THE ancient town of Ibi, is a local government council amongst the councils that make up Taraba State in the North Eastern part of the country on the surface of River Benue for years without a modern bridge to cross over, nor accessible road network that will link up the council with other neighboring states such as Plateau, Bauchi, and Adamawa.
Ibi the council headquarters of Ibi Local government area has a population of over 550,000 people who for quite several years were living in desperation for lack of access roads, and a solid bridge, leaving its populace risking their lives while crossing the river on locally made engine boats, canoes and fabricated ferry that are used to convey commuters, and their vehicles on crossing it before entering the ancient city.
These untoward circumstances have for quite often claims dozens of lives lost to the river almost on daily basis in an attempt in getting access to the town while crossing on the river due to the hazard of trending on local ferry and canoes in which the people of the area used to convey commuters, and visitors to the ancient town alongside with their vehicles.
One may wonder despite the various exalted positions held in government and polity by illustrious sons of this ancient city; positions such as Local Government Chairmen, Permanent Secretaries in the cabinet office of Taraba state government, position of a Deputy governor, Ministerial positions, fourth in command in the National assembly, these individuals have not dome much to support and contribute to the establishment of befitting roads, and solid bridge on river Ibi.
Instead, they keep mute and indifferent to their people’s plight.
The most irony amongst is General T.Y Danjuma (rtd) who happens to be one of the illustrious son of Taraba state; a personality who held various positions in both the Army and the political circles of this great country on whose influence alone could even solve the problem, but decided to kept mute, and dormant over the matter for reasons best known to him.
The General had been quoted as saying “ quite often I tried my best with successive governments over Ibi bridge but it exceed my power”.
Apart from General Danjuma (rtd), Alh. Danjuma Idris the former Minister of Commerce and Industries under former president Olusegun Obasanjo’s government is a son of the soil who enjoyed several privileges during Obasanjo regime. He too is showing negative attitudes despite his position and influence.
Others showing negative posture towards the erection of Ibi bridge is Hon. Lawal Abdulmumini the current serving state House of Assembly member from Ibi Constituency.
So also is Hon. Isyaka Bawa Waziri, a son of the soil, and a former member Federal House of representative, representing Ibi/ Wukari Federal Constituency for two consecutive term, and a former Chief Whip in the federal House of Representative and a right man to the former Speaker, Hon. Barr. Aminu Tambuwal whose influence can attract the citing for a bridge on river Ibi but who showed no concern.
In his remarks, the Emir of Ibi, His Royal Highness, Alh. Abubakar Garba Salihu Danbawuro, commended federal government over this remarkable initiatives, and called for the speedy work on the viable project, adding we do hope it will be awarded to a reputable firm with relevant working tools of operations.
Alh. Abubakar Garba Salihu, the Emir of Ibi lamented over the sorry state of negligence on his domain by successive governments over the ugly trend as saying, “we as custodians of the people, for quite often we have made several efforts in making a passionate appeals on authorities concern on the possibility of erecting a solid bridge over our river for us to be link up with our neighbors, but to no avail”
He contended that having mounted pressure over the issue, “our case was taken to the National Assemblies for kind consideration, the issue was tabled and passed to the Executives, and later on gotten approval by President Muhammadu Buhari where federal government approved N67 billion for a solid bridge and amendment of the existing federal road linking the council with neighbouring states such as Plateau, Bauchi and Admawa states.
It could be recalled that similar approval was initially granted by the then late General Sani Abacha’s regime under the auspices of the then Petroleum Task Fund (PTF) where the then Executive Chairman of the Fund, General (rtd) Muhammadu Buhari (now president) gave the approval of four bridges to be constructed at Ibi, Lau, Karim-Lamido, and Donga local government areas in Taraba state.
This however did not see the light of the day with assumption of office of former President Obasanjo who abrogated the PTF Fund .
The continued negligence and the poor status of access roads and bridge in the area have forced the community of the ancient town to swing into communal efforts in building locally sourced access roads and temporary bridge to boost communication link hence their resolve in resuscitating the existence four temporary bridges.
It was learnt that the projects estimated at three and half million naira were single handedly executed through communal efforts and supervised by Adamu Zakari just to assist commuters get access in utilizing Yelwan-Shendam- Lafia Federal Highway federal road in both Plateau and Nassarawa states in the federation.
In a chat Zakari said ” my conviction towards effecting urgent repairs on these broken down bridges was informed upon my concern on my people being a philanthropist who believed in rendering humanitarian gesture”
He contended that instead of getting support from both Ibi local government and Taraba state, “I ended up facing serious harassment, and humiliation in the hands of officials of both Taraba state government and my council’s officials for unknown reasons, but with prayer and people’s courage I was able to break through in fixing these gigantic projects single handedly.”
He further stated that before the actualization of this viable project, activities of armed banditry was so pronounced on the collapsed bridge due to poor status of the neglected road and bridge.
- Gov Darius Ishiaku of Taraba State