Abandoned projects: Delta community sends open letter to gov Okowa, expresses disappointment

•Demands completion of abandoned road projects in the community

By Teide Emomotimi
& Enekorogha Godbless

The aggrieved Ogbein-ama community in the Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State has sent an open letter to His Excellency Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, the governor of the state to mobilize the contractor handling the community internal roads project to return to the site.

This was made available in a press statement signed on behalf of the community by Comrade Joseph Z Navy on Tuesday evening.

The author while applauding the governor’s developmental strides said the community had been neglected over the years of government presence.

The statement read partly, “Your Excellency, I want to commend you for the unparalleled infrastructural projects, especially in the area of road construction both in urban and rural.

“Having said this, it is important to draw the attention of our governor to the plight of the silent neglected people who have been neglected and treated unfairly in the award of road projects since 1999 till date. I have continued to wonder whether our community still falls within the map of Delta state.

“Your Excellency Sir, you will recall that, in 2021, you awarded internal road contracts to Ogbein-ama Community, and these road contracts were received with serious jubilation, merriment and prayers, but from that day till now, you have not attempted to release the fund to kick start this project.

“Your excellency sir, the said awarded internal road project is still pending. This internal road is to link to the NDDC forsaken back road of the community.

“It’s no longer news that aside from the internal road contracts, other contracts like the construction and equipping of the library in Ogbein-ama and construction of a block of 4units 1 bedroom flat, 2 bedroom bungalow staff quarters and supply of teachers and 145 students furniture at Ogbein-ama Community have equally suffered the same bad fate under your watch.

“This function witnessed over time has impelled well-meaning Ogbein-ama indigenes to express grave doubts about the determination of Delta state government or any authority-in-charge, to aptly initiate, carry out as well complete any project after being approved in the community.
Sometimes, I wonder if the said contracts have been forgotten or abandoned. If not forgotten nor abandoned, what then is the reason for this long delay to commence work on the said projects?

“Your excellency, just recently, the state government has approved the construction and rehabilitation of more than 30km of road projects across the State. These include 2.05km Kokodiagbene Road in Warri South-West, 10.85km Ute-Okpu/Ute-Enugu Road in Ika North East, 1.5km 0vie Palace Road in Mosogar, Ethiope West, 4.9km Aviara-Bethel Road in Isoko South; 1.2km Abi-Ezionum Road and 12km internal roads in Uwheru, Ughelli North. If there were no money in the State treasury to initiate Ogbein-ama internal road project, then, where did the state government get the money to approve the above-listed projects? It would only be wise and reasonable for any State government to start and complete already approved projects before approving new ones.

“Your excellency sir, to the best of my knowledge, since you assumed office on May 29, 2015, to date, you have not commissioned a single road project in Bomadi LGA and these are people that firmly stood by you and voted massively for you when you contested for the governorship in 2015 and 2019.
Do you want to pay evil for good?
We deserved attention and priority.

“It is on this premise I challenge the governor, H.E Senator, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa to prove to the teeming indigenes of Ogbein-ama that he is ever-ready to do as expected by releasing funds as well making serious commitment to execute these projects in our community.

“I do not doubt that this
message would reach you. I am also very much confident that you will do something to address the plights of my people who are the worst neglected by your administration.

“While I pray for you to finish strong, I urge you to spread more development in the Ijaw riverine communities in the state.” He stated.