Gov Oborevwori Under Pressure To Take Over Reconstruction Of Critical Federal Roads In Delta

…As Bebenimibo urges Gov to act now to save Delta’s economy

…Demonstrate ‘street credibility’, Bebenimibo tells Oborevwori

A renowned human rights activist and lecturer at Delta State University, Comrade Paul Bebenimibo, PhD, has urged Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to take over the reconstruction of the deplorable 70km Sapele-Eku-Abraka-Obiaruku-Abavo-Agbor road.

Bebenimibo, who introduced himself as a member of the ruling PDP, stated this in an open letter to the governor which was made available to newsmen, on Monday.

BIGPEN NIGERIA (https://bigpenngr.com) reports that the road, which connects eight local government areas, has been in a state of disrepair for over 12 years, despite federal government claims of working on it.

Bebenimibo argued that the state government cannot afford to wait for the federal government to act, given the strategic importance of the road to the state’s economy.

He emphasized the importance of the road, citing its impact on agriculture, security, transportation, and education in the state.

Reminding the governor that the road also connect his Osubi residence and Okpe local government area of the state, Bebenimibo, pointed out that the road’s poor condition has led to increased costs of agricultural products, insecurity, high transportation costs, and difficulties for students and staff of two universities located along the road.

Bebenimibo who was a board member of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), (2019 and 2023), urged the governor to emulate his counterpart in Ogun state, Prince Dapo Abiodun who recently took over the reconstruction of the 70 kilometres Lagos to Abeokuta federal expressway.

He, also argued that a federal minister during his time as governor, constructed 12 fly-overs on federal roads in Rivers State to ease traffic in the South-South state.

Bebenimibo, also reminded the governor of his campaign promises to prioritize the needs of Deltans.

The letter reads in full;

COMRADE PAUL BEBENIMIBO, PhD
NO. 1, P. E. BEBENIMIBO STREET, EKPAN, UVWIE LGA, DELTA STATE

THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR,
DELTA STATE
ATTENTION:
YOUR EXCELLENCY, RT. HON. (ELDER) SHERIFF FRANCIS OBOREVWORI
DEAR SIR,

IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT YOU TAKE OVER THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE SAPELE, EKU, ABRAKA, OBIARUKU, ABAVO, AGBOR 70 KILOMETRES ROAD NOW

As indicated above, my name is Comrade Paul Bebenimibo, PhD. I lecture at Delta State University, DELSU, Abraka. I am a human rights activist and an advocate of good governance. I served as a board member of the immediate past Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), between 2019 and 2023.

I am also a member of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State and worked assiduously for your election in 2023.

Your Excellency, I also publish an online newspaper, PEBNEWS, which I have used to draw your attention to the deplorable condition of this critical road to Delta State and her people. I am a regular user of the road mentioned above. The road is dilapidated and unpassable now.

I know that the road is a federal road, which the Federal Government has purportedly worked on in the last 12 years or more. However, this road is right in the middle of Delta State, cutting-across eight Local Government Areas, including your local government area, Okpe.

Others are Ika South, Ika North East, Ukwani, Ethiope East, Sapele and Ughelli North Local Government Areas.

In other words, people from these local government areas have used this road before it becomes unpassable.

Even you, Mr Governor, have used this road from Asaba to Osubi, your home town and vice versa, because it is shorter to use from Asaba to Osubi juxtaposed to wherever you use today.

If truth be told, the unpalatable condition of the road is a major contributor to the high cost of agricultural products in the state and other parts of Nigeria. The rickety state of the road also contributes to the prevailing insecurity in Delta State.

It is also a significant contributor to the high cost of transportation in Delta State.

The present state of the road is killing education in Delta State as two Universities in Delta State, namely Delta State University, Abraka and the University of Agbor are situated along the road; Staff and Students find it difficult to use the road right now.
Your Excellency Sir, the reason for not intervening on this road- that it is a federal road is untenable. It is Deltans that use this road; Deltans own farms along this road, and it is Deltans that are suffering.

If you can construct fly-overs on a federal road in Warri and Effurun, there is no reason why you should not reconstruct this critical road for Deltans, including you. Sir, you have used this road before its present deplorable condition.

Your Excellency Sir, it is time for you to approach President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to allow you to work on this road.
Your colleague-governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State acted similarly lately, taking over the reconstruction of the 70 kilometres Lagos to Abeokuta Expressway.

I respectfully remind you that former governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyensom Wike, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, constructed 12 fly-overs on federal roads in Rivers State to ease traffic in the South-South state. You can borrow a leaf from these two great men.

Mr Governor sir, you made it copiously clear that you are a man of the people during your campaigns in 2023; and that you have enough dosage of “street credibility”, it is now that you have to demonstrate it against the time to come (2027).

May Jehovah God see you through in piloting the affairs of Delta State. Amen!

Signed:
Comrade Paul Bebenimibo, PhD