By Godwin-Maria Utuedoye
Residents of Ughelli town in Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State, have continued to lament the negligence of internal roads within the Ughelli town by the Executive Chairman of the council, Olorogun Jaro Egbo.
Speaking to Journalists weekend, some residents blamed the local government chairman Jaro Egbo, for what they described as a misplaced priority and calculated attempt to divert the attention of the public from his non performances. They lamented the deplorable states of internal roads within Ughelli town, adding that Egbo, has taken the people of Ughelli North for granted in all ramifications as he has turned blind eyes and deaf ears to the roads and cries of the people.
“No one say he should not build health centres, but is Ughelli town really in need of it at the moment when we have other places like Ohoror, Uwheru, Evwreni or other areas that needed such health facilities.
“Here in Ughelli, and just close to the Cottage hospital he claimed to be one of his legacy project is the Central Hospitals with doctors, nurses and ambulances.
“Presently he is deceiving the people of Ughelli North Local Government with a cottage hospital or health centre he awarded to himself in the name of direct labour without supervision, approval or known Engineers saddled with the responsibility of drawing each of the project, no tenders announcement, scope and benefits of the projects to the people of Ughelli North not known and stated.
“You are busy embarking on environmental sanitation at the market, but there are no good roads for residents to take their produce or goods to the market. How do someone take his or her goods from Oteri, Oviri-Ogor, Robert Alor,Onoharigho and others to the Ughelli market without hindrances of bad roads?” Mr. Matthew Ohwodua asked.
“The Oteri road by Isodje junction only got a face lift when the late Pan Niger Delta leader, Chief Edwin Clark, was buried, even the front of the Ughelli High Court, but surprisingly, that is were he passes to work or office daily, what has he done?”
Mr. Ohwodua complained that building a cottage hospital is not a bad idea, but such projects should have been taken to areas where they are.most needed and that has no health care facilities or doctors.
“I didn’t say he should not build health centres or cottage hospitals, but these are not the immediate priority or preferences to the Ughelli people at the moment, considering its proximity to the Ughelli Central Hospital. He could have as well channeled such funds, if truly it is the local government funds he is using to do so.
“As a local government chairman, even if the project is so massive and above the capacity of the council, it does not mean the council cannot intervene. He can grade the roads and do some remedial works that will mae the people say he also intervened. If good roads are not beneficial why did he use NDDC to tared the road to house”. He questioned.
With the rains here, residents have started experiencing difficulties going and coming out of their homes daily due to poor roads.
A drive through Uloho Avenue junction through the Ufor hospital, Akpodiete Street, Olotu street, Emurotu street, Okorodafe street, Aro road which was recently listed among roads to be constructed by the state government is now a task. The Oveto street, Adonovwe Street, Olori road, Robert Alor street, Uduophori-Oviri Ogor road, Adagharagha/Awhinawhin road, Oteri roads, Oharisi street, Upper Afiesere road and Iwhrekpokpo roads has become nightmare to residents with motorists lamenting to even spending much to fix their vehicles while commuters spend more on transports daily. No doubt, this has seriously affected their livelihood and businesses.
Residents are asking the priority of the local government chairman and the sincerity behind the projects he has embarked on. They are saying could it be a guise to divert attentions from the huge resources and allocations coming to the council as both FG, States and the Local Governments in August alone shared a whooping sum of N2.2 Trillion from the nation revenue.
Hear what another resident says; “We heard he has procured a refurbished or a new ambulance for the cottage hospital he awarded to himself, but in villages or neighboring communities around Ughelli town, there are no ambulances for emergency cases. In Ughelli, there are a lot of ambulances both at the Central Hospital and other private clinics and hospitals, yet he prioritized procuring an ambulance to the cottage hospital. Yes, it is a good one, but why not also purchasing for health centers in places like Uwheru, Oviri-Agbarho, Eboh-Orogun, Otovwodo or even Agbarha-Otor for emergencies?”
The Jaro Egbo administration may had made efforts in some areas, but residents are calling for a more comprehensive approach to road infrastructure development within the Ughelli town as proper road networks will not only improve the economic activities of the town, but also ease transportation within the town and bring respite to the peoples.
However, if the negligence of roads infrastructures and other major social amenities continues, the Jaro Egbo led administration may not achieved anything tangible in his first three years but just noise making, high handedness and autocratic rules.
Presently, residents only heave a sigh of relief when a top politician dies or have ceremonies around their areas or roads leading to their homes, it is on such note that state governments or local government will intervened by embarking on substandard patches or remedial works.
For example, the front of the Ughelli High Court 2, leading to the Ughelli North Local Government Secretariat, the Ughelli Police Area Command, Government College and Central Hospital, has been a gory spot considering the deep pot holes and waters covering every part. One would have thought that the Chairman who uses the road daily should have given it a lasting solution, but it seems he has been blinded with power and luxuries, hence he closes his eyes whenever he passes through. In the same vein, residents of Oteri-Ughelli, a suburban community to Ughelli also have their bitter story to tell.
John, a banker but resident in Oteri-Ughelli said; “We are suffering in this area. I leave at Isodje, and the road is noting but the junction.l is the major issue. Once it rains, most times my low car is always soaked, but I have no choice but to endure.”
Though the Jaro Egbo, led administration in Ughelli North Local Government Area, has always praised itself of excellent performances, but little is known of the benefits of his projects to the people as his administration is bedeviled with high-handedness, obnoxious laws and policies that has increased the pains of the people. With the hardship they undergo daily, residents are urging the local government chairman to prioritize projects that will have a direct impact on the lives of the common people, such as good roads, schools furnitures, and other essential amenities as majority of the residents and indigenes are dissatisfied with the current state of internal roads. They are calling on him to address their concerns and prioritize the development of infrastructure within the council.