Don’t Sideline Riverine Communities, Appropriate Fund For Ayakoromo Bridge Now -Civil Coalition, Riverine Residents Tell Oborewori

By Sunday Onye, Senior Correspondent

Following the perceived delay in completion of Ayakoromo/Igbo-ide bridge, the Coalition of Concerned Civil Society Groups and the Representatives of Riverine Communities in Bomadi, Burutu and Ughelli South Local Government Areas of Delta State have sent a letter to the governor of the state, RT.Hon. Sheriff Oborewori to expedite effort to appropriate funds for the timely completion of the almost abandoned bridge.

The letter was signed on behalf of the Concerned Coalition Of The Civil Society Groups and Aggrieved Riverine Communities by Comrade Ozobo Austin, president, Comrade Asiayei Enaibo, secretary, Comrade Richard Bibofa, spokesman/Chairman community and Alaowei Cleric, legal adviser during the weekend.

The letter titled “PASSIONATE APPEAL FOR THE COMPLETION OF IGBO-IDE/AYAKOROMO BRIDGE” said: “We the undersigned on behalf of the Coalition of Concerned Civil Society Groups and the representatives of riverine communities in Bomadi, Burutu and Ughelli South Local Government Areas of Delta State bring you warmed greetings over your electioneering successes at the poll and the milestone of developmental strides already recorded in your 100 days in office. We grease more oil to your elbows and pray that God Almighty continues to grant you the wealth of experience and the zeal to lead a prosperous Delta State through your M. O. R. E agenda.

The representatives of the Concerned Civil Society Groups and Riverine Communities expressed dissatisfaction over the exclusion of the Ayakoromo bridge project in the appropriation of funds of various new projects in the state.

“From the resolutions of your two State Executive meetings so far which you presided, Deltans in their thousands and indeed, Nigerians can attest that your M. O. R. E agenda is formulated to usher us into an unimaginable developmental masterplan. While that is no doubt the dividends of democracy Deltans are going to reap from your Government, some parts of the State may seem to be sidelined by act or omission from your administration.
Your Excellency, as part of activities to mark your well-deserved 100 days in office, your Government announced to Deltans, new projects you awarded in some parts of the State as well as a good number of ongoing projects you inherited from the previous Government of Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa.

The protest letter stated that it amazed concerned residents of the riverine communities that no one project was sited in the Bomadi, Burutu, Patani, Warri South west, Warri North in the award of fresh projects in the MORE for Delta administration.

“To our chagrin, no part of Bomadi, Burutu, Patani and Warri South West Local Government Areas was mentioned even when ongoing projects such as: Burutu Polytechnic permanent site, Ogbobagbene-Ojobo road, Ogborodo road, etc just to mention but a few that require Government urgent attention are in these near abandoned LGAs.

The letter read in part, “Our specific concern at the moment is the Igbo-Ide/Ayakoromo Bridge which cut across Bomadi, Burutu and Ughelli South Local Government Areas. We feel sidelined that in spite of the publicity given to the bridge projects by your predecessor who promised that you will complete it so soon, projects listed in your celebratory 100 days in office, the Ayakoromo Bridge project is not listed.

“Of course, Deltans and indeed Nigerians can bear witness to the fact that former Governor Okowa on the 21st of May, 2023 at the valedictory dinner night organized in Asaba the State capital in honour of his Government said because of slow pace of work on the Project by the former Company, Zerock Nigeria Limited, he has revoked the contract and re-awarded it to SETRACO Nig. Ltd with an upward review of the contract sum. He also claimed that the government has released an initial sum of N2 billion to the Company and that an additional N2 billion has been set aside which your Government on assumption of office, will release to the Company bringing the total amount to N4 billion naira for mobilisation.

“Your Excellency, the riverine communities, especially the benefiting communities in the three local government areas were in celebratory mood having convinced that you are being elected to develop the State across board. However, glossing over lists of projects earmarked for execution by your Government, we became extremely disappointed having found this very important bridge not listed as one of the ongoing projects.

“Sir, in case you may not be aware yet, the importance of this bridge not only to the riverine communities but also to the entire State cannot be overemphasized. Communities like Ayakoromo, Bobougbene, Frukama, Okuboama, Akugbene, etc in Bomadi, Burutu and Ughelli South Local Government Areas are agro business hub which is producing palm oil in commercial quantity. People from across the entire Country are coming to these communities to buy palm oil in large quantities. Also, young men and women will avail themselves to business opportunities in these communities, and riverine urban development will be connected.

“If these communities are connected with road networks through the bridge, small and medium scale businesses will be flourished in these areas. Even Ayakoromo Community alone is a host to Oweibigbene Oil Field and Ekoro Marginal Field operated by SPDC and Tenoil. It’s therefore important that priority attention be given to the bridge project by the State Government.

“Sir, history may be kind to us. On the 4th of August, 2017, we carried out a peaceful protest against the government of Sen. Okowa over his refusal to commence work on the project. The then Governor, immediately after our protest, invited us to Asaba to address the issue. Your SSG, Dr. Kingsley Emu who was the Commissioner for Economic Planning then chaired the parley. The outcome of the meeting was a win win situation for all of us as the Governor promised to complete the project during his second term.

“Your Excellency, as you are aware that your predecessor begged you to complete the project since he could not do so after many failed promises, we also joined him to beg you to give priority attention to this very important project. It may surprise you to note that this is the only major project from the Delta State Government in the entire riverine local governments of Bomadi, Burutu and Patani.

“Sir, we choose to write this letter of humble appeal to you because we do not want to distract you with any form of protest at this time when you’re just starting office. However, what others are benefiting, it’s also the rights of the riverine people to benefit from the Delta State Government. This is the trust and the faith the people reposed in you to give you their votes at the polls.

“Finally, Sir, remember your covenant with Deltans when you said the Ukodo we are cooking will reach everybody. We know you have not forgotten your promises to Deltans. We only plead that priority attention be given to deserving projects in the State such as the Ayakoromo Bridge in order to complete it in record time”, the coalition added.