In a move to assuage the sufferings of the people of Yagba Federal Constituency

In Kogi State, Hon. Sunday Steve Karimi a former member of House of Representatives, has commenced the rehabilitation of the Aiyetoro-Gbede-Egbe Federal Road, a section of the abandoned Kabba-Egbe-Ilorin road, which has remained impassible due to the heavy rainfall in the past few months.

Hon Karimi, a business mogul who served two terms in the House of Representatives from 2011 to 2019 said while road rehabilitation is not the duty of individuals but government’s, his intervention is borne out of his passion for his people and to alleviate their suffering occasioned by the collapsed road amid clamour for the Federal Government to pay attention to the Kabba-Ilorin Federal Road, which unfortunately has not received any attention.

Hon Karimi spoke during the flag-off of the rehabilitation on Friday, starting from the River Oyi axis, which is the most terrible part of the road.

The bad road has been responsible for heinous criminal activities on the axis including armed robbery, kidnapping and raping of women. It has also hindered the mainly farming community from moving their products to markets.

The Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has also taken up the collapsed road with necessary Federal authorities who have not yielded to the call.

However, Hon. Karimi said he could no longer wait to see his people going down economically owing to the collapsed road.

His words: “I have watched the sufferings of my people each time I travel on that road, which I do often. I have also been told of stories of robberies, killings, kidnappings and raping of women on that axis of the Kabba-Ilorin Federal Road.

The Iluhagba -Egbe section is just too bad. Too terrible and my people have suffered this terrible situation for too long. We have made several interventions on this road including that of our Executive Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, which have not yielded desired expectation.

I have decided therefore to undertake this rehabilitation, which is palliative, so as to ameliorate this suffering.

“Our people, who are mainly farmers can no longer move their farm products
outside these areas. They cannot access markets across Okunland. Whatever they produce, which is their mainstay, cannot be sold or purchased again.
This is too bad and deserves attention. That is why I have taken it upon myself to intervene in my own little way. I am not a government but this rehabilitation will enable them to move around with their products. We will still continue to mount pressure on the Federal Government to pay the necessary attention to the road”.

He however refused to state how much the project would cost him.

“No I cannot disclose to you how much I am spending on this rehabilitation but you should know that road projects are capital intensive but I cannot be putting cost on what will benefit my people. Whatever I spend to alleviate their suffering is worth it. They have demonstrated an unquantifiable love for me all the time and I cannot close my eyes to their suffering now”, he said.

In his own remark, the Executive Chairman of Yagba West LGA, Hon. Pius Kolawole commended Karimi for taken the burden of rehabilitating the road upon himself, describing the effort as a noble service and huge sacrifice for humanity. The council chairman called on all good spirited Nigerians to come and support the project.

Speaking at the flagg-off Ceremony which took place on Friday 5th November, 2021 at Ejiba, an APC stalwart, Yemisi Oshaloto who expressed her joy over the rehabilitation of the collapsed road, described traveling experience on that road as harrowing. She praised Hon. Karimi for demonstrating good citizenship and showing exemplary leadership.

Leading the Kogi State government delegation at the official flag-off ceremony, the Secretary to the State Government and the Commissioner for information and Communication, Dr.(Mrs) Ayoade Arike Folashade and Hon. Kingsley Femi Fanwo ably represented by Hon. Dennis Komolafe respectively.

In her separate remarks, Dr. Folashade who performed the flagg-off ceremony poured encomium on Hon. Karimi for taken the lead in in ensuring that the suffering of the people is alleviated.

The SSG used the occasion to appealed to the Minister of work, Babatunde Raji Fashola to urgently come to the aid of the Kabba – Ilorin road for total rehabilitation and reconstruction.

She also expressed Governor Yahaya Bello’s delight at Karimi’s initiative and His Excellency’s absolute commitment to making sure the road receives federal Government attention.

In attendance at the flagg-off were traditional and community leaders across Yagba Federal constituency led by High Chief Aremu Sunday, The Executive Chairman of Yagba West, Hon. Pius Kolawole, the Secretary to Yagba West LGA, Chief John Olutayo Kayode, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Youth, Hon. Jubril members of the Yagba West legislative Council, The APC LG chairman, Chief S.O. David, Yemisi Oshaloto, Segun Abereoran, Denis Komolafe, Chief Olu Ajakaye, Ayebolu Sola.
Others are: Party Stalwarts, Youth and women groups from the three local governments Mopamuro, Yagba East and Yagba West.