…As Eleme chairman accuses FG of complicity
By: Felix Ikpotor
Angered by the plethora of accidents on the deplorable Eleme axis of the East-West Road in Rivers State, hundreds of indigenes of Ogoni under the aegis of the Ogoni Liberation Initiative have threatened to shutdown the road permanently from vehicular and human movement if nothing is done immediately to fix the road.
The latest action of the Ogonis followed accidents involving a trailer with a 40 feet container which fell on the Aleto Bridge causing the death of about road users and pushing two vehicles into the river and another one involving a trailer carrying a container which fell on a mini bus and killing about eight persons in the space of one week in the area.
The aggrieved indigenes led by the President, Ogoni Liberation Initiative, Dr. Douglas Fabeke gave the threat when they led a protest marched from the old Trailer Park junction to the bad section Onne section of the road.
The protesters during the march issued a 7-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to commence reconstruction work on the bad session of the road and vowed to occupy the road if nothing was done at the expiration of their ultimatum period.
Dr Douglas Fabeke who spoke on half of the protesting indigenes described the road as a death trap.
He said, “As you are all aware, the deplorable state of the Eleme session of the East-West Road has been a major concern for residents of the area and commuters.
“Day in, day out, we hear cases of accidents leading to the loss of innocent lives and destruction of property that were bought with millions of naira.
“The road has been a death trap for commuters as travellers are always scared while using the road alongside heavy-duty vehicles.”
He said the accidents would have been averted if the government had made good on its promise by reconstructing the road.
Fabeke added, “We, therefore, call on the Federal Government of Nigeria to immediately within seven days, commence work on the reconstruction of the road and the remodelling of the existing connecting Aleto Bridge which is near collapse.
“Failure to do this, the Ogonis shall mobilise again and shut down all forms of transportation and economic activities on the road.
“What we are demanding is a total reconstruction of the failed section of the road and not rehabilitation.
Meanwhile, Chairman of Eleme local government area, Obarillormate Ollor has decried the lack of commitment by federal government in fixing the road, saying that the government has failed Rivers people and the Niger Delta region.
He said the council cannot stop any form of action by people of the area that would attract government’s attention to the road.
“When I was sworn in as chairman I made it clear that federal government is responsible for the poor nature of the road and want them to prove me wrong by their action.
“Protest is the last option of the common man. Of course you need to take such action to paralyse all government activities for them to sit up to their responsibilities, but we are trying to exhaust other avenues and to make the security agencies know that we have tried all other avenues so that when the ultimate decision of the people comes to bare nobody will want to use any force to say this people should get out of the road”, he said.
