THE INFORMANT247
15-12-2017.
The Alagbado Community of Kwara State is one of the most populous communities in Ilorin metropolis. Apart from being the major road that linked the city metropolis to one of the state general hospital, Kwara State specialist hospital, it also has the credit of being one of the fastest developing Communities in the state.
On the night of 27th of May, 2017, the whole of Kwara State was thrown into a web of confusion. The people of Alagbado Community woke up to what would later become a death trap of the whole state. People trooped in from different part of the state to catch a glimpse of what everyone described as the tragedy of the year. Alas the bridge that links the Alagbado Community to the city metropolis is down. It collapsed after an heavy rain. People never want the story to told but wants to catch a glimpse of what happened. Even the Governor of the state couldn’t resist the urge as he rushed down to the scene to observe the situation of things. Different top government officials would also later visit the scene.
Five months after the incidence, THE INFORMANT247 correspondents visited the scene to observe the situation of things.
THE DEATH TRAP:
Being the major road that links the city metropolisis to the State Specialist hospital, different death cases have being recorded over the past five months. A lot of emergency victims couldn’t make it to the hospital because of the collapsed bridge.
“A lot of people have died because of this bridge. There was a day we were sitted here having our community meeting, an emergency bus conveying a patient couldn’t pass over the bridge, probably the driver wasn’t aware of the collapsed bridge. We tried all our best to save the the man, but all our efforts was furtile.” Lamented a community dweller.
On getting to the state specialist hospital, our correspondents could note the silent state of the once ever busy hospital. The collapsed bridge obviously has caused a setback to their daily activities. Though most of the workers were not ready to speak with our correspondents, because of the fear of getting kicked out of office. But we would later convinced a top hospital management to speak with us on the condition of anonymity.
” We have been warned on making comments to the media on this issue but obviously the issue of the bridge is causing us a lot of hardship. How can the government wait for almost five months before a bridge linking the city metropolis and a general hospital to be constructed. We have talked with the government severally but they are not showing concern to our plight. A lot of our staff are suffering and even some victims have gave up the ghost before getting to the hospital. The government should please come to our aid.” – said a top hospital management.
It was also reported that on the 30th of October, the corpse of a young man identified as Ahmed from Alangua Ibagun compound, Okelele was found at the bank of the river. People were shock but no one could tell if he actually died inside the water or was dumped to plan some mischiefs.
“We met the corpse of a young boy from ile-Alangua Ibagun of Okelele. Though we don’t know if it was dumped here. But the Government should please come to our help.”
THE SEVERAL PROMISES OF THE GOVERNMENT:
Several government officials who visited the scene made numerous promises to the people of the Community. The Governor who visited the scene a day after the incidence promised to renovate the bridge as soon as possible. But as common to every politician, it was only mouth talk as no action was taken since then.
It was later, after much pressure from a people of the community, before they gave the excuse that the bridge could not be constructed in the raining session. They promised to go ahead with the construction of a temporary palliative bridge, which they never did.
Some of the House of Assembly members also visited the scene and promised to include the construction of a new bridge into the 2018 budget.
“We need security, palliative measure, since you insist the bridge can’t be constructed on the raining session, safety plastic and Main bridge” requested the Community Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Abdullahi during a visit of some top government functionaries to the scene.
But THE INFORMANT247 correspondents, as at November 13, noticed non of the measure requested has been put in place.
THE COMMUNITY’S STRUGGLE:
After a lot of protest and petitions, with no positive effect, as expected the Community dwellers who could not withstand the trauma of hardship caused by the collapsed bridge gathered together and reach a consensus to go ahead with the palliative measure, without taking a fine from any Government functionaries. After the construction, the youth gathered themselves to provide security and control traffic. It was a big relief to most road users.
“This is exemptional! I really commend the people of the community, they have really tried. We don’t have Government in Kwara state. Just imagine! I, being a staff at the specialist hospital, have suffered a lot of hardship because of this bridge. But all thanks to the Alagbado Community. As you can see. This palliative measure can only last for a few days, so the government should please come e to the aid of this people. They have tried their best, it’s time for the Government to listen to their plights.” Said a passer-by who claimed to be a worker of the Kwara state specialist hospital, Sobi.
THE SINCERE APPEAL:
Even as each Community dweller speaks with THE INFORMANT247 correspondents at different scene with bitterness, it was shown all over them their urgent need for a new bridge. Most complained, some lamented, while a good majority appealed to the Abdulfatai Ahmed led administration.
“The need for a new bridge is long overdue”- said a man who never stopped walking as he dropped the short statement to the hearing of our reporters.
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