Ogun communities protest bad road, flooding, pleads for Gov Abiodun’s intervention
Bankole Taiwo, Abeokuta
Residents of Ikangba, Olorunsogo and its environs in Odogbolu local government area of Ogun state have appealed to the governor of the state, Prince Dapo Abiodun to use the window of this dry season to fix the Ijebu Ode-Ikangba road and help solve the problem of terrible erosion that has not only made life so difficult for the residents of area but also led to loss of lives in the past.
Unable to bear this pain any longer, the residents in their hundreds on Monday morning staged a peaceful protest on the road calling for the immediate intervention of the state government most especially now that the dry season is here.
The protesters were armed with placards bearing messages such as; “Gov Dapo Abiodun come to our aid, Ikangba road is terrible, don’t let flood kill us,’’‘Give us good road and drainage, our businesses are dying,” “Ikangba, Olorunsogo need your attention, Mr Governor,’’ “Give us functional secondary school, no health facilities at Ikangba” among others.
Speaking with the journalists during the protest, the Baale of Ikangba Community, High Chief Joseph Banjo said that the road has become a nightmare such that it has led to loss of lives, paralyse the economic activities in the area with heavy flooding that is capable of submerging the communities in the area.
High Chief Joseph Banjo said “we are out this morning to draw the attention of our governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun to our suffering here. This Ikangba, Olorunsogo road is in a terrible state of disrepair, it has caused accident that has led to loss of lives, many of us can no longer do our businesses because when it rains everywhere is flooded and everyone will be stuck.
“Many parents have withdrawn their children from the schools here because those tricycles and motorcycles carrying their children do get submerged in the water. It is really a terrible thing, many landlords here have even turn to tenants in other parts of Ijebu Ode. We sincerely plead that Gov Dapo Abiodun will help to fix this road and help take care of the erosion problem too.”
He said “the economic importance of this road can not be overemphasized. Aside having the largest concentration of the fish farmers here, the road also serve as alternative route whenever the Ijebu Ode-Benin expressway is blocked. It is just wise the governor come to our rescue now, there should be no more delay.’’
Giving another perspective to the challenge, the Chairman of Fish Farmers Association, Ikangba, Agoro axis, Mr Lazarus Okole said that the problem of the bad road in the area is worsened by the diversion of erosion coming from Molipa, Imowo Eleran, Erinlu areas of Ijebu Ode into Ikangba due to the ongoing road construction work in those areas.
Mr Lazarus said that “ what we have also observed is that water coming from Molipa, Imowo roads that are under construction have been diverted towards the Ikangba road and this volume of water is much such that everywhere is flooded whenever it rains.
“As fish farmers because Ikangba hosts the largest fish ponds in Ogun state, we have lost our investment several times to this water, in fact our business is as good as dead because our customers have refused to patronise us again because of this bad road and that is how it is for other residents here too.”
He said “aside fixing the road, the government should also instruct the contractor handling the road project to put very big and wide drainages on both side of the road, not just on one side as it is now because the volume of the water is much. We are also suggesting that the government should dredge Yemule river and divert the erosion there or else the water escaping from the drainages will flow back into the community and continuing causing the damage.”
Speaking during the protest, the Chairman of Community Development Association, Ikangba, Alhaji Awomosu Afeez lamented that the residents of the area are tired of contributing money to do some palliatives on the road saying that they have spent millions in the time past to make the road a bit manageable.
Alhaji Awomosu pleaded with Gov Dapo Abiodun to swiftly come to their aid and ensure that the hardship being encountered by all those plying the road as well as all the residents of the area become a thing of the past before the next raining season sets in.
Another resident of the community, Mrs Joke Adeyiga as well as Chairman of Campaign for Democratic and Workers Right (CDWR) Ogun State chapter, Eko John Nicholas called on Gov Dapo Abiodun to as a matter of priority ensure that the deplorable Ikangba road and the attendant flooding problem is fixed without further delay.
