• Bassey Pius Bassey
Itoro Bassey
Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, on Thursday, called for the construction of Okopedi Okobo– Oyubia Road to promote economic growth in the area.
The House also appealed to Governor Umo Eno to include the road in the priority list of his ARISE Agenda and award the contract for its immediate construction.
Resolutions of the House, on Thursday, were sequel to a motion titled, “Urgent call on the Akwa Ibom State Government to construct the Okopedi Okobo–Oyubia Road and associated spurs in Okobo and Urue Offong Oruko local government areas”
The motion was by Bassey Pius Bassey, the member representing Okobo state constituency.
In his presentation, Bassey said that, “the road became impassable due to gully erosion. The area which was once a commercial hub was abandoned and cut off from development; life became cruel, brutish and short as the people resorted to the primitive state of nature.
“Also notes that sometime in 1999, His Excellency Obong (Arc) Victor Attah, the then Governor of Akwa Ibom State awarded contract for the construction of the road with consequential spurs. Unfortunatelythe road was poorly constructed without drainage, hence, in less than 24 months, the road had again collapsed and became dilapidated to a state almost worse than before.
“Aware that the road when constructed shall benefit: Okopedi, Nung Atai, Odobo, Nsie and Ukuko; others are: Enweme Group of Villages, Udung Ukpong Village, Akai-Ndyo Village, and Oyubia; while the Urue Ita spur will benefit: Udung Umo, Udung Amkpe, Udung Affiang and
Urue Ita. The Okossi spur will benefit: Assang Enweme, Oyoku Udung Eto, Oyoku Assang and Okossi Udu”.
According to Hon Bassey, the House is “Worried that scoundrels and criminals take advantage of the poor road and the non-existence of the law enforcement agencies to rob the people using motor bikes, rape young women, cart away
valuable belongings of the people and make life meaningless
“Seriously disturbed that if Government does not take urgent action, the fate of the people who elected me to represent them in this hallowed chamber would be left in the hands of hoodlums and miscreants that have made life already meaningless and unbearable.
“The people, feel neglected, forgotten, banished and far from civilization, infrastructural development and economic empowerment. They cannot help themselves and are completely at the mercy of God and the Government of the day”.
In his ruling, the Speaker of the House, Udeme Otong, directed the Clerk, Mrs NsikakAbasi Orok, to communicate the resolutions of the House to the governor.
