As the deplorable condition of the Auchi-Ekpoma-Benin road continues to generate heated arguments among the communities within the axis and of course the transporters and other road users, the recent protest by youths of Esan land as well as the controversy that followed is also generating talks.
The peaceful protest by youths, over the deplorable state of their roads, currently going on in Esan land, Ekpoma to be precise, seems to be taking a new turn as the protesting youths have alleged that the senator representing Edo Central Senatorial District in Edo state, Senator Clifford Ordia, sent Army officers to harass them and dispatch them from their protest.
This allegation which was captured on video spread like wildfire and made many Esan youths at home and in diaspora aggrieved. The state of the Ekpoma/Auchi expressway has become deplorable so many thought it unfair for Senator Ordia to send soldiers after his constituents who are apparently suffering as a result of the bad roads.
However, in a bid to get the other side of the story, a correspondent of Truthlive.net decided to put a call across to the senator who responded after some missed calls and accepted to be interviewed. The senator, in the interview, denied the allegation and noted that he “has no control over the army.”
The lawmaker said, “I am not a violent person, what they protesting for is concerning the deplorable state of the Ekpoma road. No less than three motions have been pushed in the house, begging the federal government to give attention to that road.
“Those roads were awarded around the year 2014 or thereabout but there was no funding for the work till this government came in. When they came in, as past vice chairman committee of works then, I had to initiate a process that all the four segments of the awards to be seen by the same contractors that it was earlier awarded before this administration.
“When my attention was drawn to the video, I called the spokesperson in that video and tried to explain to him to pacify his fellow protesters. They have every reason to complain as constituents and citizens who elected us to represent them. I felt their pains.
“I appealed to him that if he is into construction, he will agree with me that nothing can be done now because of the rainy season. No works, except palliatives or makeshift roads, can be done for now. I will see to it as soon as the rains are over. They cannot carry out proper construction because of the rains. I tried to dialogue with him but I think his mind was made up.”
Senator Ordia who at this time was speaking with emotions said he feels the pains of his people but they should not think he is doing nothing about alleviating their pains but that day in, day out, he is seeking out ways to improve the lives of Esan people, the youths in particular.
The lawmaker further stated that “in my time as a serving senator, I have bought hundreds of Bajaj tricycles for eligible Esan youths, I have designed programs where many youths are empowered in Agriculture and so many others, I have lost count.
“If I do not have them in mind, what is the essence of being here? These people are my people and it makes me wonder why they do not want to dialogue, so I can tell them the true state of things. It is making me feel like this is more politically driven.”
Senator Ordia later added that he is appealing to Esan youths to be patient till after the rainy season, “something must be done about the state of that road so that Esan people can smile again.”
More of the interview will be published in our weekend political review.