Delta 2023: ljaw youths give Okowa condition for voting PDP

Following the March 11, 2023 Governorship and State Assembly elections, the ljaw ethnic nationality in Delta State has said that the only condition that would make the Ijaw riverine communities to vote for the ruling Peoples Democratic Party and its candidates is if the governor Ifeanyi Okowa could assure them of completion of the Ayakoromo bridge and other abandoned road projects in the riverine communities before his administration lapses by May 29, 2022.

This was asserted in a statement issued from Ayakoromo community by Ekpegha Preye, the spokesman of Concerned Citizens for lzon-lbe Development on Saturday.

According to the statement, the governor should, alternatively be ready to face EFCC/ICPC over his incessant borrowing and loan taken to the detriment of Deltans towards the end of his administration.”

The Ijaw group emphasized that it would not be business as usual for the ljaws to massively vote for the umbrella party due to the ill treatment the current administration meted against them in the past seven years.

The group also accused the outgoing administration in Delta State of deliberate neglect of the Delta ljaw people in development wise, especially the abandoned Ayakoromo bridge, Torugbene Ojobo road, Odorobu, Odofori, Bulu-Angiama road, Apelebiri link road to Patani main Town, among others, in the past seven years.

Meantime, the group vowed to vote against Delta State PDP governorship candidate, Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori came 11th March, 2023, saying they have lost trust and confidence in his party.

The group added that the Delta ljaw people are tired of the umbrella party and that they want to change the narrative and try another party in the forthcoming elections.

The statement reads, “Governor Okowa has consistently failed to match his words with action by deceiving Ijaw people, especially the Ayakoromo community over failed promise to re-award Ayakoromo bridge project to SETRACO.

“It was unfortunate that Okowa promised to mobilise SETRACO to site in early January 2023 but all promises he made were lies and political gimmick to mock ljaw people in the state.

“We hereby urge Governor Okowa and the PDP led government to do the needful by completing the Ayakoromo bridge and other abandoned road projects in the riverine communities before his administration lapses by May 29 or else, be ready to face EFCC/ICPC over his incessant borrowing and loan taken to the detriment of Deltans towards the end of his administration.”