Prior to the creation of Kogi State, to access Lokoja from Kogi East, one would have to go through the Ajaokuta route through Okene before getting to Lokoja. It was more like the Biblical Exodus of the children of Israel journeying a forty days supposed trip for forty years.
Yes it was that difficult and heavily demanding cost wise, long wastage time and energy sapping.
The late political sage Prince Abubakar Audu took upon himself to open up the entirety of the road from the Ganaja stretch all through to Ajaokuta, that was more like a miracle.
Sorry am taking us this memory lane. It has become very expedient it’s done to so as to school the proponents of some political neophytes that past Governors of Kogi East did nothing.
It’s also very necessary to enlighten those at the helm of affairs today should they think some of us do not keep tap of records of past events before now, that the sole fact people are quiet on some basic issues should not create the impression that the people are all gullible only their supporter may have that zoombie like tendencies.
Last week that I did the letter to the Executive Governor asking for palliative measures on that road, His Chief Press Secretary was quick to respond that it’s a Federal road and that such effort should have been channeled to the Federal Minister for Works, Fashola Babatunde.
My response was mild in a brotherly way. His rationale wasn’t just inconsiderate on the people but also shows his total lack of knowledge surrounding the history of that route or his trying to ordinarily put up a defense for his principal asking that Kogi Comrades should borrow a leaf from the Calabar and Edo Comrades to mount pressure on the Minister.
What else could be termed insensitivity on the sufferings of the people?
Back again to the history of that route. Efforts of late Prince Abubakar Audu on that road was superb because it opened up a forest as it were then but after a while the road became terrible that one will have to spend about two to three hours to get to Lokoja from Ajaokuta.
The administration of Alhaji Ibrahim Idris embarked on the total reconstruction of that route termed Federal road His Chief Press Secretary or supporters then didn’t termed it a Federal road, they didn’t directed protest to be channeled to the Federal Ministry, their principal embarked on that rigorous work,today after about 16 years or more of the reconstruction of that road, one will drive that stretch of about 30 or 35kilometers of road without a single pothole. That’s like one of the best road in Nigeria you will drive such stretch without a pothole. Even the much praised over head bridge or fly over bridge constructed not up to four months now even yet to be handed over has already witnessed repairs.
At this juncture anyone who uses that Ajaokuta route should have to praise and thank Baba Kogi Ibrahim Idris for such quality of job done.
It was Ibrahim Idris who dualized the stretch of road from Ganaja junction to Ganaja village, let it also be on record.
What makes the road a Federal road today was the efforts of these two past Governors, money spent on construction and reconstruction was paid to the State Government of the current Administration from what we read. Part such fund should have been reinvested on maintenance at least to reduce the improbable wahala people are going through.
If this short history isn’t substantial enough kindly embark on your personal research and correct me where you think am wrong.
Conclusion of my piece is that the current should wake up and do the needful. We all are the Federal Government don’t bulk pass.
It’s a new working week and I charge us all to wake up and collect your money so that you can buga the coming weekend.
Do have a great week ahead.
God bless Kogi State!
Michael Achor Joshua
The voice from the wilderness…..