The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, on Friday, called for the Federal Government’s urgent intervention on the dilapidated Benin-Auchi-Okpella Road as part of measures to check insecurity in the area.
The Governor made the call after a security meeting with heads of security agencies in Edo State, at the Government House, Benin City.
The governor also warned against plans by some unscrupulous individuals with the intent to disrupt tomorrow’s rally of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, noting, “There was security information that plans are on by some persons to disrupt the PDP Mega Rally in the state. We are taking this report very seriously because of the disruption of PDP Kaduna State rally where our party members who came for the rally were stabbed.
“I have informed the security agencies that we will not tolerate that type of situation in Edo State. Anyone found planning to disrupt our rally tomorrow will face the consequences as it will be grave for those persons.”
Charging the federal government on the urgent rehabilitation of the Benin/Auchi/Okpella Road, Obaseki said, “The Security Council Meeting held today looked at two issues: one of them is the Benin-Auchi-Okpella Road. The road is in such a state of disrepair. Trucks and other vehicles can’t pass through that road anymore. This I mentioned in my Independence Day broadcast.”
Lamenting the deplorable condition of the roads, the governor noted, “Petroleum products can’t get to other parts of the country, particularly the North because of the bad condition of the road. Foodstuffs are not able to get to their destination; even animals are dying on that road as the trucks carrying them remain on the roads for days.”
He added, “Communities around that axis have refused these heavy trucks to pass through their communities because their roads are not designed for such trucks and they are afraid that such trucks will equally destroy their roads just like the federal roads and are protesting.
“We are alerting the security apparatus in the country that we have a national crisis in Edo and something needs to be done immediately otherwise foodstuffs, fuel and other goods will not be able to pass through that road and scarcity is beginning to occur in that part of the country. We have a national crisis and the federal authorities should come and help us in Edo State to repair their own roads.
“You will need to take emergency palliative measures to enable vehicular movement on that road.”
