By ABDULKABIR MUHAMMED

The Anambra State branch of the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) has issued an urgent SOS to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, over the “deteriorating and inaccessible” condition of the Onitsha-Owerri road and other federal roads in Anambra State.

Anambra CLO, who expressed this in a press statement issued to newsmen in Awka, Anambra, also demanded that a state of emergency be declared on the Onitsha-Owerri, 3-3, Nkwelle, Nsugbe, Aguleri, Otuocha, Onitsha-Umunya-Igbatiaam-Awka-Enugu, and the Nnewi-Uga-Okigwe federal roads. Citing recent accidents that claimed lives with several fatalities, the group argued that the unfortunate experiences would have been averted had their calls been given immediate attention.

The statement, jointly endorsed by CLO Chairman, Evangelist Comrade Vincent Ezekwueme AMBP-UN, Comrade Damian Ogudike, and Comrade Chidi Mbah, CLO Secretary, reads:

“The unfortunate and avoidable mishaps should have been avoided if our patriotic and life savings appeal were given urgent and immediate attention it deserved.

“CLO reiterates its passionate appeal to President Tinubu to urgently do the needful because your citizens are dying on a daily basis as a result of dilapidated condition of the roads”

The rights group has also urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take immediate action to mitigate recurring accidents by repairing the roads.

“President Tinubu should kindly dispatch his Minister of Works, FERMA, Federal Controller of Works in Anambra State to swing into actions with urgency and immediacy to fix the deplorable roads to save lives of citizens, commuters, residents and road users.”

Meanwhile, Anambra CLO is also calling on Governor Soludo to intervene in the situation by commencing palliative works to ameliorate the citizens’ hardship.

“CLO is also seeking urgent interventions of His Excellency Professor Charles Soludo by directing the Anambra State Roads Maintenance Agency to urgently commence palliative works on the roads to save lives of citizens and ameliorate excruciating sufferings citizens and transporters experience on daily basis as a result of poor, pitiable and despicable condition of the roads.”