By Ebenezer Adurokiya
LAGOS AUGUST 26TH (URHOBOTODAY)-Barely three months after the exit of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan from office, the commercial nerve centre of the oil-rich Delta State, Warri, has relapsed into darkness at nights, destroying nightlife in the process.
This is because as of today, there is virtually no streetlight illuminating any part of the twin cities of Warri and Effurun.
Before the exit of former governor Uduaghan, the situation was already deteriorating, and people believed it was still manageable.
But today, crimes and criminalities of different shades have taken over the city, piling pressure on security agencies in the process.
Streetlights came into being in the city during the administration of Chief James Ibori with substantial amount deployed monthly to fuel generating sets used to power them.
This was shortly after the late 90s ethnic war between the Itsekiris and the Ijaws that almost consumed the oil-rich city.
It will be recalled that Uduaghan also brought streetlights to most roads he constructed and inaugurated in the twilight of his administration. One of such is the Refinery road at Effurn in Uvwie Local Government Area.
With the streetlights installed on Warri-Sapele road, linking Uvwie and Warri South local government areas, and the ones installed by Uduaghan, criminals were virtually pushed back into the woods as crime rates considerably reduced at nights.
Also, the streetlights greatly added to aesthetic view of the city, and in addition, automobile accidents were reduced, traders and food vendors were able to sell their wares and other social activities were upbeat due to the presence of the lights.
Unfortunately, it appeared that immediately after the swearing-in of the new governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, the streetlights that had brought so much life and vivacity to the twin cities of Effurun and Warri gave way to thick darkness when night falls.
It has become pretty dangerous and suicidal to stroll along major streets at nights or in the wee hours as crimes and criminality have resumed full swing. Criminals use tricycles (which replaced motorcycles after ban) and short guns to rob early risers as well as night crawlers of their belongings.
Similarly, the massive LCD television screens mounted at Okere roundabout and Estate roundabout, among others, in Warri, which served as relaxation centres for passersby, commuters and youths, particularly as English Premiership has resumed, have been non-functional since the inception of Okowa.
These were devices engendered by the regimes of Ibori and Uduaghan as post-war strategies to restore peace, tranquility and communality to the nearly-ruined city of Warri.
Decrying the ugly trend, some individuals expressed their sadness over the non-functional streetlights and large TV screens.
Ochuko Ibi, who was obviously upset by the development, said: “It is really annoying that a state like Delta, where there is much oil, still suffers such problems; go to other states in Nigeria that do not even contribute anything to the country’s economy, you see infrastructure and other essentials. I wonder what the problem of Delta State is! We all need prayers for the leaders oh.”
A woman simply identified as Madam Obira also said: “You see this light dey make motor, keke dey fit move for night, even some people for this warri them motor nor get light, na the light dey help us; the light self dey make person waka for night well; if somewhere dark no good na. So, make Okowa do am na, we don vote for am finish; so make them work, na that one be government duty, make every better for everybody well.”
Ogbi Frank, a tricycle driver, expressed dissatisfaction about the issue. According to him, “such is not democracy; the true spirit of democracy has not come. I believe so well that I pay my tax; so issues like this are not what should be allowed to suffer for long. These streetlights are very important in different aspects of life; well I just hope it will be settled before next month.”
Another respondent, Collins Agbu, also shared his thought, saying: “The matter self tire person, since the light dey on oh, even if off self, never far reach like this one now so, the new government nor know wetin dey, them dey complain say no money, so make we suffer no work na, many people no get work, the small wen them go do, to make life better na still stress again, make them try do am for everybody good.”
A student, Gloria Eno, said: “The government is said to be responsible for such action when the need comes, so I think they should carry out their duty as government to bring back the streetlights to its normal place.”
A rumour that wife of former Governor Uduaghan was the one given the contract of fuelling the generating sets monthly could not be confirmed as of press time, but unconfirmed sources said not less than N70 million was used to fuel the generating sets to power streetlights across the state.
Meanwhile, the state Commissioner of Power and Energy, Mr Newworld Safugha, was quoted to have said that the Okowa’s administration was upbeat in reviving and restoring the streetlights and LCD monitors.