East-West Road: Group Plans To Embark On Another Protest

A youth body in Rivers State, the Ogoni Concerned Youth Development Initiative, has threatened to embark on a peaceful demonstration next week to draw the attention of the Federal Government to the deplorable state of Port Harcourt-Eleme axis of the East West road.
The youth body made this known in a letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu dated July 28th, 2023 and made available to The Tide.
The letter signed by the group’s President, Ngeda Sunday Aaron and Secretary, Eric Mene, reminded the Federal Government that the Eleme axis of the East West Road is an economic viable asset of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, noting that its neglect is a disservice to Rivers State and and the people of the South South.
The statement also reminded the Federal Government that the said road had suffered serial tremendous neglects and abandonment spanning from the previous administrations.
According to the statement, “ the deplorable nature of this road has caused quantum loss of lives and properties of the citizens, particularly the Ogonis, the Okrikans, the Ogu-Bolos and the Ibibios who are major stakeholders of this rout over the past decades and counting”.
The group urged the Federal Government to urgently deploy all necessary government apparatus and matching orders to the relevant agencies and parastatals to start work on the road as soon as possible.
The group, however, threatened to embark on protest if the Federal Government fails to heed its plea.
“We shall embark on a protest on the road if the Federal Government failed to heed to our plea within seven days”, the group warned, adding that protest is within their rights and privilege as enshrined in section 40 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

By: Ike Wigodo