Abubakar Momoh, the Regional Development Commission’s minister, disagreed with the Ugu Youths Development for Change, or UYDC, yesterday regarding the recent road commissioning in Edo State.
In a letter, the UYDC claimed that the minister had come to inaugurate a state road that did not exist. In a letter of protest, Monday Osemwenkhae, the group’s coordinator, claimed that their members included young people from more than 13 communities in Ugu Ward, in the Orhiomwon Local Government Area of Edo State, including Urhehue, Oben, Odighi, Obanokhoro, and others.
He also characterized the road’s commissioning as a deliberate attempt to hide the region’s ongoing neglect, which includes the largest gas deposit in West Africa.
According to the letter, “We are here to say that the said Abraka-Oben Road, which was commissioned by the Minister for Regional Development, Momoh, is not existing anywhere in our locality.
“The said road is a calculated attempt to cover up the continuous neglect of our area by his Ministry and its affiliate agency and commission like the NDDC, for a very long period.”
“But, what we have just gotten is a commissioning of a non existing road with our community name attached to divert attention from the neglect of the roads in that area.”
“The link roads to Oben are the Ugo-Obozogbe-Iguelaba road, and Umoghun-Nokhua Oben road. The former is currently undergoing construction courtesy of community fund and private company.”
But Momoh in a phone call, explained that the road he commissioned was from the Delta State end, Abraka to Oben, and not from Benin to Oben.
He said: “They should go through Abraka to Oben. We didn’t say from Benin to Oben, we said Abraka to Oben, that is, from the Delta end, so, they should get it clear.”
“You can now move from Oben to Abraka without stress. The ministry did the one from Benin up to 20 kilometres before. The other one, they are talking of, from Abraka to Benin, the first phase has been completed, it’s a 10-kilometre road, Abraka to Oben, not Benin to Abraka.”
