Tinubu To Intervene On 87 Kilometers KoKo, Zuru Road Project
By People’s Voice Nigeria | News
The allegations of sabotage between the Kebbi State Government and Zuru emirate community on the factors responsible for the delay in the commencement of the reconstruction of the Koko-Zuru road may soon be put to rest as Governor Nasir Idris has resolved to present the issue to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for intervention.
The 87-kilometre federal road project abandoned for over five years has generated serious controversy with the different parties involved resorting to the blame game for the failure of the project in view of the unbearable hardship the abandonment had caused to the benefiting communities.
The apparent unpleasant feeling of the two parties involved in the reconstruction project was bitterly expressed at the grand final of the just concluded 2024 edition of the Zuru Uhola Cultural Festival held during the weekend in Zuru.
On assumption of office, Governor Nasir Idris has listed the Koko-Zuru road project among his priority projects and declared that he has the political will and financial capacity as a government, to execute it within record time as soon as the federal government revoke the contract and handed over to him.
At different forums, the Governor has repeatedly requested for the support of the elders in Zuru Emirate to pressurise the federal government to revoke the contract stressing that substantial budgetary provision has been made in the state 2024 appropriation bill for the immediate commencement of the project.
However, individuals and groups have through social media platforms expressed reservations about both the federal and Kebbi state governments’ commitment to the project despite the destruction of the socioeconomic well-being of the people being caused by the unfortunate situation.
Although many have commended the Governor for being sensitive to the plight of the people and expressed absolute confidence in his sincerity, in view of the transformation witnessed in the state capital.
Others argued that with or without revocation of the contract he could award the contract and later sort it out with the federal government, while some accused the Governor of playing politics with the project.
On the final day of the festival, the Chairman of the Main Organising Committee and UBANYAKIN Zuru Lieutenant General Ishaya Bamaiyi re-echoed what was believed to be the pains of the people of Zuru emirate who had been cut off completely due to its inaccessibility from all parts of the country, particularly the Koko-Zuru road.
He was equally optimistic that the Governor was equal to the task.
In his address at the occasion, the Emir of Zuru Major-General Muhammadu Sani Sami Gomo ll was categorical on the infrastructural deficit in the emirate with similar emphasis on the deplorable condition of the Koko-Zuru road which he said is the only link to the state capital for the people of the four local government in the emirate.
General Sami was also confident that “Governor Nasir I know based on several discussions on the issue, the project will soon be history “.
Visibly eager to mount the podium for his address, Governor Nasir Idris Kaura after promising to continue providing logistics and financial support for the success of the annual Zuru Emirate Uhola Cultural Festival, dwelled on the issue of the controversial Koko-Zuru road contract.
Governor Kaura declared that he has not been getting the support of Zuru elders in facilitating the execution of the road project despite several appeals and pleas.
He alleged that such attitudes may be an indication of conspiracy from within which may be responsible for the creation of a bureaucratic bottleneck in order to frustrate the revocation and handing over of the project to the state government.
At a stakeholders meeting in the evening of the final day held at Zuru Town Hall, Governor Nasir again suspected sabotage from within in respect of the road project explaining that “I presented the issue of Koko-Zuru and Malando-Warah roads at the federal ministry of works and due after consultations and amicable resolution, the contractor handling the Malando-Warah road has mobilised and continue the work “.
He regretted that for Koko-Zuru road, “it is only when they learnt that I will be going to Zuru that they will go and spread a few tippers of patriate claiming to be working and go to Abuja and claim that the work is in progress “.
To bring an end to the deception on the project by whoever is involved, Governor Nasir announced that the Koko-Zuru road project is a Kebbi affair and not a Zuru affair alone and has therefore requested a list of prominent elders from the Zuru Emirate and will select others from the other emirates and personally lead them to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu immediate solution and quick intervention.
Governor Nasir insisted that in Governance everywhere, governments at the state level regardless of their financial position, need the support and intervention of influential elders in the community or state to in their own wisdom and the National respect they enjoy, lend their voices and presence at a higher level, to facilitate successful implementation of projects and programmes.
This approach, if sincerely carried out, will lead to either revocation of the contract or formal Executive approval from the president for the Governor to take over the project with the promise of a refund.
