Delta Varsity Don, in open letter, tasks Oborevwori on 'deplorable' 70km Sapele-Eku-Abraka-Obiaruku-Abavo-Agbor federal road, urges him to take it over

A renowned human rights activist and lecturer at Delta State University, Abraka, Dr Paul Bebenimibo, has urged Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to take over the reconstruction of the deplorable 70km Sapele-Eku-Abraka-Obiaruku-Abavo-Agbor federal roads in the State.

Bebenimibo’s appeal, made in an open letter to the Governor, which was made available to newsmen in Warri, on Monday (yesterday, September 2), outlined his angst and obviously that of the general public, at the dilapidated state of the 70km road, which connects eight local government areas and has been in a state of disrepair for over 12 years, despite federal government claims of working on it.

The university teacher argued that the state government cannot afford to wait for the federal government to act, given the strategic importance of the road to the state’s economy, citing its impact on agriculture, security, transportation and education in the state.

Reminding the Governor that the road also connect his Osubi residence and Okpe Local Government Area of the State, Bebenimibo pointed out that the road’s poor condition has led to increased costs of agricultural produce, insecurity, high transportation costs and difficulties for students and staff of two universities located along the road.

A former board member of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), Bebenimibo, therefore, urged the Governor to emulate his counterpart in Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun who recently took over the reconstruction of the 70-kilometre Lagos to Abeokuta federal highway.

He also argued that a federal minister during his time as Governor, constructed 12 fly-overs on federal roads in Rivers State to ease traffic in the South-South state.

Bebenimibo, who doubles as a media adviser to Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, also reminded the Governor of his campaign promises to prioritize the needs of Deltans.

“I write to draw your attention to the deplorable condition of this critical road to Delta State and her people. I am a regular user of the road mentioned above. The road is dilapidated and unpassable now,” the university teacher wrote.

“I know that the road is a federal road, which the Federal Government has purportedly worked on in the last 12 years or more. However, this road is right in the middle of Delta State, cutting across eight local government areas, including your local government area, Okpe.

“Others are Ika South, Ika North East, Ukwani, Ethiope East, Sapele and Ughelli North Local Government Areas.

“In other words, people from these local government areas have used this road before it became impassable.

“Even you, Mr Governor, have used this road from Asaba to Osubi, your home town and vice versa, because it is shorter to use from Asaba to Osubi juxtaposed to wherever you use today.

“If truth be told, the unpalatable condition of the road is a major contributor to the high cost of agricultural products in the state and other parts of Nigeria. The rickety state of the road also contributes to the prevailing insecurity in Delta State.

It is also a significant contributor to the high cost of transportation in Delta State.

“The present state of the road is killing education in Delta State as two Universities in Delta State, namely Delta State University, Abraka and the University of Agbor are situated along the road; Staff and Students find it difficult to use the road right now.

“Your Excellency Sir, the reason for not intervening on this road- that it is a federal road is untenable. It is Deltans that use this road; Deltans own farms along this road, and it is Deltans that are suffering.

“If you can construct fly-overs on a federal road in Warri and Effurun, there is no reason why you should not reconstruct this critical road for Deltans, including you. Sir, you have used this road before its present deplorable condition.

“Your Excellency Sir, it is time for you to approach President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to allow you to work on this road.

“Your colleague-governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State acted similarly lately, taking over the reconstruction of the 70-kilometre Lagos to Abeokuta Expressway.

“I respectfully remind you that former governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyensom Wike, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, constructed 12 fly-overs on federal roads in Rivers State to ease traffic in the South-South state. You can borrow a leaf from these two great men.

“Mr Governor, Sir, you made it copiously clear that you are a man of the people during your campaigns in 2023; and that you have enough dosage of ‘street credibility’, it is now that you have to demonstrate it against the time to come (2027)”.