Jeff Amechi Agbodo, Onitsha
Human rights group, Liberty Access and Peace Defenders Foundation (HURIDE), has blamed the frequent fall of articulated and heavy duty vehicles on Anambra State roads to the deplorable state of the roads in the state.
The group criticised the government for failing to repair the state roads, which it claimed had caused a lot of accidents, destruction of lives and property like the recent inferno at Onitsha Ochanja market.
In a statement, Chairman of HURIDE, Mr. Dede Uzor and its Secretary, Mr. Noel Udorji, advised Governor Obiano to stop using “outdated, archaic and 12th century method including half-baked contractors” to rehabilitate roads in the state.
“The governor should use professionally qualified contractors and apply international best practices to repair roads in Anambra State.
The group commended philanthropists like Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka and Emeka Intervention Ministry, who took it upon themselves to repair roads in their respective areas.
It noted that Ezeonwuka had rehabilitated the old road junction and Oba New road U-Turn Oba, Oba/Obosi potholes near Obosi bridge, Obosi abbatoir, all in Idemili South Local Government Area among other palliative measures done by him, while Emeka repaired Bida by Creek Road, Fegge in Onitsha.
He said the efforts of the duo should be a challenge to the governor to do something drastic, adding, “It is the failure of government that individuals had to engage in self help to repair state roads.”
“The governor should rise up to the challenge. Dr. Chris Ngige constructed over 4,000 km of roads. Peter Obi did over 8,000km roads. Obiano is yet to achieve 2000 km of roads in six years,” the group said.
The group however warned that if in the next 30 days from the date of the publication of this statement, the state government did not commence serious repair of roads in the state, it would have no option but to mobilise members and Anambra people to protest failure of governance in the State.