From Osagie Otabor, Benin

Commercial motor-cycle and tri-cycle riders under the auspices of Association of Motorcycle and Keke/Bike Union (ANNEWATT) have started grading of earth roads in some parts of Ikpoba-Okha local government area.

The affected streets are Idahor, Nosa, Ekhator and Okunwagbe.

Coordinators of ANNEWATT, Comrade Oregbe Omorodion and Comrade Aruba Mohammed, said the gesture was to give back to the society where their members are operating, as well as mobilise support for the second term bid of Governor Godwin Obaseki.

Omorodion said the road grading was part of ways to mobilise their members and members of the public to support the re-election of Obaseki.

Omorodion noted that as Obaseki empowered the unions to operate freely in the state, they need to carry out some corporate social responsibility by giving back to the people to complement the giant strides of the governor.

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According to him, “Obaseki has done well since he came to power. A lot of developments have taken place in Edo State. He has created jobs for the youths.

“He must come back. Chief Lucky Igbinedion didn’t perform better than Obaseki but he ruled for eight years. Obaseki must finish his eight years. We are going to mobilise all our members to support Obaseki for a second term.”

Odionwere of Idahor street, Chief Joseph Inuaghata, thanked ANNEWATT for making the road motorable.

Inuaghata, however, called on state and local governments to help them to construct the road with side drains.

A landlord in the area, Sir Rufus Guobadia, described the grading as a good progress from a transport union.

He said landlords in the area have written severally to the NDDC and other bodies to help them but it is ANNEWATT that responded to their call.