From Joseph Asegba, Yola
A former Senator representing Adamawa Northern Senatorial zone, Sen. Ishaku Abbo has called on the state government to review its water distribution system policy despite present realities.
Abbo argued that despite the River Benue lurking sellout Yola, trucks of water by vendors still sell between N1,500 to N2,500.
Abbo attributed the scarcity of water being experienced by citizens to the inability of successive governments to utilize the abundant natural resources in the state.
The former Senator, who spoke in an interactive session with journalists, noted that the situation is becoming hopeless day by day as families cannot afford the ongoing situation.
His words, “Natural resources spread across Adamawa state, River Benue one among them. The state government should review the water distribution system. Currently, one truck of push-push water sells between N1,500 and N2,500 in the state capital, depending on one’s location. Now, If you have four children you will be forced to start rationing water.
“So, we are now not only rationing food but also rationing water like people living in Refugee camps while we are sitting at the bank of River Benue. This is irresponsible leadership.”
The former Senator called on the attention of Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri to redirect his energy to providing water for the residents of the state capital.
Abbo said it will not be out of place for the state government to, as a matter of urgency, develop a blueprint that will stir up the revenue of the state, noting that Adamawa State will be in serious trouble when funds cease to come from federal accounts.
“The revenue generation in Adamawa State cannot pay our salary. What if tomorrow’s problem comes, and the federal government stops giving us money? We will go hungry and be amongst the poorest people in Africa. Government must begin to look inward to source for more alternative revenue.”
He said:”Flyover is a beautiful development. It is urban beautification but nobody sleeps under them. Please redirect the energy with which you are building flyovers to provide water for everybody we will clap for you if you do that,” he appealed.
On the Muslim Muslim ticket, Abbo said, “I fought Muslim Muslim ticket because they said Christians are not competent to rule the country, so also they said I fought Senate president Akpabio; I now ask when will the minority rule this country, but they misunderstood me.
Abbo, while ex-raying his political plans, said, “We are into consultations with our stakeholders and citizens, we are buying time when the time comes we will open up powerfully our gain plan to the public.
According to him, as for now, we are still deciding which party because APC, when he was removed from office, never cared to even call to say sorry for what took place. Even calling for compassion, he was left in limbo.
