Abandoned Ofuoma-Kokori Road: Indigenes cry for Governor Oborevwori for help

The indigenes of Ofuoma  Community  in Ughelli North and Kokori in Ethiope East Local Government Areas of Delta State have sent a Saviour Our Soul (SOS)  to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori over the abandoned Ofuoma -Erhanaka-Kokori Road which is the life wire of the economy of the area.

A visit to the road reveals that  there is  urgent need for its reconstruction to improve the economy and security of the area. The road which was allegedly awarded during the Chief James Ibori's  administration is currently in a sorry and dangerous state as it has been a haven for kidnappers and other for criminal activities.

Driving  through the road on motorcycle reveals  vast flourishing arable agriculture farm lands that can  help achieve the Oborevwori's MORE agricultural  agenda.

A 25 - year Precious Igho, an Kokori Indigene who spoke while  on her bike ladened  with cassava and a baby in  the front expressed the suffering they pass through  getting produce from their farms  home.

According to her: "The road has been like this since I was born. I grew up to meet it like this. The politicians will come whenever they have something especially the political campaigns, they   change the planks on the bridge to enable them. With this, they claim that  the road has been  fixed. If they want to do this road, they should be serious for once. We  still pass through it  but during the rainy season, we  suffer a lot, we find it difficult  to  go to farms again. The Government should address this road problem because those of us  who pass  through it are suffering so much."

On her part, an angry Mrs. Oyovwe James, also from Kokori that was  met beside the dilapidated bridge, vented  her frustrations:"The  whole road is destroyed. Nothing you tell the leaders about the road that they  would   listen.  We decided to put it in  God's hand, it has been our prayers for the road to be fixed. We pray that the government of the day be good and answer our prayers, if not, we know our Government is  very bad. Whenever you mention the issue of the road, the politicians will use deceptive methods and tell those leading that the road has been fixed. We have been suffering bad roads in the whole of Kokori Town. Just go round and you will see how terrible the roads are. There's no single good road in the town, the whole place is bushy and we are suffering getting to our farms. We have cried and talked but no one seems to be listening. The contract for the road has been awarded before but they didn't do anything about it. If you pass the road down to Kokori,you will see the level of deprivation. You will wonder if we are part of the state. We cry everyday about this road, we want development in Kokori. Kokori is an ancient town and ought not to be as it is today. We are not happy with the current state of the town( backwardness), it is a pain to us. We are calling on the government to please come to our aid. We want the road to be done  so to stop our suffering."

Likewise, Mr. Stephen Oghenevwoke, an Kokori Indigene who carried his wife on his motorbike pleaded for Government attention. He said: "The road is in a very devastating state. I don't know what is really delaying the construction of this road. But I think if the Government can look inward and get this road done, it will be of great help to us. This has been our prayers, everyone will tell you that the prayers of the Kokori people is for the road to be done. If this is the only project done for Kokori people, we shall be very grateful. Government should come to our aid and construct this road. Honestly, the road is in a very bad state. Sometimes, because of the nature of the road, people will have to go through Awirhe Community of Agbarha to get to their farms. This is a short road linking Ofuoma, instead of spending 10 minutes, sometimes, you spend hours because of the bad road."

Mama Florence Erekahwevwe, another Kokori farmer with a burden of cassava on her head adds her voice: "The road is a complete mess as it is, it is even worse during the rainy season. We cannot pass through to our farms during the rainy days. We have been managing it like this for a long time but it is worse now. We complain daily but no one hears  us. The poor state of the road is making us frustrated because, we will not be able to pass it  next month. 

”During the rainy season, the bridge area is flooded and no one can pass thereby causing us hardship. How do we cope like this? When we cry, they don't listen to us, the contract has already been awarded.

"If you get to the end of  Kokori  Road, you Abandoned Ofuoma-Kokori  Road: Indigenes cry for Governor Oborevwori for help see abandoned vehicles and equipment of the contractor which they left behind. They were supposed to be used in the construction of this road some years ago. Whenever they have abandon  it, they go to Asaba that the contract has been done. Thank God  that you are here today and you have seen for yourself. During the rainy season, we will not be able to pass  it to our farms and that put us in severe hunger.

"This is the only area through which we go to farm, we are farmers, we don't have other jobs to sustain ourselves. This is the shortest route for us to get to Ughelli, we plead that it should be done. The time it will take you to get to Ughelli from Kokori, you will spend it going through other communities. Do you know  to get our farm produce from Erhanaka to Warri, we  have to go through Ughelli and Ofuoma because of this bad bridge instead of going through Kokori which is shorter? The road is important to us, we need help to boast of our food production", she concluded.

Mrs. Florence Ayimogu, an aged woman on her bicycle with cassava load further calls for help: "This is the route to Ofuoma and our farms, it  also  connects to Odovie Community. Since the collapse of this bridge, we have become apprehensive of how we can cope. We are afraid because, this is the only road through which we earn our living. We have been praying and crying for this road to be fixed. We have been calling for a saviour to liberate us from this pain. During the rainy season, we cannot pass this dilapidated bridge which we made. The water level on the bridge area is impassable. We have been suffering, how do we cope? We will be eternally grateful if it can be fixed."

Godfrey Etabuko, President General Ofuoma Community completes  the story when he said: "The road was awarded to Workson Construction Company during Ibori's administration and was abandoned after they collected mobilisation  money. The road has been lying fallow ever since then. 

"The road is very important to our economic viability and development if done. It will make it easier for farmers to get their produce out to the markets easily. The road has become a kidnappers'  den, if you pass there, it is at your own risk. 

"We plead to the Governor to come to assist us and rebuild the road, we need it so much. The road is beside the school of Health Technology, a government property. Fixing the  road means so much development for the school also. This road is a necessity to us, we need it. Though a state road, we are using the medium to call on the Federal Government and its agencies to also support because we are suffering indeed. The record of the road is with the state government because it was once awarded, he concluded.

When contacted, Delta State  Commissioner for Works, Rural Development, Charles Aniagwu did not respond to text and WhatsApp messages sent nor return several calls put across to him.

Also, Chief Press Secretary to Delta State Government, Chief Festus Ahon did not respond to messages and calls from the reporter till the time of filing in this report.