Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has expressed shock and sadness over the bad state of the Nigerian roads.
Obi said while joining the governorship candidate of the party in the Saturday election in Edo State, Olumide Akpata, his heart constantly bled over the poor state of the roads across the state.
The former Anambra State Governor expressed the grief on Monday while recounting his experience following a week-long engagement that kept him in Edo for a few days.
He said he had a “packed itinerary that was very tough and challenging from Friday but all ended successfully to the glory of God.”
He said his engagement “began with my attending the burial in my village of Dr. Isaac Obi, a strong Obidient supporter who was a resident of Minnesota, USA.
“Thereafter, I attended the burial of someone I consider a dearest brother, who meant so much to me as a great adviser and one of the best human beings I have met in my life—Mr. Alfred Nwosu.
“After that, I joined other notable people to attend the burial of Pastor Ngozi Mouka, the wife of Pastor Lazarus Mouka, the General Overseer of the Lord’s Chosen Ministry, in Imo State.
“On Saturday, I travelled for six and a half hours from Onitsha to Igarra, Akoko-Edo by road, to join our Labour Party governorship candidate for Edo State, Barrister Olumide Akpata, and continued our campaign through Jattu-Uzairue and Auchi,” Obi said.
He explained that “on leaving Auchi around 6 PM, but due to the bad roads, it took us about an hour and a half to reach Ekpoma, where enthusiastic Obidients had been waiting all day.”
Unfortunately, he said “from Ekpoma, it took us about 3 hours to drive to Benin. I must express my sadness because the total journey used to take about 2 hours, but the poor road conditions made it much longer.
“We encountered over a dozen accidents along the way, and my heart kept bleeding, wondering how we have allowed ourselves to descend so low to a situation where we, the leaders, no longer care.
“Yesterday, Sunday, in Benin City, I joined Barr. Olumide Akpata for two Thanksgiving services: Mass at the Holy Cross Cathedral on Mission Road and a service between 8 am and 12 noon.
“Thereafter, I joined in celebrating His Excellency, Sir Chief Dr. Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion, the Esama of Benin Kingdom, as he marked his 90th birthday at St. Gabriel the Archangel Cathedral, Benin.”
He said his “day concluded with the Communities Union Cultural Festival, where we celebrated the unity and heritage of the state.”
He stressed that “these engagements reflect our collective commitment to a better Nigeria that cares for everyone. They reaffirm once again the beauty and unity of our nation.”