By Idahosa Musa
Residents of Obagie N’Evbuosa Community in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of Edo State have cried out and accused the state government of longtime abandonment in the spread of democratic dividends in their locality.
They therefore appealed to the state government to come to their aid over the lack of government’s presence in the provision of amenities and infrastructural facilities.
The people made the appeal during a Save Our Soul (SOS) plea to the Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpehbolo and the Acting Chairman of the Local Government Council, on Tuesday.
The Chairman of the Elders’ Council of the community, Daniel Ogunrobo Edosowman, on behalf of his people told newsmen that the community through self-help efforts has been contributing to the development of the Edion Primary School, as well as the secondary school in the locality.
Edosomwan said the primary school founded in 1955 lacks governments presence as they have been the ones responsible for the construction of new classroom buildings since the collapse of the old structure.
He appealed to both the state and local governments to come to the aid of the community by constructing a perimeter fence across the schools to prevent land grabbers from encroaching on the school land.
He said both the primary and the secondary schools have an estimated population of about 1000 pupils and students.
Edosomwan also added that the community employed four teachers for the schools, which they pay monthly.
He said the community with an estimated population of more than 500,000 residents, more than 99.99% attended private schools.
According to him, one of our challenges is our primary and secondary schools. We keep the schools functional through our efforts.
“At the moment we need a perimeter fence across the schools. The two schools are in the same location. We call on governments, both the state and local governments, to come to our aid.
“By helping us to construct the perimeter fence to avoid encroachment as well as trespasses on the schools compounded by motorists and other individuals.
“Through community efforts, we equipped the schools with learning infrastructures like chairs and tables as well as the fixing of doors and windows in some of the about 15 classrooms, including the headmasters and principals of offices. We also did those in the schools’ common staff rooms.
“The schools also lacked teachers. The community employs four teachers, and they are paid monthly to complement the few available ones employed by the state government. We employed those teachers because we don’t want our children to be left behind in pursuit of education as the future belongs to them.
“We built our market through community efforts. Until now we have not been able to completely pay the contractor that we awarded the construction of the market to.
“We reported this matter to the former chairman of the Local Government Area, but he promised to do something about it before they were suspended by the Edo State House of Assembly and the subsequent impeachment by the council’s legislators along with the other 17 local government chairmen.
He called on the council authorities and the state government to help them expand the market as well as put it in a befitting shape.
He also appealed to the governments to look at the community’s healthcare center, which he noted has only one nurse and lacked drugs.
“We are calling on governments to please, come to our aid and provide us with the necessary assistance to address these challenges.
“If the state and local governments can assist us in addressing these critical challenges, the community would be good for it,” he added.
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