WE ARE PASSING THROUGH HELL FIRE : OJU-AWAJI ROAD A DEATH TRAP.

OJU-AWAJI ROAD A DEATH TRAP. 
By 
Egbe Emmanuel Ijuoh

 Oju local government Area of Benue state is one of the oldest Local government in the state, it was created since 1976 it has boundaries with Yala local government in Cross Rivers state, Ado, Konshisha, Gwer, and Obi local Government areas. The people are predominantly farmers and have contributed so much in terms of Agriculture that has given the state food basket of the nation but " No presence of Government" both state and the federal despite the Internally generated revenue from this part of the state. I make bold to say this because as a business man cum Politician I know the farm produce that are being transferred or transported out of Oju local government everyday and revenue is been collected for both the state and the local government Infact these revenue has increased by 100% from what we use to pay and it has affected the economy activities of our people because of the death trap we call road. 

The Ortom led administration is not fair to the Igede people particularly the people of Oju, I remember when he came for consultation, he promised he was going to appoint his SSG from Igede and that he will reconstruct the Oju-Awaji road within his 100 days in office I still have the video clips of that meeting but all of these promises Hmmmmmm Only God knows. The road is so bad that motorist have seen it as an avenue to extort money from my people a road that is less than 70 kilometers will take 2 hours if not more than from Oju-Awaji. The bad nature of the road has also cripple economic activities of my people because their farm product are sold very cheap because how to transport these materials to the city have become a night mare there by disabusing people to go to farm and the government is singing diversification and returning back to Agriculture, "Who shall deliver us"? My heart bleeds because with the 11,000 votes from Oju alone I think with some fractions that I can't remember my people should be considered even if projects are to be distributed by Zones Oju should be considered owing to the fact that in Zone C that is the Benue south senatorial District we have Old Oju, old Otukpo and old okpokwu. It is on record that Oju local government Area pull out the highest votes in Zone C yet nothing to show for it "what is our Crime"?

 In terms of appointments The Ortom administration has given appointment to youths from other places but no youth from Igede extraction has been considered not even as P A Is this the change we voted for? Am calling on the government to as a matter of urgency come to the Aid of the Igede people and do something about the Oju-Awaji road which is the only road that links the local government to the state head quarters, it will not only be beneficial to the Igede people but it will encourage economy activities that will boost revenue generation for the government.