The Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Edidem Abasi Ekpo Okon, has expressed grave concern over the worsening state of the road leading to the 35 – year old varsity in Ogun State.
Edidem Ekpo Okon who is the Obong of Calabar, spoke while narrating his discomforting experience on the road as the vehicle conveying zig – zagged its way on the rugged road to FUNAAB.
Thousands of students, lecturers, other category of workers, visitors and nearby communities commute on the road daily at a great discomfort to their health, pockets, and vehicles beside the man – hour being lost routinely to the deplorable road.
The First Class monarch from Calabar, the State capital of Cross River in the South South geopolitical zone of Nigeria, had a first hand taste of the unpleasant experience while coming to the university to attend some of the activities marking the 30th convocation ceremony of the institution.
The Obong urged the traditional rulers in Ogun State to use their offices to appeal to Governor Dapo Abiodun to take action concerning the roads and not ignore them on the basis of their being federal or Trunk A roads.
“The road is not the university’s problem, but the government’s problem and we should be able to do all we have to do to make sure that this road is actually put in good shape,” he said
The Obong who narrated the experience at his lodge within the university campus when he received the Olu of Ilaro, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, the Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Oba Saka Matemilola and the Ajalaye of Ilogun South, Ijebu Northeast, Oba Emmanuel Olusanu, urged leaders in Ogun to borrow leaves from what obtained elsewhere regarding road matters.
“Look at this place, as beautiful as it is – but no matter what you build in a bush it will not still show. While we were coming the car was just moving in zig zag (demonstrating with his hand), is not the best, let us take it as a serious matter, it is the problem of the government.
“Let us do all that we could do to put this road in proper shape. You can step out and go to other states and see what governors have done, irrespective of whether it is federal roads or state roads. The key is that a structure you have there, that establishment you have there should be well taken care of. I have appealed now hoping that by next time I come here, the roads will be in their best shape.
“Sometimes ago there was a president who was from here and nothing was done but now, we have a president who is our own and we shall tell him about these roads.
“I will tell the President about it. This present President is our own and we will tell him about the situation,” the Obong said.
