How Okowa’s ‘road master’ initiative revived Ika South

After rendering meritorious service as a Local Government Chairman, Commissioner of Health, Secretary to Delta State Government and Senator {2011-2015} , there was no debate about Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa’s ability to enthrone a transformational governance if elected as Delta State governor and so it happened. Expectedly, his decisive actions in urban renewal, through road construction across the state has earned him the name ‘road master’. In this piece,  Okwudili Akaeze, a  Public Enlightenment Officer in Ika South, presents the governor’s testimonial

The Governor of Delta State, His Excellency Senator (Dr) Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa was nicknamed ‘Road Master’ because of his huge investment and great attention on the massive construction of road in the State. Some critics who never see any good in whatever somebody does continue to criticize him. Some ask whether construction of road is major priority of the state. Others said that most of the roads are being constructed by NDDC while some argued that the roads are poorly constructed with probability of collapsing within a short period.

One thing about the Governor of Delta State is that he is an experience seasoned administrator who lived all his life in the grassroots and knows the need of his people as well as their challenges. He started as a grassroots politician and not Abuja based politician. This attests to lot of decisions he takes and makes.

The massive road construction in Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State, in particular has been of interest to stakeholders. For those born or brought up in Boji-Boji metropolis in particular and Ika in general in the 70s to 80s they will attest to the fact that the heart and beauty of Agbor land in those days were the streets near the Orogodo River in Agbor, such as Okoh, Umudein, Queen, Baleke Streets and other adjoining streets, such as Gbenoba, Akpenyi, Oseji, Osuhun, Upper Queen, etc.

These streets harbored the residences of who is who in Agbor in those days to the extent that most of the names of the streets were names of big men who lived very big in the streets. The streets were full of lives because most of the administrators, captains of industries, bankers that came to Agbor preferred to live in these streets. The good road network and well mapped out layout of the streets gave them uniqueness.

As the days went by the life of these streets began to dwindle especially with the springing up of new streets and upsurge push of Agbor metropolis towards Emuhu axis. However, the good road net which used to give the streets their uniqueness collapsed and dilapidated and successive governments never cared until the streets aged and dilapidated into near extinction to the extent that they became ghettoes and slums that no new comer into Agbor goes there for accommodation.  Everybody gave up on these streets because they felt that no good things could come out of them.

However, wonder happened recently when the governor brought his road master experience to bear on the streets.  He ordered the constructions of the streets by awarding the contracts. Most of all, the streets have not yet been completed before life started creeping back into them. The re construction of the streets ignited busy activities with the environment.

Queen Street which cuts across the Old Lagos-Asaba Road and the Lagos-Asaba Express Road become the cheapest alternative to access the Lagos-Asaba Express Road from the old road since its construction. Business activities came back into these newly constructed streets. New stores are being built as well as caravans being mounted for business purposes thereby creating more jobs for the owners.

These one-time ghettoes are coming back to life with lively looks all due to the road mastery prowess of the amiable governor.

Digressing a little, Ozanogogo in Ika Souh Local Government, an agrarian community known for its prowess in up wine tapping and blessed with a huge deposit of Kaolin or native chalk is a community that is highly united in taking decisions. When the governor visited the community during his campaign before his first tenure in office, he promised to construct the only link road to the community from Agbor which was in a very bad shape. In fact, it was just a track road. After election, and in fulfillment to his campaign promises, Governor Okowa awarded a contract for the construction of the road which was started and completed to the extent that Ozanogogo became a city full of lives. Ozanogogo indigenes are ready to die for the cause of the governor, just for this singular gesture.

Abavo axis being the second kingdom in Ika South Local Government Area has also benefited massively from the road construction of Delta State Government. Many of the villages are now motorable and accessible.

Agbor Obi, the city of the great king, the Dein of Agbor kingdom has benefited immensely from the road construction of Delta State and the road construction is still on going with new roads being constructed. The governor has practically touched every nook and cranny of Ika South Local Government. Alihagw-Oki Road, another very bad area is under construction.

Recently the governor awarded a contract for the construction of Agbor-Sakpoba Road that cut across Alihame, Aliokpu, Aliagwa, Agbor-Nta and Oki communities not minding that the road is a federal road and the road is under construction. The importance of this road is that it is the shortest link to Sapele, Amukpe and towns in that axis as well as link road to Sakpoba in Benin City. It is the cheapest alternative road to Agbor- Warri Road which is very busy and in a very bad shape. This road  has also reduced the suffering of the farmers who use to find it difficult to bring the goods to town. 

However, the indigenes of the communities along the Agbor-Sakpoba Road under construction are drawing the attention of the governor to the road construction which they feel is not being constructed properly by the contractor handling the project.

There are many other important streets being constructed and opened up in Ika South especially in the up town of Agbor metropolis and a lot of other areas which the write up have not been able to capture. This ordinarily is hope for other areas that might not have benefitted from the road construction. Patience is the virtue needed while their expectation of being carried along in the scheme of development is drawn to the attention of the state governor.