One of the “dividends of democracy” used in measuring the success of an administration and perhaps the connectivity between a people and the government is infrastructure development. Electricity, Roads, Markets, etc are some “gifts” which most government in a democratic dispensation extend to the people that supported and queued under the elements to cast their vote for them. In most cases, those who did not support the winning team are usually denied of such “favour.”

Following the reoccurring road mishaps recorded in a fraction of Enugu–Onitsha road located in Umunya in Oyi local government of Anambra state, road users have called for speedy construction of the road by government.

The Anambra state government had announced plans on January 1, to embark on the construction of the Amawbia-Amansea portion of the road. Though at the moment, the road is still far from being done. In like manner, the state government had seen to the completion of the road beginning from the Niger Bridge up till the Nkpor new parts. But beyond there is a painful picture of rejection and abandonment.

It was gathered that road accidents recorded on the Umunya portion of the ever-busy road have within the past five years that the reconstruction began, claimed dozens of lives and destroyed goods worth millions of naira. Some of the road users also claimed that the spot has also created an avenue for armed robbers to swoop on motorists.

Other portions of the 104km stretch are not better off. Awkuzu junction, right in front of the Special Anti Robbery Squad of the Anambra State Police Command has been reduced to a gully as one part of the dual carriage way has be washed off by erosion and become a dump site for abandoned vehicles.

While on this story, we gathered that between Ugwuoba and Obinofia Ndi Uno which will take about ten minutes in 1994 now take anything more than forty-five minutes due to the state of the road.

Further down to 9th Mile, Ngwo, the suffering a regular road user is subjected to becomes near unbearable. Economic activities which began to grow around here in the early 90s, have disappeared. Highway robbery is now the order. The Police have easy excuse that the condition of the road has made it extremely difficult for quick response in times of emergency.

Overall, the communities along this road that once derived pride and joy from it now live in neglect and constant doubt of what they did wrong. To my mind, they did nothing wrong that being born to a place that should in the view of those that have occupied the highest office in the land be annihilated.

Soon, elective office seekers will begin to queue at the doorstep of the people. As a matter of fact, they will not visit the Oji River junction where a stop over to buy Okpa, my favorite delicacy has become a huge challenge because the road has really gone bad. They will climb the rostrum set in Enugu, Onitsha or Awka and promise again that if voted, they will roll in the bulldozers and all high-tech construction equipment the next minute and turn the rejection of the people into paradise.

In 2011, Anambra and Enugu gave the PDP and Pres. Goodluck Jonathan over 95% of total votes cast in the states during the election. In addition to that, some key officers of this administration who had put in their very best sometime at a huge cost are from these two states.

Fidelia Njeze, from Enugu moved from the Ministry of Aviation to Special Advice on MDGs. She was replaced by Anambra born Stella Oduah who brought a new face to all the airports across the country. Diezani Allison Madueke who had ran the Petroleum ministry for years is a wife to a proud son of Enugu State. Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu is from Enugu State. Most recently, Osita Chidoka was made a minister but before then, he was incharge of the Federal Road Safety Commission.

Meanwhile, the best the people of these states have gotten is promises and promises. The question now are; when will the fulfillment come? When will those who stood for this government even when it was much of a risk so to do be remembered? When will the people enjoy the much exalted dividends of democracy? Are there other things expected of the people beyond supporting the government even when events around them demand otherwise? Feel free to provide answers to the questions if you have.


http://www.homelandnewsng.com/opinion/enugu-onitsha-expressway-reflection-people%E2%80%99s-nightmare

This Photo explains to you what we are going through in this country

[img]http://4.bp..com/-87G0576FzD0/VDY6kHubfGI/AAAAAAABL1A/LQK-NX1R9Mo/s1600/1%2Ba%2BMeagan%2BGood%2Band%2BHusband.jpg[/img]

Dividend of Democracy has die in Nigeria since 1820,but on a serious note, GEJ is trying only dat he's working with Ministers,governors,senators,honorables etc dat are big tym robbers, only God can forgive the government of GEJ is full of corruption.......

GEJ is trying his best.
GEJ till GARRI becomes 1cup 1Naira!

Good Morning Nigerians

Hmm speechless

good mawnin

Igbo governors...... Hmm, what do they actually do?

Yet they want to contest in 2015. Abeg tell them say 'our eye don clear'.
They know themselves. My only happiness is......





I made FRONT PAGE!

Pathetic ....

I wonder what happened to the dividend of democracy.

hj[size=24pt]Slowly but surely we'll get there!![/size]hj

Otunbab:
Igbo governors...... Hmm, what do they actually do?

In fairness to them...this is a Federal Road.

Good roads we complain, bad roads we complain

The road is terrible in both lanes. Last week when I went to Akwa from Enugu, I just had to follow the bendy-Old-Road when coming back. The same TANiods Jona Praise singers will want Aligbo to be Bind, Deaf and Speechless despite the dilapidated Road looking us in the face.

Who doesn't know that except the Onitsha-Owerri road which was started by Obasanjo and finished by Yar'adua,every other road in the Southeast and roads which connect South-South are in a very bad state.
May God help the people of the South-East.

smells like a 'lets bash Jonathan' thread.

I wish there could be potholes in the air so they could feel the pains too!

Chai...!
I passed this road last two weeks...it is indeed a terrible deathe trap with no kind of help for the Masses
Chai...!
What of fallen trailer, you didn't capture that?

Shocking!

Not much anyone can do than to urge our government to help rehabilitate the road.

The road is truly very bad and needs urgent attention

Wow.i never knew there was a road that bad at anambra state.

bushdoc9919:
In fairness to them...this is a Federal Road.

1. The Governors can jointly get it done and collect their money back - after-all they claim to have a direct line to the President.

2. They could have also gotten Jonathan in the last 5 years to get the road completed.

Can't find my comment again Seun wetin I do? hv seen it again sorry Seun,one of my frnd told me his GF can't find her period,I tot Dats wat happen to my comment........

Mtcheeeew Stories

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Gej till 2024

bushdoc9919:


In fairness to them...this is a Federal Road.

Yea, that's the excuse we get, same excuse we get for the river island airport they also have. My guy, it takes nothing for them to lay a complain and fix it.

No comment

Remembering the NYSC Camp at Umunya and that road again! Our leaders are simply wicked,in fact,the devil is a learner compared to them.