Bad Road: Residents Of Caroline Street In Udu LGA Cry Out To Governor Okowa

By Oguns Sammy

It is no news that the Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, has touched many roads in terms of rehabilitation across Delta State. This is no time to begin to mention the roads.

The fact remains that Warri is a great beneficiary as many roads such as Dederu Street, Edjemudarro among others in Okumagha layout have been tarred.

While Deltans commend the Governor for this gesture because the roads have boosted the economy of the state, many roads in Udu in Udu Local Government Area are yet be rehabilitsted. One of such roads begging for rehabilitation is Caroline Street which is now known as Oletu Waka Street, off Usiefrun Road, Orhuwhorun in Local Government Area of the state.

The residents say they live by the mercy of God as flood has ravaged and still ravaging the street especially during the rainy season such as now.

The area is being gradually washed away with erosion and in no distant time not that the houses would be no more, lives of many are threatened by the ravaging erosion.

This of course has raised the concern of the residents and non residents alike. Many a time, the residents’ cars are stucked on the road just as their houses have been nearly washed away by erosion.

Investigation revealed that there was a dredging in the area some years ago and now rains have made it to gradually eat up the place and therefore, the dredging should be corrected.

Speaking on the development over the weekend, the Chairman of the area, Pastor Markson Ohias said he wonders if the street is a part of the Udu Local Government Area in particular and the state in general as it has been neglected by successive governments. He said it has been their efforts that made the road passable till date, saying they have not seen any help from anywhere.

He said: “We have not felt the presence of government since the existence of the street.”

He added: “Up till now, the street has not been tarred and not just this road many other roads in Udu are begging for rehabilitation.

According to him, Hon. Peter Uviejitobor representing Udu in the Delta House of Assembly has not helped either if not, by now, the road would have been tarred.

He continued: “Hon Peter Uviejitobor has not helped either because by now one would have expectected that the road be tarred.”

He said that if Carolne Street which is now known as Oletu Waka is tarred like any other streets in Delta State it would boost economic activities of the area as it serves as a link to other roads in Orhuwhorun in Udu Local Government Area of the state.

On his part, a resident in the area, Napoleon Kukuti said they have made several appeals to the government all to no avail. He said motorists and pedestrians can manage to pass the road today because of their personal efforts of filling the pot holes with sand which doesn’t stand the test of time as it is washed away by rains saying if not for their meanial work, they regularly embark upon, the entire street would have been abandoned.

“What else do they want us to do; should we carry placards and demonstrate along the street before the government knows that we are really suffering from the flood in the area?”

The Vice Chairman of the area, Osita Watu also spoke.

Speaking, he said that they have been suffering from the flood in the area saying this has been since the time immemorial.

Landlords have held several meetings to see that the road is fixed, adding that to the best of their ability, they have been able to repair the road but it seems their efforts are fruitless as in no distant time, the flood would wash the road away.

He said: “Our efforts seem not to yeild good result because we don’t have the money to do it all.

“We therefore appeal to the government under the leadership of Dr Ifeanyi Okowa to come to our aid.”

Others who spoke include Uchedu Ikisowe.

He said their houses on the street are near collapse as the former dredging has caused erosion and gradually eating up the entire street, adding that the road is too small as compared to other roads that have been tarred in Warri, Asaba and other places in the state.

They therefore appealed to the state Governor Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa to come to their aid as they are really suffering, as they urged Hon Peter Uviejitobor which the area falls under his jurisdiction to come to their aid in order to have motorable road and be saved.

Meanwhile, they also called on the Commissioner representing Udu in the Board of Delta State Oil Producing Community of Nigeria (DESOPDEC), Hon. Vicent Oyiborode to help to come their aid so that they can have a sigh of relief in this regard.”