the grassroots end (home to permanent citizens and residents with invaluable socio-economic and political values within a geographical area) of a wider infrastructure index of good governance; the high-end being the inter-city highways which caters to the ease of all-comers mobility.
In seven years, this administration has managed to cling on to the political vintage Tambuwal inspired “Road Master” moniker despite the number of largely ignored allegations of ethnic and family interests supremacy in road construction contracts across the State. Understandably, the fact of the state-wide almost even spread and needs-driven attention of these roads projects in scope, utility and cost has been a self defensive mechanism to the allegations. Chop, I Chop, God no vex, abi!?
However, a ground level view of the internal urban roads construction reconstruction and maintenance feast especially in the State’s capital city, throws up a startling inclination to believe the allegations of rewards for party loyalists, political expedience and family interests when the utility value of a constructed or reconstructed road designed to ease mobility concerns of a party chieftain’s residential area or family member’s business location is applied and matched against the larger public interest in access roads to locations that offer public services. One example will suffice: the multi-functional road located off DLA Road for access to a Primary Healthcare Center, a Customary Court, Primary School, a Local Government Area Council Secretariat, and the Federal INEC Office. Why, despite the obvious high utility and large public interest values of this access road, has the Okowa administration chosen to ignore its perennially poor condition (year-round flooded portions and virtually impassable after a heavy downpour) and the health hazards it poses to the residents of the area and the public seeking the public services provided by public institutions located there? Ekwueme!!!
Please speak.
Richard Okagbare, writes from Asaba