Bad Governance is Nigeria’s biggest problem- Obaseki

By Sola Omoniyi, Lagos

Governor Obaseki, during an interview in Benin City, the capital of Edo State, expressed his view that the escalating socio-economic difficulties in Nigeria are a consequence of the central government’s neglect of its duties, he lamented the dismal condition of federal roads within the state.

Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State lambasted Nigeria’s central government, saying the country’s biggest problem is the failure of the federal government.

Governor Obaseki, who linked the rising socio-economic challenges in Nigeria to the failure of the central government to live up to its responsibilities, while speaking to journalists in Benin City, the Edo State capital, decried the deplorable state of federal roads in the state.

The governor called for urgent action to salvage the situation and reduce the suffering of commuters and other citizens using the roads.

Describing the condition of federal roads in the state as appalling, Governor Obaseki recounted his experience when he travelled on the federal roads linking Uromi in Esan South East of Edo to Agbor in Delta State.

He claimed he said saw over 1,000 articulated trucks stuck with goods as a result of the poor state of the roads.

“I went to Esan land a few days ago and I passed through Uromi in Edo State to Agbor in Delta State and saw almost 1,000 trailers stuck on that bad Federal Government road. But it took a few minutes to traverse our state roads when we entered from Igueben, Ujogba to Ugoneki in Edo State.

“The problem today is the failure of the central government. The road network in Edo that ought to be a blessing to us is not. The Federal Government roads in Edo are connecting several locations across the country but the roads are bad.

“You can’t go from the West to the East, from the North to the South without passing through Edo State. That is why we have many federal roads here but none are motorable as all are bad because of the failure of the Central Government,” Obaseki said.