*accuse Adamawa Govt of not meeting up to campaign promises
*Media Aide says Gov in constant touch with NEDC for a perfect work on bridge
By; JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON
collapse of the Wuri Ganni Bridge between Shuwa and the Gulak area of Madagali Local Government Area, Adamawa State has been destroyed by flood some weeks ago that has grossly led to the halting of economic activities and travails to the people of those communities.
The bridge said to be in Kirchinga Ward, a village where Adamawa Governor, Rt. Honourable Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri is said to have come from is a major link between Adamawa.and Borno states and the people of the communities have cried out for help for its rebuilding.
The collapsed bridge at the moment our correspondent gathered, has brought to the lowest ebb economic activities of the two states, especially the communities of Madagali and Michika local government areas.
An aged man, Baba Adamu Jakeso whom our correspondent saw being ferried by two able young men on their onward journey to Yola for medical attention, lamented how the present condition of the bridge has caused serious economic disconnect between inhabitants of the area.
He expressed worries that the socio-economic activities of those areas are in comatose and is affecting the livelihood of millions of people living and plying the road on daily basis.
He described the situation of the road and the breaking down of the bridge as catastrophic, having the same grievous effects of the Boko Haram experience they went through few years ago.
While narrating his ordeals on how he is suffering from heart-related sickness, he said he had to be lifted by his two sons to the other bank of the river. This according to him, has stressed him and he is suspecting his BP is on the high side.
“Wrecking of this bridge to me, is equally as painful as the Boko Haram experience I have gone through. Look at me, I had to be ferried through by my able sons, my health condition at the moment is palpable because I’m a BP patient.
“I’m going to Yola for medical attention ordinarily by now, we would have gone far on the journey but the road condition is making the whole journey cumbersome,” Adamu said.
He explained that being a retired revenue collector, the federal and governments of Borno and Adamawa states including the local government areas are losing from the break down of the bridge, millions of Naira daily in revenue.
He appealed to the federal and state governments to consider the suffering and untold pains the people are going through because of the bridge wreckage if they are not interested in revenue generation.
“I’m begging Baba Buhari to come to our aid and fix the bridge for us, the suffering is too much. We are yet to overcome the excruciating pains of Boko Haram attacks. We are grateful for his efforts that made us return to our ancestral homes but our joy will not be complete if after farming our crops will not be sold at a good price because of bad roads.
“If our condition is not improved with good livelihood and standard in our respective communities, it means everyone should go to Abuja or Yola and stay because that’s where lives are valued and cherished,” he added.
A visually impaired man, Jemuel Kuwatalakai who was also ferried through the gushing waters of the river caused by the wrecked bridge, blamed the government of Adamawa for not paying attention to the plight of the masses.
According to him, he voted for Governor Ahmadu Fintiri because he believed him while campaigning and made a lot of promises including the fixing of brigdes and roads, especially now they have all returned to their communities after Boko Haram attacks that displaced them.
He expressed worries that the government of Fintiri is paying deaf ears to what the masses are going through.
“Painfully enough, the Governor is from Kirchinga, a stone throw community very close to where I’m talking to you. Does it mean that he is not aware of what we are going through as his people? Does it mean that he has failed in fulfilling his campaign promises? Come to think of it, I’m quite sure Fintiri has the money that he can use to fix this road even if the federal government is not listening to him or paying lip service to the road as the urgent need of the people.
“All I know, Buhari didn’t come to us and campaign to fix this road for us. But he did come to our communities and promised us good roads, good hospitals, good schools, and regular payment of salaries.
“I voted for him based on those promises he made, but now I know politicians are only interested in your votes once you give them, to hell with you and they don’t care about whatever you are passing through.
“For God’s sake, our Governor we are not asking for too much, all we are saying is fix the bridge for us that is all,” Jemuel said.
Ishaku Kamasha, a resident of Michika, a town in which the bridge is having a direct connection as a border community to Shuwa, the gate mouth of Madagali Local Government Area, expressed worries that with any downpour of rainfall, it is one ugly story or the other.
According to him, long vehicles, trucks, cars, and all commuters are lamenting over what he described as the normal exchange of passengers and goods, a give and take exchange to drivers either going to Yola or coming from Maiduguri, and is making the life of people and journey miserable as if there is no government.
Community leader and the Lawan of Shuwa, Ibrahim Ayaba said the bridge is now a nightmare of all Madagali Local Government Area and its environs.
He said his worry is that the government seems to be silent and not mindful of the extremity and dilemma of the people on the current ugly situation of the road.
“We don’t really understand what the government is doing about the issue. It is really affecting our socio-economic status and nothing else is working out perfectly because of the collapsed bridge.
“Once it rains, it is one bad story or the other. Vehicles and trucks no longer ply the road either to Maiduguri or Yola. I’m begging on the government to do something about,” Ayaba said.
Mr Solomon Kumangar, Director General Communications and Media to the Governor of Adamawa State assured that the road will be constructed from Yola to Goza in which the bridge will be well constructed.
He called on the people of Madagali to be more patient as efforts are being made by Governor Fintiri to find a lasting solution to that effect.
Also in his response, the Press Secretary to Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, Mr Humwashi Wonosikou said the Governor is steadfast in doing the people’s mandate.
According to him, Governor Fintiri is not asleep concerning the collapsed bridge, however, being a federal road, he has at many times contacted North East Development Commission (NEDC) and they have promised to work on the bridge.
Wonosikou said the government of Adamawa is on its toes to make sure that not only the bridge in Madagali is fixed, but several Adamawa rural roads.
“The Governor is a man of his words and matches words with action on ensuring that the bridge is worked on. His constant visits to NEDC will certainly bring out light at the end of the tunnel,” Wonosikou added.
