Otukpo township road: Idoma indigenes storm Fashola’s office, demand explanation on why project was abandoned

Some concerned Idoma Indigenes today (07/10/2020) paid a courtesy call on the Federal Ministry of Works Headquarters Abuja and demanded explanation on the abandoned, dilapidated state of the Otukpo township road.

The team, which included Hon. McDickson Noah, Mrs. Julie Ooja Okoh, King Apeh Peterhot, Comrade Arthur Stephen and Hon. AlexJerry Oche Onyilo, was received by the Director of Highways, North Central, Engr. Yusuf Jimoh Adekunle at the Works Ministry’s Headquarter in Abuja.

The team, led by Hon. Noah McDickson bitterly expressed concern over the deplorable state of the Otukpo township road. Noah in the presentation lamented that the Idoma nation is been ignored by the Federal Government, demanding that the Director explain to the team if Idoma land is still a part of the Nigerian territory.

Hon. Julie Okoh in her contribution called strongly on the Ministry to intervene in the embarrassing situation as soon as possible to at least help give the Idoma nation a Federal touch since the advent of the fourth republic in 1999. She said the Idoma people will appreciate the APC led administration if it can halt the ridiculous name-calling of the Idoma nation for supporting the party.

In his response, the Highways Director thanked the team for the courtesy call on his office to seek clarification rather than resorting to beer parlor argument that causes misinformation. He lamented that most political office holders from the Zone would rather beg the Ministry to include new projects and their rural village roads on the nation’s appropriation bills but ignore the Otukpo township road constantly embarrassing political office holders from the constituency.

Engr. Yusuf made it clear that the Otukpo township road has been awarded to Rockbridge Construction Company Limited and have equally been mobilized to that effect.

The soft-spoken Director said the construction should have been substantially achieved by now if not the devastating effect of the Covid-19 disease and the subsequent lockdown that halt socioeconomic activities world over. He promised to call and write formally to Rockbridge to pressurize the company to mobilize to site around end of October since the rains are slowing down as we head to the harmattan season.

By Apeh Peter