Epileptic Ayakoromo Bridge Project, IPDI, Riverine Communities, Ayakoromo Youths Sets To Lockdown Govt House, Asaba In A Protest, Informs Gov. Okowa Ahead

Press Statement
4th January, 2019

Epileptic Ayakoromo Bridge Project, IPDI, Riverine Communities, Ayakoromo Youths Sets To Lockdown Govt House, Asaba In A Protest, Informs Gov. Okowa Ahead


It has come to our notice that Dr Ifeanyi Okowa led Government is less concern over the affairs of riverine communities. Delta State is not bankrupt or in recession that it can not continue with the Ayakoromo bridge and other laudable projects in riverine communities of Burutu Local Government area.

The bridge was first abandoned by Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa in his first tenure for two and half years after been awarded, and commencement of works at the site by his predecessor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan. The development was worrisome, and the concerned Ijaw youth leaders, members of IPDI ,Ijaw activists,  Ayakoromo and riverine communities went into protest some times 2017 to draw the attention of governor Ifeanyi Okowa towards the abandoned bridge, and after the protest the governor released some money for the commencement of work on the abandoned bridge. Now the bridge project is abandoned again, no work is ongoing at the bridge site for over 7months, and so many equipments have been evacuated from the site by the company responsible for the project. It is sad that despite our contributions in his first and second term victories, the governor does not see the need to release fund to complete the ongoing Ayakoromo bridge project.

Burutu deserves better treatments especially in terms of appointment and development as the economy importance of Burutu Local Government area to Delta State can never be overemphasized. The riverine communities have been cheated in terms of appointment and development, despite it contributes 80% of the revenue that sustained the state. It is wrong to steal from Paul to pay Peter.

It will interest you to know that 98% of capital projects done with our oil resources are being sited in the upland which hardly produced 5% of such resources. We are running out of patience again. The attitude of the state government towards the laudable Ayakoromo bridge project is unacceptable, and we have decided to lockdown government house, Asaba by January 30th in protest, if nothing is done about the bridge project before the end of January.  We are giving him till January ending but if he fails to release money for the continuation of the bridge project, by January ending we will go and lock the governor inside his office in protest to express our grievances.

We want Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa to place more priority on the Ayakoromo bridge project as regards the importance attached to it. We have emphasized in several times that the bridge when completed will  connect several Uhrobo and Ijaw rural communities to the urban cities in the state, and will help to solve the transport problem among riverine communities.

We have decided as concerned leaders of Ijaw People's Development Initiative, IPDI, Ayakoromo and other riverine communities youths after an enlarged meeting to shutdown Government house, Asaba in protest, by January 30, 2020 to express our grievances to Dr. senator Ifeanyi Okowa to urgently release money for the laudable bridge project.

Signed:

Comrade Emma Keneware, National Acting Secretary, Ijaw People's Development Initiative, IPDI.

Mayor Timi Ogobiri
National Acting Spokesperson, Ijaw People's Development Initiative, IPDI.