By Amos Aar
THE PEOPLE of Mbakyan and Mbaabir communities in Gwer East LGA of Benue State have appealed to Governor Hyacinth Alia to come to their aid to sand-fill three open box culverts by Akpa stream that have disconnected them from the outside world.
The unfilled culverts are meant to link Howe-Kinga-Herbert, Igbaga-Kuer-Tse and Akeshi-Shawa-Aondoana feeder roads of Gwer East LGA.
The residents made the appeal to the Benue State Government on Thursday during a media tour of the feeder road by journalists, stating that it has been a perennial ordeal for communities who ply the roads.
The communities also called on the Senator Representing Benue North West, Chief Titus Zam, Gwer East/Gwer West House of Representatives Member Arc. Asema Achado, and member representing Gwer East state constituency, Hon. Elias Audu as well as other spirited individuals to rescue them from the nightmare of unmotorable road.
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A principal lecturer with the Benue State Polytechnic, Ugbokolo, Mr Thaddeus Ioryem, who hails from the area disclosed that the contract for the road was awarded by the immediate past governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, following a request by the late Hon. Herbert Igbaga, who represented Gwer East state constituency in1979 at the Benue State House of Assembly.
Mr Ioryem however said that the contractor did not complete the project, as almost all the culverts on the road were not sand filled.
According to him, there are over twenty (20) culverts on that road but none was sand-filled, forcing them to resort to self help to no avail.
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“Worst of all, River Akpa remains a threat to the community; about four culverts were not filled with sand. Thus, every season, the communities here and beyond suffer untold hardship. We are cut off from the rest of the world and there is this fear of being cut off again this season.
“Farmers are compelled to dispose their produce earlier than expected because sooner or later, this place would be taken over by water and no one passes here; including okada riders and motorists. This has been the only route we have to access Howe, Taraku or Aliade.
“We are therefore pleading with the governor, Rev. Fr. Dr Hyacinth Iormem Alia, and other spirited individuals, NGOs, and philanthropists to please save us by sand-filling these culverts or the governor may direct for completion of the entire road as soon as possible to alleviate our suffering,” Ioryem appealed.
Also speaking, acting kindred head of Mbasaagba, Chief Simon Ukaha, lamented that most of their crops were sold early during dry season to avoid flooding that submerges some portions of the road during rainy season.
“We were crossing here before we were forced to abandon a wooden bridge the road contract destroyed and assured us that he the contractor would make a box culvert which you are seeing here now. But box culverts aren’t refilled and we are finding it difficult to cross on them. That is why our people are here appealing to the Benue State Government to come to our aid.
Speaking separately, Mrs Ladi Zwa and Mrs Judith Ajio, all say as women, they find it very difficult to cross even on foot when the water overflows the culverts in the swampy area, making everywhere slippery and capable of drowning people who are not swimmers.
“My brother, those of us who are living here are like slaves. We are suffering, especially we women who don’t have husbands. If you don’t have husband or a child, who will help you to cross when it rains, you will almost die of hunger here trapped in the village. We suffer on the farm but no road to go out and sell.
“When government came here, everybody became happy that we were no longer slaves. But the contractor did only half of the project so we tearfully appeal to the Benue State Government to complete this project without further delay, please. We voted for Gov Alia, Senator Zam, Arc Achado and Hon Audu to provide dividends of democracy, Aladi solicited as she went on her knees.
On her part, Mrs Judith Ajio who teaches at RCM Primary School, Akeshi, told journalists that, “as tall as I am, when I want to go to school, I remove my clothes and keep on the head before I enter into the water and reach the school. Our suffering here is unbecoming and unbearable.
“When we are to convey rice to markets, we measure a bag in small quantities and swim with it across before we put in vehicles that will pack it for us. So, when the former governor came here, all of us rejoiced that we were no longer slaves. But now that the road has been cut apart, we don’t understand again my son, we are almost dying.
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“Our children constructed a hand-made wooden bridge here but it was washed away by water. So, we are calling on the Benue State government to come to our aid to enable us reconnect with other communities”, Mrs Ajio said.
Asked why the contract was abandoned, one-time contractor, Mr Terngu Igbaga, who spoke on behalf of Mbakyan youth, attributed the uncompleted feeder road project to paucity of funds by the past administration.
“In 2016, this road was awarded to Karakas Construction Company Ltd. So, they did the road and came to this particular point. They stopped at the former Gwer East Local Government chairman’s village house, Dr David Maor, that’s where they stopped and the culverts were built but the filling was not done. So, we want the government to come and fill the culverts and reconstruct the road so that our dear community will not be cut off completely.
“I was privileged to be one of the contractors at that moment, doing Shawa to Ageba electrification project.
“This road was done in respect of my father, the former Honourable H. H. Igbaga. So, we used to talk as colleagues. The contractor told me that that was the extent to which he could do the road because the complete project money was not released to him,” the contractor confirmed.
The eldest man in Mbakyan Community, Elder Donko Afongu, and his deputy, elder Hitler Gurgur, added their voices in calling on the Benue State Government and other well-meaning individuals to sand-fill the box culverts, crying out that they could not cross the culverts unless carried by young people on the shoulders and when the young ones are not around, they remain confined to their houses.
In their vote of thanks, Hon Emmanuel Zungwe and Mr Michael Zwa, commended Governor Hyacinth Alia for his ongoing people-oriented projects across the state and appealed to him to equally come to the aid of their communities.
They also appreciated their son, Mr Thaddeus Ioryem, who mobilized a media team to area for always showing concern to their plight and doing his best to convey their cries to the government, describing him as a true community ambassador and developer.
The community also appreciated the media adviser of Masev Development Association, Dr Mtswenem Tor David, for leading the media team on the tour.
