Clergy blames political leaders from Akwa Ibom, Cross River for worsening state of Calabar-Itu road

Bishop Emmah Isong, General Overseer of Christian Central Chapel Calabar has said that some political leaders from Akwa Ibom and Cross River were responsible for non-completion of the Calabar-Itu Federal Road.

He said this on Tuesday during a chat with Journalists in Calabar, adding that the road has become worse now than it ever was.

According to him the road had claimed several lives “and more are still going to die on that road if nothing is done”.

“I have lost some members of my wife’s family: some of my Pastors; members of the academia and even members of my own family on that road.

“The truth is that, the political leaders from both Akwa Ibom and Cross River are playing politics with the road. We should stop blaming the Federal. Government.

“Calabar-Itu road has been politicised and this is very unfortunate, ” he said.

The Clergy said that politicians use the road to canvass for votes only to abandon the project as soon as election was over.

“Before the 2019 election, in 2017 to be precise, Julius Berger was moblised to the road and immediately the 2019 election was over, the company disappeared.

“As we speak, Berger has been mobilised again and from what is happening, there is nothing serious going on, so, let it not be because of 2023, ” he said.

Isong further claimed that politicians from Akwa Ibom and Cross River have held top positions in the Nigeria Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and as well as the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs in recent times.

According to him: “in the past ten years it is Akwa Ibom and Cross River that have dominated the Niger Delta Ministry and the NDDC, yet Calabar-Itu, the only road that links the two sister states has become a death trap.

“Our politicians should have a rethink, they should place the people above self, ” he said.

He called on representatives from both states to do things differently in order to ensure that serious work is done on the road before the end of the present administration in 2023.