The Chairman of Udu Local Govt. Area, Hon. Chief Vincent Oyibode addressing socio economic groups who were protesting against the continued marginalization and neglect of Udu Local Government Area in terms of infrastructure by successive administrations in Delta State on Tuesday
By Samuel Ogude & Tataunu Akporobo
The Chairman of Udu Local Government Area, Hon. Chief Vincent Oyibode has promised to embark on infrastructural development in Udu especially the roads to speed up economic activities of the area.
Hon. Chief Oyibode stated this on Tuesday at Otor-Udu, the council Headquarters, while addressing protesters who protested against infrastructural decay especially bad roads in the area. According to Udu council boss, while it is agreed that the area needs development especially, roads, the leaders of the local government area are the cause of the stagnation as, instead of working together to achieve common goal, many of them are interested in pulling down syndrome. His words:” We, Udu leaders, are the problems of ourselves. Instead of us to come together as one body and bring something from Asaba, Oyibode is not good, this and that are not good. They drag one another down”.
While thanking the people for the peaceful protest- without obstruction of business of others- he said, before now, his administration has taken the initiative by liaising with the state Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori to see there are massive infrastructural development in Udu Local Government Area, including roads, to boost economic activities of the area just as he promised to continue to engage the Governor in this regard.
His words:” It is a fact that some of us have taken the initiative to ensure that, the roads in Udu that are bad are put in place… the major roads of Udu from Express Conjunction to ECN, we all know, needs urgent attention. But I want to inform you that His Excellency, Governor Oborevwori, being a listening Governor, has sent his team of engineers to do the scoping of this major road, l think, he deserves applauds…”
Udu council boss who said, unlike other past successive Chairmen in the local government, he was determined to leave his footprint in the sand of time with developmental projects in the area adding, only year in office, he has embarked on many projects in the council.
According to him, for avoidance of doubt, by the grace of God, there is an ongoing police station in Otor-Udu as Headquarters, plans are on to establish bank, there is also the establishment of Chapel to worship God to invite the presence of God to the area for more peace to reign, among others – which would be commissioned to mark his one year in office. Hon. Chief Oyibode warned against kidnapping and cultism in the area and sued for unity and love for one another to make the people move forward.
Earlier in an address signed and read by Mr. Famous Akpojotor ( Udu Kingdom Initiative for Development) on behalf of others among whom are: Comrade Goodluck Mukoro(Emancipation Movement for Udu Progress), Comrade Onioriode Tataunu(Save Udu Forum), Mr. Nathaniel Golohor(League of Udu Professionals), O.D.S.Akiko(Movement for the a Preservation of Udu Heritage and Culture), Chief Jason Mudiaga( Make Udu Great Forum), Comrade Godwin Unity(Udu Advocate) and Romeo Olokpa( Ambitious Youths for good government) who are the Co-ordinators of the protest, said, among other things, the Udu people need good roads namely: Orhuwhorun – Utor Udu, Oteri Road, Obubu – Ukpehenren Roads, Ubogo Ogbe Udu Road, Technical College and vocational training centres- which would not only reduce unemployment among the people but a strategic tool for community development. They also appealed to the state government to establish tertiary institution in the area for human capital development adding that Udu, despite its contributions to state’s revenue has no any of the higher institutions.
The group also appealed for the construction, rehabilitation and equipment of primary and secondary schools in Udu, increase staff and provision of facilities for Udu General Hospital- all to put smiles on the faces of the people. The highlight of the protest was the presentation of the copy of the speech containing the needs of the people in the area to the Chairman of the local government area, Hon. Chief Vincent Oyibode while others looked on.