………….where is Okene waterworks?
The Okene Waterworks project, once heralded as a critical lifeline for the people of Ebiraland, has once again slipped into silence—forgotten by both the government and the governed. Years after its promise, the taps remain dry, and the hopes of residents continue to evaporate under the scorching weight of neglect.
During his tenure, former Governor Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello publicly accused his appointees in the Ministry of Water Resources of failing to complete the Okene Waterworks. Many Ebira indigenes, out of political loyalty and sycophancy, accepted his claims without asking deeper questions. Yet, till today, Bello never revealed who exactly was responsible for the colossal failure nor took decisive action against them. Instead, the project was buried in layers of excuses and political rhetoric.
Now, over a year into the administration of Governor Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, there is still no official statement or visible commitment towards reviving the Okene Waterworks. The silence is deafening. While Ebira people once passionately demanded answers, the issue seems to have been quietly swept under the carpet, replaced by agitation for political appointments and patronage for those who supported Ododo’s election.
This irony is striking. The same Ebira voices who would have accused the Igala of hatred and tribalism if they had governed between 2016 and 2025 without completing the waterworks are now mute because the failure lies at the feet of their own “sons.” Such selective outrage exposes the deep cracks of ethnic politics and misplaced loyalty.
Meanwhile, Kogi State continues to receive huge federal allocations—over ₦15 billion monthly, excluding Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) that reportedly grew to nearly ₦1 billion monthly under Senator Yakubu Oseni’s oversight. Senate President Godswill Akpabio even disclosed that every state governor received ₦30 billion each from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) aside from FAAC allocations. Yet, despite these massive inflows, there is no tangible evidence that the Okene Waterworks or similar grassroots infrastructure projects have benefitted from these funds.
Instead, government energy is increasingly shifting towards political survival. Reports suggest that campaigns for Ododo’s re-election have already begun—barely one year into his tenure and almost three years before the 2027 governorship election. Such desperation contrasts sharply with the inability of the state government to provide basic services such as refuse evacuation in Okene Local Government, sanitation exercises, or the rehabilitation of public hospitals and schools.
It is no wonder that many now question Yahaya Bello’s declaration of Ododo as a “worthy successor.” Worthy in what sense? For absolute loyalty and submission to Bello’s political machinery, or for genuine delivery of good governance? Beyond regular salary payments—which in any responsible society is a norm, not an achievement—there is little of significance to point to as the hallmark of Ododo’s administration.
Across Nigeria, states like Abia, Akwa Ibom, Lagos, Kaduna, and Anambra are unveiling bold infrastructure projects, healthcare reforms, and educational programs. In contrast, Kogi appears stuck in mediocrity, still grappling with problems as basic as water supply.
The new minimum wage signed by Governor Ododo remains another grey area, with reports suggesting it is not yet being fully implemented across board. This adds to the growing list of questions surrounding the government’s sincerity in addressing the plight of its people.
The Ebira nation must now confront the truth: nine years of leadership dominance in Kogi State has passed, and excuses are no longer acceptable. If the Okene Waterworks cannot be completed under the watch of two successive Ebira sons as governors, then when will it ever be done?
For a people who once prided themselves in resilience and self-respect, settling for dry taps and broken promises is nothing short of a betrayal. The time to demand accountability is now. Silence, sycophancy, and political tokenism will not quench thirst.
The question remains: Where is Okene Waterworks?
