A socio – cultural group, Ito Unity Forum, has urged Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue to rehabilitate dilapidated primary health centres and government owned primary and secondary schools in Obi Local Government Area of the state.
This is contained in a Communique signed and made available to newsmen on Tuesday by its President, Mr Patrick Ihuma, at the end of the annual convention in Obi Local Government Area.
According to the communique, the call became necessary given the dilapidated nature of public schools and Primary Healthcare Centres in all the 12 wards of the area.
The group decried lack of federal and state governments’ presence in the area, noting that the only federal road Otukpo – Obarike Ito-Oju that linked Igede, had been in a dilapidated state for years since its construction.
It also noted that Obi LGA had no state road that linked the local government to its sister LGAs – Gwer, Otukpo among others, since its creation in 1996.
“The Otukpo-Obarike Ito -Oju federal road was constructed in1989 under the regime of Gen. Ibrahim Babangida; its asphalt is completely removed; it riddles with craters making it impassable, since its construction.
“The Forum, having observed with dismay the dilapidated nature of roads and primary healthcare centres within Obi LGA, frowned at the dereliction of the leadership of various tiers of government.
It, therefore resolved to work with well spirited individuals and government at all levels, to facilitate the rehabilitation of Otukpo-Obarike Ito-Oju road as part of its corporate social responsibilities.”
The forum resolved to sustain and extend its medical outreach across the three zones of the local government to enable the poor and vulnerable to have access to free medical services.
It also resolved to provide learning
materials such as books, school bags and rehabilitate some of the dilapidated classes, to make learning environment across the schools in the 12 council wards conducive for pupils.