Protest: Groups ask Okowa to order contractors back + PHOTOS

Perhaps some protest can do the magic, a Coalition of Civil Society Groups, on Friday, staged a huge protest, calling on Delta State governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, to urgently mobilise the contractor handling the abandoned bridge project back to site.

The abandoned bridge is a commercially viable one linking both Ayakoromo and Egbo-Ede communities in Burutu Local Government Area of the state.

Members of the riverine communities, mostly farmers and traders, aligned with the groups during the protests, appealing to Okowa to do the needful.

The peaceful mass protest, which started at about 10:30 a.m saw the youth, men, women and elders from both communities, marching through the Ayakoromo community.

Armed with leaves and placards with varying inscriptions, the protesters chanted anti-war songs, calling for the continuation of the project.

Some of the inscriptions read: “We are regretting now Okowa”, “No Ayakoromo/Egbo-Ede bridge”, “no support for second tenure from riverine”, “We are not part of Okowa SMART Agenda” and “Okowa fulfil your electioneering promises at Kiagbodo Ayakoromo bridge,” among others.

Speaking on behalf of the protesters, President, Ijaw Peoples Development Initiatives (IPDI), Comrade Austin Ozobo, disclosed that the project was awarded in 2014 by the immediate past administration of Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan.

According to him, the bridge was awarded to Zerock Construction Company at the cost of about N6.5 billion.

He added that from findings, the sum of N3.1 billion had already been paid to execute about 60 per cent of the work.

“We have notified the governor on this issue several times all to no avail; so it has become glaring that his government has no developmental agenda for the riverine people.”

“Paucity of fund cannot be an excuse for this politics segregation; we have come to the inevitable conclusion that the fate of beleaguered and pauperised riverine communities is not in the hands of this government.”

“In the circumstance, we, concerned coalition of civil society groups, have decided to synergise with the communities to embark on our earlier planned peaceful protest and our protest will be carried out in phases.”

“We have also resolved to mobilise the affected communities to boycott the governor’s proposed town hall meeting in Burutu,” he warned.

President-General of Egbo-Ede community, Mr Tony Okporoko, urged the governor to complete the abandoned bridge.

He stated that if completed, it will boost economic activities in the area, adding that it will link Ughelli South, Burutu and Bomadi local government areas thus attracting massive development.

Chairman of Ayakoromo community, Mr Wilson Monday, while speaking to journalists, said that it was disheartening that the bridge was abandoned by the incumbent governor.

“During the electioneering campaign, Okowa promised to make this bridge his priority, but we are surprised that till now, work has not resumed on the project.

“We gave him bulk votes because this is Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) project and we expected him to have toed the line and complete the bridge.

He should not reward our good for evil, he should redeem what he promised,” he pleaded.

Meanwhile, Alaowie Cleric, Chairman of the Foundation for Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Crusader, said several letters had been addressed to the governor concerning the project without any response.

“This project is important to the communities, he should come and complete it, even the contractor told us that if the governor can provide five million naira, they will come to site.

He appealed to the governor to pay any little amount at his disposal so that the work could continue because of the massive economic

We gave him massive votes on the account of his promised, this bridge has a great economic values to the people,” he said.