By Sunny Idachaba
After years of waiting in vain for the government to intervene in the construction of a serviceable road from Ugwolawo, headquarters of Ofu Local Government in Kogi state, to Obagu community, sons and daughters of the community, in what can be referred to as self-help, have embarked on the construction of the road.
However, due to capital intensive nature of the project, they are calling on the local and state governments, political leaders and good-spirited individuals to come to their aid towards its completion.
In an appeal on behalf of the community by the national president of Obagu Community Development Association, (OCDA), Prof Samuel Odoma on Friday, the community is soliciting the assistance of the state and local governments, law makers from Kogi-east at the National and state assemblies to rally round them in order to realise the 10 kilometres dream road from Ugwolawo to Obagu.
According to Prof. Odoma who is the Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences at Bingham University in Abuja, “This call has become necessary because we have exhausted our resources. Obagu is the closest community to Ugwolawo, but seemingly inaccessible due to bad road. Aside this road project we are doing, the primary school building is in dilapidation and no potable water in the community as we speak.
“We are appealing to the state government, especially His Excellency, Governor Usman Ododo, the Deputy Governor, His Excellency, Joel Salihu, Senator Jibrin Isah Echocho representing Kogi-east Senatorial District, our law makers in the state assembly to come to our aid in order to see to the completion of this road project.
“Before we got to where we are, every son and daughter of Obagu was taxed a certain amount towards it. Graciously, our representative in the National Assembly, Hon David Zacharia also assisted us, but so far the fund has been exhausted. At the moment, we are just half way into the project, which needs to be completed before the rainy season sets in”.
Other community leaders including Peter Opaluwa, Elder Emmanuel Adama also said the road project is long over-due, but regretted that past political office seekers merely used the road to seek for votes, only to turn their backs on the community after every election, adding “That is why we have decided to start on our own effort so that the government can see our seriousness.”
It could be recalled that during Obagu Day celebration for 2024, every son and daughter of the community was mandated to contribute the sum of 20,000 naira towards the project. It was the amount realised, including the donation from Hon Zacharias that has been utilized so far.
The community is one of the major agricultural belt of the local government close to the council headquarters in Ugwolawo.
