By DADA AYOKHAI
Edo State government has finalized plans to give roads in okpe community, Akoko Edo a massive facelift as a way of boosting and also tapping into the rich and diverse economic potential of the community
Edo deputy governor , Hon Phillip Shaibu, delivered the message of hope to the Okpe citizens at the Thanksgiving Service to mark the 35th anniversary of the Olokpe of Okpe kingdom, HRH Oba Eshimokhai Idogu III.
Hon Shaibu, who was the special guest of honor at the Thanksgiving Service, held at the . Anglican church in okpe said the Obaseki administration has put a lot of premium on the construction of Okpe roads to ensure the community is linked with other communities in the state.
Hon Shaibu was accompanied on the visit by Chief Mike Oghiadomhe, a former two-term deputy governor of the state and also former Chief of Staff, CoS, to the former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Hon Shaibu did not only assure that the reconstruction work on the Okpe will commence soon, but also made a firm promise that the project is of top priority to the state government.
, “The poor state of the Okpe roads was the major menu of the discussion I had with Chief Oghiadomhe on my way here. We made promises in the past to fix them but we were unable to do so due to the paucity of funds and the tight economic situation we found ourselves in, he said
“We are very much aware that the economic and social viability of the Okpe road is quite huge. That was why we sent some people to conduct a final check before the construction work begins. I can give you my words on this today and be rest assured of our resolve to do the needful this time around”.
Emphasizing how dearly the state government holds the Olokpe of Okpe, Hon Shaibu asserted further that the reconstruction work will be pursued with so much vigor and speed, adding that doing so would gladden the heart of Oba Eshimokhai because he is someone who places the development of the kingdom far and above any other consideration.
Hear him, “Everything about the monarch is on how to develop this kingdom and not what will profit him. By the grace of God, we will join hands with him to make the dream a reality because the kingdom and its people have been very cooperative and supportive of the administration”.
According to the deputy governor, the state government earmarked selected roads across all the LGA’ one in each local government area, for construction and rehabilitation during the dry season, and promised to remind his boss once he’s back in Benin of the need to ensure that the Okpe roads are among the lot notwithstanding the poor monthly allocation from the federal government.
