It is a joyous moment for residents of Igbinaduwa, Upper Siluko,
Textile Mill and 2nd East Circular roads in Benin City following the
on-going road and drainage projects in the area by Edo State Government.
Residents had abandoned their residences over the years after flood
swallowed the homes.
But hope came when the Governor Adams Oshiomhole- led administration
came into office in 2008 and decided to tackle the flood problem in the
state head on. There was this belief that a certain goddess, popularly
known as Mammy Water, resided in Upper Siluko, down to Teachers House,
and had frustrated any effort by government to solve the flood problem
in the area. However, when Oshiomhole came, after studying the situation
with experts, it was agreed that, no matter how much is invested in
road construction in the area, it will be a waste unless a solid erosion
work was done, that will channel the flood from these area to the Ogba
River.
That was how government came up with the N30billion Benin Water Storm
Project. Today, the impact is being felt in the area as those who
abandoned their homes have returned. The signs were obvious when
Oshiomhole paid an unscheduled visit to the project sites, as a mammoth
crowd welcomed the governor, expressing appreciation for finding
solution to the flood problem. The 1.3km, 5 meter-deep underground
drainage system linking Textile Mill Road to Ogba River through
Igbinaduwa Street is one of the solid erosion projects inspected by
Oshiomhole last Tuesday.
The governor took time to celebrate with the over joyed residents at
Igbinaduwa, where he had to break protocol to attend a wedding ceremony
in one of the houses which were abandoned but the owners are now back to
their homes. His appearance at the ceremony, even when he was not
invited, generated thunderous cheers from the celebrants, as the guests
echoed ‘Osho Baba, Osho Baba, you too much, you too much’.
The governor, visibly happy for the appreciation expressed by the
crowd, invoked the “precious blood of Jesus” to destroy any attempt to
disrupt the ongoing projects in the state by persons he described as
enemies of progress. He vowed not to abandon any project at the
expiration of his stay in Edo Govt. House in 2016.
“We will fight those we need to fight in order to do the projects we
need to do. But that fight is informed by public interest and there is
no going back. And as you can see what is going on around the country,
all my enemies are falling one after the other and we are standing,”he
said. “And by the grace of God, we will stand because God sees our heart
and He covers us with the blood of Jesus, so no evil planned by man can
stop the progress that we are determined to make for the benefit of the
people of Edo. The verdict of the people is what matters.
You can see how people are happy with the work and that is my
greatest joy. We are just coming from around the Teachers House; you
have seen what is obviously, by any standard, what is passed for a
miracle because people gave up, that Mammy Water had taken over that
area. And you could see the feeling of people driving on the road.
You can see the depth of the drainage and, right on top of it, we are
constructing a road that will connect Ogba River, Textile Mill Road
and, under it, we have flood going. This is part of the Benin City
Master Plan. And, from the reaction of the people who know what this
place used to be, you can see their joy. That, to me, is the verdict. “
I am satisfied that, at this time when people are debating whether or
not people are able to pay salaries or not, we are not only paying, we
are also working. And I have made the point that we will not abandon any
project. Our task as managers is to find solution to unforeseen
challenges and make sure that we keep the Edo project going”.
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