Group To Okowa, Complete Ayakoromo Bridge Or Face Mass Protest

WARRI—A pan Niger Delta Civil Society Group under the aegis of the Foundation for Human Rights and Anti Corruption Crusade FHRACC, have called on the Executive Governor of Delta State to complete the Ayakoromo bridge project or face mass protest from the riverine communities.

The president of the human rights organization, Barr. Alaowei Ebikonbowei gave the charge yesterday in Warri via a press statement.

Speaking further on the negligence of the bridge, Alaowei alleges that if completed, it would connect three Local Government Areas in Delta State which includes Burutu, Bomadi and Ughelli South respectively, alleging that the Governor have no justification for abandoning the life changing project.

The group, however threatened to mobilize the riverine communities to protest against the Okowa led administration if at the end of one month interval that the Governor still remain adamant in addressing the issue.

The statement read in part: “The continuing conspiracy of silence being observed by the Delta State Governor, His Excellency, Sen. (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa is an indication that he has abandoned the Ayakoromo bridge project. With the series of appeal by well meaning individuals and institutions to the Governor to complete the Project coupled with his resultantly lukewarm disposition of the pleas, we have come to the irrebuttable conclusion that the Government has abandoned the Project.

“The Governor has no justification in abandoning such important project except he is punishing his people for entrusting hin with their votes.

“We have said it time without number that this is a project that will benefit a good number of communities in Burutu, Bomadi and Ughelli South LGAs. The Governor should know that he is doing the greatest disservice to the people who voted him into power if he has chosen to abandon this laudable project.

“The riverine communities of Ayakoromo, Bubougbene, Newtown, Egolegbene, Akparemogbene, Eseimogbene, Ekametagbene, Oyangbene, Gbekebor, Obotebe, Okrika, Frukama, Ezebiri, Ogodobiri, Okoloba, Okoboama, Akugbene, Ogbeinma, Esanma, Enekorogha, Igbo-Ede, Okwagbe and several others will be victimised by the Governor’s act of political attrition.

“If these communities are not good enough to benefit from Okowa’s Government then they may also withdraw their support for the Government.” The group queried.

Adding that “We are giving the Governor within one month to address the issue of the abandoned Ayakoromo bridge otherwise, we shall mobilise the riverine communities to protest against the Government. This is our lives and we shall take our destinies in our hands if the Government refuse to give us the means of life. It must be recalled that Okowa also used this Project to campaign for his election in 2015.

“We wondered why he is foot dragging in completing the Project. For the information of the general public, the bridge project was awarded by the Uduaghan administration with the sum of N6,530,223,262.50.

The last administration, before leaving office, has already paid a total sum of N3,098,000,000.00 leaving a balance of N3,432,223,262.50. Three billion naira is the amount left for Okowa to complete the project. How justifiable it is for Dr Okowa to cynically shirks in completing the already executed Project? If the Governor felt these communities did not deserve to benefit from his Government then he should not also expect their support any further. At least 2019 is going to be another deciding year for Nigerians and the riverine communities will be glad to know who their enemy is.” Barr. Alaowei stated.