In response to a tanker explosion that occurred on Sunday at Koko junction on the Warri-Benin motorway in Delta State, a group called Vanguard For Transparent Leadership And Democracy (VATLAD) disagreed with Governors Sheriff Oborevwori and Godwin Obaseki of Delta and Edo states on their stance.
In the states of Edo and Delta, between the settlements of Ologbo and Ugbenu, an accident occurred.
While the governors put the responsibility for the terrible tragedy on the shoddy condition of federal roads, VATLAD, through its National President, Comrade Igbini, accused Obaseki and the recently-departed Governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, of being responsible for the deaths.
The governors of Edo and Delta states expressed their condolences, but they also accused the federal government of failing to maintain the Benin-Warri road, which they claimed was their duty. This was the reason given for the deaths and the damage of vehicles and property.
Igbini countered that while it is true that the Benin-Warri Motorway is under the purview of the federal government under the Constitution, the state governments have the ability to repair the damaged section of the road.
He urged Oborevwori and Obaseki to send their contractors to fix all collapsed sections of road and other failed sections of federal and state roads in their states, claiming there is no excuse for them to permit the deaths of road users on any federal road in their respective states.
The past and present federal governments have always refunded state governments that work to maintain or renovate federal roads in their states, and the governments of Edo and Delta states have benefited from these refunds, which is another reason why I feel it’s crucial to remind Nigerians of this.
What is even more of a reality is that past governors Uduaghan Emmanuel and Adams Oshiomole took on the duty of maintaining or repairing this route and other Trunk A roads in their states throughout their terms in office with the express purpose of preventing the loss of priceless lives and property.
“As the former director general of the Delta State Direct Labour Agency (DLA), under the direction of the previous governor, Uduaghan, DLA and other contractors maintained and repaired damaged sections of this road as well as other federal roads in Delta State.
More, please! It is a known truth that the Ologbo-Ugbenu part of the Warri-Benin road started to collapse once more four to five years ago, and commuters and community residents have been pleading with the federal, Edo, and Delta State governments for immediate action to save their lives ever since.
But rather than heeding the requests, the governors of Edo and Delta states at the time claimed that it was the federal government’s obligation. Regrettably, they repeated this position yesterday.
“They both must be reminded that their primary constitutional duty is the safety and security of people residing in and travelling through their states; regular maintenance of all roads in their States is part of this constitutional duty,” he said.
