My name is Johnson Jide, a management consultant with one of the Big Five consulting firms. I have written several letters to our local papers with the hope that one of them will publish it, but this has not been the case. I just decided to send this to Pointblanknews which happens to be the last hope.
My Grudge is with the state of infrastructure in Ogun State, especially the Berger-Alagbole-Akute-Lambe axis. This area is a developing area with a good potential for the state in terms of revenue generation. The area is the main boundary between Lagos State and Ogun State. The reason why this area is classified under Ogun State is still a misery as over 90% of the people living there work in Lagos State. Also, over 60% of the inhabitants are middle/high income earners, working in banks and other solid organizations. But what these people experienced everyday in better imagined. Alagbole is about 2km to Berger, the main link to Third mainland bridge. On a good day, it takes an average of 3HRS to cover this short distance. Either going out of this area or coming back, you experience the same scenario. WHY THIS? Very simple question. The road is narrow and full of gutters (not just pot-holes). The last rehabilitation that was done on the road was carried out by Brigadier Buba Maruwa of Lagos State about 10yrs ago. The expectation from any reasonable person is that the government will at least patch this road, but the reverse is the case. All you see in papers are phony projects been embarked upon. The simplest technology innovation in the world is road construction, but this seems to be the hardest in Nigeria. To worsen the situation, the Government of Ogun State under Mr.. Gbenga Daniel awarded a by-pass road, starting from Akuta via Isasi to Berger. This road is about 3KM. The day the Governor came in his full REGALIA to officially open the road was the day the whole road was eroded by rain. Could you imagine that a road that was built with millions of Naira could not sustain the first rain? Yes, it happened in Ogun State. The contractor (owner of Kotco Petrol Station) was there to grace the disgraceful event, with his followers wearing colorful ADIRE dress. The most annoying part is the bridge that was constructed along the road. Could you believe that this bridge looks exactly like what our Great Grandparents were used to during their time - bridges built with Palm trees. In fact that is even better than what this agent of destruction did here. They got some irons, did some funny casting and filled the rest with sand. Now, to cross the so call bridge, you need a CANOE. I am not joking. If you want confirmation, I have some snapshots that I took and will joyfully share these with you. Now, nobody can pass that road again.
This is the only infrastructure we demand from these canal minded people. We use generators for our lightening, dig bore-hole for our water needs and use Private hospitals for our health needs. To worsen the situation, we pay taxes (i pay 25% of my salary) to this same government without anything to show for it. There was even a report that the Lagos State Government attempted to fix the road, but Mr. Daniel refused, claiming that his counterpart was interested in using the project to score a political goal. Can you imagine that this is one of the so call YORUBA Leaders.
I don't care if you steal money, but make sure you provide basic infrastructure for the masses. Everyday, you see the same Governor and his cronies in the front page of the dailies, talking about their achievement. Even in the capital, all you see are bogus projects (Painting of Olumo Rock and construction of funny looking Estates and Markets). The roads within the state capital are all bad (no wonder he is at loggerhead with the Alake of egbaland over the same issue). His single achievement for the five years plus is the link road from Shagamu to Abe-Okuta. Go there now and see gullies everywhere. You can hardly see any new road in Ogun State without gullies ( as if these constructions were done by FARMERS). It is becoming extremely unacceptable.
I wish that Pointblanknews will publish this and also the Governor and his group will read it. Whether they like it or not, nemessis will surely catch up with them.