Amaechi, Oil Companies and the Rains

The rains are here again. Many people want it to rain always because of the intensely scorching sun, while others do not want it because of the condition of the area they are living in Rivers State.



Regardless of the fortune of those who carry their crest at hand when it rains, Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State has achieved some gleaming feats in some sectors of the economy. The unacceptable condition of most roads in the state, in earnest, investigations reveal that they are not in the custody of the state government to repair. These roads belong to the many oil companies in the state who spill their crude oil, and indeed, their crude character everywhere and anyhow around the state, and by extension, in the Niger Delta.



The oil companies' non-challant attitude to address these roads has not only caused innumerable hardship to road users, but has led to the damage of property and lives worth millions of money. This has left the informed residents to be asking for explanation why the roads are left to the ignoble condition they are.



We, critics, of this administration have always antagonized the government on the roads, not knowing that not all that we thought were its responsibilities, were really its'. The residents are not finding it easy while plying these areas. The drainages are blocked by sand and refuse. The companies are relaxing from the sledge pen of critics while Amaechi bears the brunt. Yes, he is the number one citizen of the state, but those it is their responsibilities to have certain sectors in the state fixed should not be relaxing.



The festering critiques this administration has got on the issue of road, the oil companies that refused to work most of these roads belonging to them should apologise to the government and the people for failing and for making the government be perceived as anti-people whereas it is far from being that. In some areas, it is difficult before a neighbour could visit a neighbour unless the neighbour traveled miles in the course of looking for a motorable road. This is what negligence on the part of the oil companies had to cause Rivers State.



The rapidly increasing economy of the state is also exceptionally affected. Opportunities have also been lost, while the oil companies continue to smile to the bank, to the detriment of the people, and the workers growing fat cheeks and pot belly, while the vulnerable residents continue to suffer their inopportune pit of hell called roads. While the companies are also criss-crossing for juicy contracts, the people are suffering exceptionally deadliness on the roads. The residents are snowed under wickedness without any bleak to their besieged environment.



Traditionally, these companies worked the roads in those days. What has entered their once horizon of positive thoughtfulness? Even some of the roads they worked in the past did not stay long and they damaged. What a lurid? Tours to these roads, potholes and caverns have germinated all over them. It is time the residents resisted peacefully this evil notion. And Governor Amaechi should incessantly call these oil companies to order for the people to exhale noisily relieve. Their consignments of declarations that things would change for the better have only positively changed their growth, while the residents are left in churlish.



In addition, they should be advised to build schools and hospitals as well, which they were doing in those days. If they have lost focus they should call for help so that the people can help assemble some best hands to help them carry out the burdensome conscientiousness of picking their task. They should do away with the omnipresent damaged roads to ease the people. The residents are not even sure if the companies are still constructing new roads, so they should rehabilitate the existing ones. They can liaise with the intercession agency, the Rivers State Road Rehabilitation and Maintenance Committee, if the agency is not moribund.



Moreover, Amaechi should direct his Commissioner for Works to launch a serious protest to these companies for a reinvigoration. They should not be allowed to do away with their ugly character. If the roads in Port Harcourt, the state capital are fine, many in the environs are mindsore. If the oil companies refuse to work their roads we would be forced to mention their names and their crowed of exploited roads.



We wish Amaechi the best.


Odimegwu Onwumere, Poet/Author, Media/Writing Consultant and Motivator, is the Coordinator, Concerned Non-Indigenes In Rivers State (CONIRIV); and Founder, Poet Against Child Abuse (PACA), Rivers State. Mobile: +2348032552855. Email: [email protected]

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Articles by Odimegwu Onwumere