Momoh Umar Momoh, Benin
The people of Obagie N’Evbosa in the Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of Edo State have lamented over the lack of state and local government presence in the community.
The people disclosed this to newsmen on Tuesday in Benin City in its Save Our Soul (SOS) appeal to the Governor of the State, Monday Okpebholo, and the Acting chairman of the local government.
Speaking to newsmen, the Chairman Elders’ Council of the community, Daniel Ogunrobo Edosowman, said the community, through self-help efforts, has been contributing to the development of the primary school in the community, Edion Primary School, as well as the secondary school in the locality
Ogunrobo said the primary school founded in 1955 lacked government presence as they are the ones responsible for the construction of new classroom buildings since the collapse of the old structure.
He appealed to both the state and local governments to come to the aid of the community by constructing a perimeter fence across the schools to prevent land grabbers from encroaching on the school land.
He said both the primary and the secondary schools have an estimated population of about 1000 pupils and students.
The Chairman of the Elders’ Council of the community also added that the community employed four teachers for the schools, which they pay monthly.
He said in a community with an estimated population of more than 500,000 residents, more than 99.99% attended private schools.
According to him, one of our challenges is our primary and secondary schools. We keep the schools functional through our efforts.
“At the moment, we need a perimeter fence across the schools. The two schools are in the same location. We call on governments, both the state and local governments, to come to our aid by helping us to construct the perimeter fence to avoid encroachment as well as trespasses on the schools compounded by motorists and other individuals.
“Through community efforts, we equipped the schools with learning infrastructures like chairs and tables as well as the fixing of doors and windows in some of the about 15 classrooms, including the headmasters and principals of offices. We also did those in the schools’ common staff rooms.
“The schools also lacked teachers. The community employs four teachers, and they are paid monthly to complement the few available ones employed by the state government.
“We employed those teachers because we don’t want our children to be left behind in pursuit of education as the future belongs to them.
“We built our market through community efforts. Until now, we have not been able to completely pay the contractor whom we awarded the construction of the market to.
“We reported this matter to the former chairman of the Local Government Area, but he promised to do something about it before they were suspended by the Edo State House of Assembly and the subsequent impeachment by the council’s legislators along with the other 17 local government Chairmen.
He called on the council authorities and the state government to help them expand the market as well as put it in a befitting shape.
He also appealed to the governments to take a look at the community’s healthcare center, which he noted has only one nurse and lacks drugs.
“We are calling on governments to please come to our aid and provide us with the necessary assistance to address these challenges.
“If the state and local governments can assist us in addressing these critical challenges, the community would be good for it,” he added.
