Benin -Agbor Road Blockage Enters Day 4
By Ikhili Ebalu, Benin City
The Popular Benin -Agbor road linking Edo state to Agbor in Delta and other Eastern states which has been locked down since the beginning of the protest by Ikpoba hill youths have entered its fourth day with far reaching devastating consequences on motorists and Commuters.
The hitherto busy road is now wearing a forlorn look with long vehicles littering precariously on both sides of the road starting from around first Bank area up to the bypass axis.
This has necessitated the needless hardship faced by commuters as they have to trek long distances to get out of the troubled spot.
Some of the distraught commuters who spoke with the Champion Newspaper correspondent said that they trekked all the way from the bypass axis of the road to first Bank area to be able to get a bus to Ramat park.
According to one of the respondent who chosed to remain anonymous said she trekked all the way from 2 sisters to First Upstairs.
” I trekked all the way from 2 sisters to First Upstairs area with a load on her head while her little child was trudging along falling intermittently as they walked along.
” What kind of bad and irresponsible government do we have in this country? When election is coming now, you see them promising heaven and earth when they know from the beginning that they do not mean what they promise.
Also speaking to the Press at the scene of the blockage, one of the stranded drivers who simply identified himself as Ikechuku, from Enugu state said that he has been stranded in the blocked road for the past four days and don’t know when they would be lucky to continue the journey to their destinations.
” I have been here now on this same spot for four days now with the perishable goods that I am supposed to deliver to the owner
and I don’t know when I am going to be able to continue the journey to Enugu .
“The youths have blocked the road and because of that we can not go and so the only option now is for the government to come out and do some palliatives according to what the youths want so as to render the road motorable. So, we are begging Edo state governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki to come to the aid of the people who are trapped in the dilapidated road.
Also responding, the Chairman of Ikpoba Hill Youths Forum, Comrade Julius Osemwigie said that he appreciates the efforts of the Edo state governor Mr Godwin Obaseki who has promised to meet the conditions of the youth so far, which is that palliatives measures be done on the failed portions of the road to engender easy passage of motorists and other road users until a comprehensive rehabilitation is done.
According to him,” the CSO to the governor told me that the governor of Edo state has approved our request but up till this morning we have not seen the stones but he has deployed a catapiller to the spot yesterday night and they told me that today they would bring the stones but we are waiting for the stones and for the work of repairs to commence but the drivers who are stranded are anxious to continue their journey and our youths are getting angry but we are prevailing on all concerned to exercise some more patience as I am sure that our governor would honour his words because he is a listening person.
That the protest has since remained peaceful without hoodlums hijacking the process to cause mayhem and be destroying and looting properties of Innocent citizens of the area, he said that Ikpoba hill youths are generally well behaved and that they have actually put so much effort to make sure the peaceful protest is not hajacked by hoodlums.
” Ikpoba hill youths are orderly and well behaved and there is a well coordinated communication synergy among the youths who patrol the entire length and breadth of the road to ensure that there is no criminal activities. Though some miscreants were blocking the adjourning streets and be estorting money from motorists who in despiration are looking for access routes out of the troubled spot and our youths rounded them up and brought them before us and we educate them and made them to dismantle such illegal roadblocks and join us on the main road.”
” I want to use this opportunity to thank the stranded drivers for their time and for their understanding and for joining us to make sure the process is devoid of any criminal tendencies. The drivers have been of immense help as they have actually motivated us in no small measure”