By Idahosa Musa
Youths in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area in Edo State, on Wednesday, took to the streets, accusing the State Government of alleged abandonment and insensitivity to their plights in the area of infrastructural development and security of lives and property.
They maintained that despite contributing meaningfully to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Edo, the state government has allegedly continued to treat them like slaves.
The people who were in their hundreds staged the protest at the ever-busy Auchi-Igarra-Ibillo Expressway in the State to register their displeasure over the dilapidated state of the road.
The protest led to a serious gridlock on the road as travelers, including heavy duty vehicles and other road users were stalled for several hours.
According to the people, the poor nature of the road has led to high rates of insecurity and poverty in the area, claiming that insecurity has become a daily occurrence in the locality causing fear and trepidation.
The protesters also took swipe at political office holders from the locality for allegedly being insensitive to their plights.
They lamented that a Chieftain of the Labour Party (LP) in the area, Okasime Olowojoba, who was kidnapped along the road since the past three weeks is yet to be freed by his captors despite receiving N5,000,000 from the victim’s family and friends.
One of the protesters who identified himself as Paul Lawani, while speaking to newsmen lamented that they were being treated like slaves by the state government, citing the abandonment of the road.
He said: “Akoko-Edo local government area has three general hospitals and none is functioning well.
“As at today, Akoko-Edo is ripe for a military base, yet we have these bases in areas that may not necessarily need them.
“Is the local government Chairman not aware that there is security challenges in the area before he was appointed by the state government?
“Is the state government not aware that one of the reasons for this kidnapping is because of this bad road? Instead of fixing the road, they are mouthing Tinubu for 2027.
“We also want the state government to come and tell us what they want to do about this road and kidnapping in our area.
“One of our brothers has been with the kidnappers for almost one month, they have collected money in millions, they are yet to release him”
The protesters vowed to continue the protest until the state government attends to them.
However, it took the intervention of the Otaru of Igarra, HRH, Oba Adehce Saiki, who sent emissaries to the protesters to open the road for traffic.
Alltimepost.com reports that the protest is coming barely 24 hours after some youths in Benin City the state capital staged a violent protest against alleged harassment and intimidation by security agents.
Efforts made to get response from the state government proved abortive as the State Commissioner of Information and Communication, Barr. Paul Ohonbamu could not be reached on phone.
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