BY TAIWO FAROTIMI
Aliru Momoh, Ikelebe 111, the Otaru of Auchi in Edo State has made a desperate appeal to the federal government and other relevant agencies to save his kingdom from the pangs of erosion. The monarch said the neglect and inconsistent government interventions in the last two decades have resulted in painful experiences leading to serious devastation of the environment and loss of lives and property.
For instance, he said a contract awarded by the defunct Petroleum (special) Trust Fund, PTF was terminated in 1999 when then President Olusegun Obasanjo scrapped the PTF. The projects, according to him, are yet to be resuscitated. Hear him: “In 1999, the Petroleum Trust Fund, PTF, under General Muhammadu Buhari had awarded a contract for 19 roads in Auchi to be tackled by a contractor, Dantata and Sawoe. But they could not mobilise to site before General Olusegun Obasanjo came and dissolved the PTF. Hence, the work could not be completed.” The consequence is that the affected 19 road projects have become dilapidated and riddled with gillies. This has also led to sad experiences of erosion every raining season.
The Otaru regretted that despite reported expenditure staked on the projects no relief has come to the community. He said the world bank had been involved including one of 2013 which was a N5.7 billion contract awarded by the bank into which the administration of Adams Oshiomhole contributed N400 million.
The monarch said, “I was informed that the World Bank had released the sum of $20m to tackle the Auchi and Queen Ede erosion sites in Edo State. The government of Edo State at the time was given a release of $9m out of the $20m earmarked for the project.” But he regretted that “All theses monies have been spent but nothing to show for it and the erosion continues to ravage the community. Many houses have gone which resulted to loss of lives and properties.” His worry is that soon as the August break is over the community would once again be confronted with the devastation of the erosion. He is therefore appealing to the authorities to save his people from a repeat of the experiences of the past.
About the same time last year, the federal house of representatives made a resolution asking the federal government to declare Auchi an emergency disaster zone. This followed a motion by Johnson Oghuma, a member representing Etsako federal constituency that erosion had washed a major commercial centre in the town. It is not clear how the government has reacted to the resolution.
