New-year message: Ozobo prioritizes Ayakoromo bridge, peace in Aladja/ Ogbe-Ijoh warring communities

By Timi Black
Chief Correspondent

Foremost Niger Delta rights and environmental activist, Comrade Ozobo Austin has reiterated the need of completing Ayakoromo bridge project and the need for the peaceful co-existence of Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh warring communities in Delta state.

The Special Assistant to governor Ifeanyi Okowa, Ozobo Austin said peace in Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh communities is peace in Delta state.

He said in as much the governor has role to play in restoring permanent peace in Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh communities, the youths in both Communities must create the enabling environment for peace in the area.

According to Ozobo, the youths in both Communities must stop attacking one another as the governor can’t imposed peace on them.

The activist cum politician maintained that imposed peace can’t be a permanent peace, but a peace willing embrace by the people only will reunite the waring factions.

“The governor could decide to share the disputed land today but some people may still disagree with him, saying the process is not fair. And the trouble may continue. Government may acquire the land but being the two communities are from different local government areas, the issue of which local government area will the land named upon will be another issue”.

It may interest you to note that previous efforts by the Delta government to end the communal war have been flagrantly violated by incessant attacks and counter attacks by both Communities.

“We must stop attacking one another and create room for permanent peace. While we urge governor Ifeanyi Okowa to restore permanent peace in Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh communities, we must also show some amounts of ready for peace in the area.

“Till we stop attacking one another, we lack power to blame Ifeanyi Okowa of not doing enough to arrest the ugly situation.

“I called on royal fathers in Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh communities, inclusive of political leaders and youths to call themselves to order to stop further attacks on one another. That is only ground we can blame the governor if he is not doing enough”, he asserted.

The activist, Ozobo while appreciating governor Okowa on his massive road works, empowerments and appointment of Delta state youths into political offices, equally reiterated that Ayakoromo bridge project is a key state project that needed total attention of the state government.

Ozobo who doubled as SA to governor Okowa maintained that more funding is needed for the timely completion of the bridge project.

The SA appealed with his boss that his people need Ayakoromo bridge to boost economic activities in the area.

He said like Bomadi bridge, the Ayakoromo bridge project is a legacy project that when completed will link Bomadi, Burutu and Ughelli South Local Government Areas.

Activist re-emphasized that the bridge project be prioritized and funds budgeted in the 2022 budget be timely released to contractors handling the project.

Ozobo stressed that Burutu Local Government Area being keyed to the state as regards oil production, the only capital project which is the Ayakoromo bridge be given utmost attention in view of completing it before round off of the current administration.