By Sola Obagbemisoye
The executive chairman of Ose Local Government Area of Ondo state, Prince Adekunle Dennis has described the Governor of the state, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN as a father figure who does what he preaches.
Adekunle said this while leading a team of engineers from the Federal Road Emergency Management Agency (FERMA) and the state ministry of Works to the submerged Omi Alafa bridge near Ifon, headquarters of the local government.
The chairman praised the prompt attention of the governor to letters and pictorial evidence he forwarded to him concerning the deplorable condition of the road which has been hitherto endangering lives and property of those plying the route on daily bases.
According to Adekunle, the governor in his characteristic manner waist no time in directing the state ministry of Works and FERMA to inspect the failed portion of the road with a view to fixing it to reduce frequent carnages on the spot.
During the inspection, it was observed that FERMA had intervened appreciably on the instruction of Mr. Governor as it has constructed twin culverts with adequate size of 1.5 by 9 metres on halfway of the road.
One of the civil engineer who spoke on the condition of anonymity explained that the major problem of the failed bridge is a blocked up- stream-pond which prevented free flow of water down the stream leading to the collapse of the existing structures.
According to the engineer, FERMA equally has plan to construct retaining walls and backfill same to protect the culverts with solid hydrolic structures that will protect the culverts and ensure free flow of erosion.
The halfway that is under construction will soon be covered with concrete slabs and will allowed to cure for 28 days before it will be opened for public use.
Some transporters and commuters who spoke on the reconstruction commended federal government and Governor Akeredolu for fixing the collapsed bridge considering the importance of the road as major link between the Ondo, Edo and the Eastern part of the country.