One of the “dividends of democracy” used in
measuring the success of an administration and
perhaps the connectivity between a people and
the government is infrastructure development.
Electricity, Roads, Markets, etc are some “gifts”
which most government in a democratic
dispensation extend to the people that supported
and queued under the elements to cast their vote
for them. In most cases, those who did not
support the winning team are usually denied of
such “favour.”
Following the reoccurring road mishaps recorded
in a fraction of Enugu–Onitsha road located in
Umunya in Oyi local government of Anambra
state, road users have called for speedy
construction of the road by government.
The Anambra state government had announced
plans on January 1, to embark on the
construction of the Amawbia-Amansea portion of
the road. Though at the moment, the road is still
far from being done. In like manner, the state
government had seen to the completion of the
road beginning from the Niger Bridge up till the
Nkpor new parts. But beyond there is a painful
picture of rejection and abandonment.
It was gathered that road accidents recorded on
the Umunya portion of the ever-busy road have
within the past five years that the reconstruction
began, claimed dozens of lives and destroyed
goods worth millions of naira. Some of the road
users also claimed that the spot has also created
an avenue for armed robbers to swoop on
motorists.
Other portions of the 104km stretch are not better
off. Awkuzu junction, right in front of the Special
Anti Robbery Squad of the Anambra State Police
Command has been reduced to a gully as one
part of the dual carriage way has be washed off
by erosion and become a dump site for
abandoned vehicles.
While on this story, we gathered that between
Ugwuoba and Obinofia Ndi Uno which will take
about ten minutes in 1994 now take anything
more than forty-five minutes due to the state of
the road.
Further down to 9th Mile, Ngwo, the suffering a
regular road user is subjected to becomes near
unbearable. Economic activities which began to
grow around here in the early 90s, have
disappeared. Highway robbery is now the order.
The Police have easy excuse that the condition of
the road has made it extremely difficult for quick
response in times of emergency.
Overall, the communities along this road that
once derived pride and joy from it now live in
neglect and constant doubt of what they did
wrong. To my mind, they did nothing wrong that
being born to a place that should in the view of
those that have occupied the highest office in the
land be annihilated.
Soon, elective office seekers will begin to queue at
the doorstep of the people. As a matter of fact,
they will not visit the Oji River junction where a
stop over to buy Okpa, my favorite delicacy has
become a huge challenge because the road has
really gone bad. They will climb the rostrum set in
Enugu, Onitsha or Awka and promise again that if
voted, they will roll in the bulldozers and all high-
tech construction equipment the next minute and
turn the rejection of the people into paradise.
In 2011, Anambra and Enugu gave the PDP and
Pres. Goodluck Jonathan over 95% of total votes
cast in the states during the election. In addition
to that, some key officers of this administration
who had put in their very best sometime at a
huge cost are from these two states.
Fidelia Njeze, from Enugu moved from the
Ministry of Aviation to Special Advice on MDGs.
She was replaced by Anambra born Stella Oduah
who brought a new face to all the airports across
the country. Diezani Allison Madueke who had ran
the Petroleum ministry for years is a wife to a
proud son of Enugu State. Deputy President of the
Senate, Ike Ekweremadu is from Enugu State.
Most recently, Osita Chidoka was made a minister
but before then, he was incharge of the Federal
Road Safety Commission.
Meanwhile, the best the people of these states
have gotten is promises and promises. The
question now are; when will the fulfillment come?
When will those who stood for this government
even when it was much of a risk so to do be
remembered? When will the people enjoy the
much exalted dividends of democracy? Are there
other things expected of the people beyond
supporting the government even when events
around them demand otherwise? Feel free to
provide answers to the questions if you have.
http://www.homelandnewsng.com/opinion/
enugu-onitsha-expressway-reflection-people
%E2%80%99s-nightmare
