Residents of 2nd
Ewasede Crescent, Benin City, Edo State have decried the alleged
ill-treatment meted out to them by the deputy governor of the state,
Pius Odubu. The residents appealed to the state government to take
steps to address what they called the deliberate neglect of their area
by the government.
According to them,
Mr Odubu in his bid to give a face-lift to the area where he was
raised, influenced the complete renovation of Osaremwanta and Ewasede
Streets at the expense of the state government. But 2nd Ewasede
Crescent, which is sandwiched between Osaremwanta and Ewasede streets,
and not more than a hundred metres in length, was left out.
“We were very happy
that Pius Odubu became the deputy governor and that the much talked
about asphalting of the roads within his immediate environment would be
given adequate attention,” Osaigbokhan Osifo, a resident on the
crescent said. “By the time they started work in Osaremwanta and
Ewasede streets, our joy knew no bound, thinking that the same gesture
would be extended to this crescent since it is in-between both streets.
But right now, you can see what has happened. Our street has been left
out of the development and is now being threatened by erosion.” The
residents complained that concrete slabs were not provided for the side
drains after the renovation, thereby making it difficult for them to
move or drive into their homes.
A resident, who
pleaded anonymity, appealed to the government to rescue the residents
of the area from impending danger due to environmental degradation. He
also complained that a transformer given to streets within the
community was yet to become functional, adding that over-loading of the
existing one had resulted in damage to the facility.
The resident stressed that the deputy governor should work for
everybody and not just a select few on the basis of “his street or that
of his wife”. He appealed to the government of Adams Oshiomhole to come
to the aid of all residents in the area.
