Agitation for the reconstruction of the dilapidated Obajana-Kabba-Egbe road, a federal road in Kogi State, has taken a dramatic dimension as some groups of youths in Okunland, Kogi West Senatorial District have resolved to constitute themselves into a militancy movement to fight over the issue.
As part of the move, which is preparatory to full-scale civil disobedience, the youth have vowed to prevent members of the National Assembly from the zone from coming home for Yuletide “if the Federal Government failed to act before December.”
Those affected according to one of the statements are Senator Smart Adeyemi, representing Kogi West District; Tajudeen Yusuf, representing Kabba-Bunu-Ijumu Federal Constituency and Sunday Karimi, representing Yagba West, Yagba East and Mopamuro Federal Constituency, all of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In a joint statement, Yagba Change Agent Group (YACAG), Okun Youth Initiative (OYI), and Association for Better Okun Youth (ABOY), said a movement of socio-political, cultural, women, professional bodies and student union organisations, after a meeting had communicated their intention to the affected National Assembly members.
Saying it has commenced strategic plans towards a mass mobilisation of protesters in the run-up to the civil unrest slated for December, the groups lamented the near total neglect of the road that, according to them, once served as the major link between the North and the Western zone of the country since it was constructed in 1973.
The statement stated in part: “As a result of its condition, armed robbers have seized the road, our siblings have stopped coming home during festive periods. Movement of people and economic activities have since been paralysed while our women who have fallen victims of rape now live in fear. Yet, repeated calls for its rehabilitation and construction have fallen on deaf ears. We are victims of empty and unfulfilled promises by the successive governments since 1999. Our people have been pushed to the wall. We can no longer be taken for granted.”
They noted that the condition of the road from Obajana to Egbe in Kogi State linking Omuaran in Kwara State had worsened since the advent of a cement factory, which by their account attracts hundreds of trailers to the site daily.
They expressed sadness that their elected leaders “see a road like that and keep quiet.”
“It is only a negative minded soul that will not support the action because, if those people are serious they should have lobbied it out and make the government understand that what they called road is no longer a road but a death trap,” it added.
Mr. Olusegun Iselaiye, representative of Kogi State Young Professionals Forum in Diaspora, described the move as a last resort. He said it became inevitable since the government preferred to wait until the people take the laws into their hands.
“This is a fantastic development, the right direction to say the least! I find this approach as the last resort. That road has become a major threat to everyone of us. The FG’s silence over the issue of that road is quite worrisome. In my opinion, our lawmakers seem to be very happy with the miserable state of our federal roads,” he added.
Mr. Ayodeji Awarun on behalf of professional bodies said he supported the move, adding: “If that is what will solve the problem, so be it. A drastic problem requires a drastic solution. At times, dealing with better part of our so called representatives does not require us to be civil, this is how this issue will continue for the next four years till their various terms will expire and they will now be bold enough to come back to abuse our sensibilities asking for re-election.”
Meanwhile Sunday Karimi (Yagba Constituency) in separate “Save Our Soul” letters to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal and Chairman, House Committee on Works, titled “Motion on the need for the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on Obajana-Kabba-Isanlu-Egbe-Omuaran Road,” has urged the Federal Ministry of Works and Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to expedite action on the road, as his continued membership of the House is hinged on the commencement of work on the road by the Federal Government.
His words: “Your Excellency, I want to assure you that most of the honourable members from these affected communities will not be able to visit their constituencies if urgent steps are not taken to address the road issue. My constituents have warned me in clear terms that they will no longer welcome me home unless there is a sign that the Federal Government shows commitment to commence work on that road. I am therefore convinced that my colleagues will not sit in comfort of the chamber and in their offices and see me being recalled by my constituents on account of this road.”
