Delta Ijaw Communities Cry Foul Over Alleged Neglect by Oborevwori Administration

By Monday Peters, Abuja

The people of Burutu, Patani, Bomadi, and other Ijaw-dominated areas in Delta State are expressing disappointment and frustration with the Governor Elder Sheriff Oborevwori administration, accusing it of neglecting their communities despite generating significant revenue from oil and gas resources.

According to a leading Niger Delta rights activist Comrade Ozobo Austin, the Oborevwori administration has failed to deliver on campaign promises, particularly in regards to infrastructure development. The Ayakoromo Bridge, Burutu hospital, and the School of Marine Technology in Burutu remained incomplete, leaving residents without access to basic amenities.

“We lack almost all the basic social amenities in the Ijaw Riverine communities. Life has been cruel and painful to most people living in the Riverine communities,” Ozobo noted.

The rights advocate further alleged that the administration has marginalized Ijaw communities in appointments, citing the lack of representation in key positions. “The Ijaws must not be seen as only important during elections and deprived of benefit after elections,”

Oborevwori appointments are selective, he only gave appointments to his godfathers, few political leaders he respects, his Urhobo and Isoko brothers. All small boys in Osubi and Uvwie are considered for appointments. While many Ijaw youths and leaders who supported him strongly with their resources were not considered.

“As Ijaw people we are beginning to lost confidence in Oborevwori, because he is very tribalistic and egocentric governor. He is failing as well. He has spent more than two years in office pursuing few infrastructural projects, neglecting the areas of human capital development, Independent power supply and drinkable water and functional health institutions in the rural communities.

However, critics argued that the few works Oborevwori has claimed to have done in Ijaw communities are insufficient compared to the revenue generated from the Ijaw communities.