Denro-Ishashi Road. A 5 minutes drive to Ojodu Berger became a one 1 hour and NOW you will need a canoe to use this road. All as a result of irresponsibility and negligence of the part of the Ogun State Government. Let me borrow my friend, Adebowale Adejubes writeup on Ekekeee; I live in Ogun State, in one of its border towns with Lagos. The Akute-Denro-Ishashi-Berger road is arguably the worst road I have seen in my lifetime (and I have seen many). This road is unique for so many reasons which, it seems, the government has failed to realize-either by omission or sheer indifference to the plight of those plying the road. Gbenga Daniel, in 2004 or thereabout, opened up the road and laid asphalt on a portion of it, commissioning it with fanfare to the delight of the people. The people had reservations but decided to make do with the –inferior- road despite early warnings. The first of those warnings came when he awarded the contract to build a very important link-bridge to a ‘Tailor’ who, despite the money budgeted, solicited the services of two “Abokis” who majored in well digging to “deck” two halves of the road in succession. It was referred to as a “Bridge” by those who drive on it. Since then, it has been a tale of one disaster after the other on this very important road that acts as a link from Ojodu-Berger in Lagos to Denro, Ishashi, Akute, Olambe, Ijoko and for some others, Agege, Ogba, Alagbado et al. Some of the disasters that we have witnessed in recent years/months are inexplicable accidents causing deaths or injuries, flooding that took several houses along with it and required a construction of wooden link-bridges for commuters to walk on – at a cost to them, drowning, total wreckage of vehicles due to the state of the road, avoidable traffic jam etc. The list is endless and the groaning of the people is equally endless but the government seems unbothered. The people thought succor had arrived when Senator Ibikunle Amosun came around, before the April 26, 2011 general elections, to condemn the state of the road with a promise to fix it immediately he assumes office if elected. They voted overwhelmingly for him on the scale of that promise but he has failed to fulfill his own side of the bargain. Every day on that road brings agony. So many of us, including myself, at one time or the other have been involved in accidents – Okada, Buses and even our personal cars. Several complaints have been filed with the necessary bodies to no avail. Ifo LGA, through its Supervisory Councilor for works claims the road is a state affair and as such, all complaints should be directed there. On its part, the state government has even relegated the case of Denro-Ishashi road to one of their dusty cabinets. The commissioner for works avoids issues about Denro-Ishashi or promises to get back when furnished with proper information while Governor Amosun denies knowledge of the road or any promises he made. It is a shame that the promise of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN)’s government in Ogun State to work with its counterpart in Lagos state to harness the economic prospects of the areas linked by this road has been a ruse and an election period lie to hoodwink the people into voting for them. Nothing is forthcoming about this road despite the daily cry and lamentations of those who have no other choice but to ply the road in its deathly glamour. There are several benefits tied to the fixing of the road. They include, but are not limited to: • Decongesting the Berger-Alagbole road of its ever-present traffic; • Attraction of investments to the area (Investors are moving away presently); • It will act as a link road to Olambe and Alagbado area until the government is ready to open up Akute-Magboro road; • Generation of revenue through tenement taxation which the people will pay without complaint; • Revitalizing moribund businesses that depend on good access roads to Lagos to survive; • Easier way to transfer farm produce from this axis in Ogun state to Lagos state; • Making life easier for the populace who live in these areas; • It is also a way for the government to enjoy the continuous goodwill of the people as 2015 draws closer. It is a shame that the government still needs the people to wake it up to its responsibility and the importance it holds in the lives of the general populace. I just wish Governor Ibikunle Amosun will live up to the pact he made with the people, which was one of the catalysts of his victory in 2011. It is never too late to fix this Denro-Ishashi road and we still hold the power to flush him out in 2015 if he decides not to listen. The state of Akute-Denro-Ishashi-Berger road borders on criminal negligence. It is shocking, outrageous, criminal, and shows absolute irresponsibility on the part of the Ogun State government. Please continue to share until someone wakes up to him responsibility.
Posted on: Tue, 21 Oct 2014 08:05:41 +0000
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