Famous Akpojotor, Co-ordinator of Udu Kingdom Initiative for Development (UKID)
Following serious neglect as regards infrastructural development of Udu in Udu Local Government Area, Delta State, the people of Udu Local Government Area have planned mass protest on 22ndand 23 of July, to drive home their demand. In this interview with our Correspondent, Akporhobo Tataunu, the Co-ordinator of Udu Kingdom Initiative for Development (UKID), a group advocating for growth and prosperity of Udu, Famous Akpojotor X-rays some of the challenges the people face in the area
Good morning Sir. May we meet you?
My name is Famous Akpojotor from Owhrode Community. I am the Co-ordinator of Udu Kingdom Initiative for Development (UKID), a group advocating for growth and prosperity of Udu. Our group is one of the groups involved in the planning of the mass protests to draw government’s attention to Udu Local Government Area.
There have been threats of protests by different socio-political groups in the Udu Local Government. Is everything okay with the Council Area?
Yes, there is a call for mass protests in Udu LGA as a result of years of consistent marginalisation and neglect by successive administrations in Delta State. It seems to the people that the neglect is a deliberate state’s policy. The recent call is as a result of frustration and pains suffered from the neglect. The disappointment of the Udu people is heightened when they see the Governor, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Elder Sheriff Oborevwori, celebrate his second year anniversary activities by commissioning hundreds of projects across the state within his two years in office without a single one that was commissioned in Udu. That is, of these projects, none, I mean, NONE, was commissioned in Udu LGA because there is none to commission.
The roads in Udu are all in a deplorable state. From the main Udu Road, Enerhen straight to Otor-Udu and up to the ECN Junction are nightmare to commuters. Another major road that would have decongested the regular traffic jam at Ubogo Market is the Orhuwhorun-Owhrode-Otor-Udu Road, unfortunately, that road is not motorable. Others are the Oleri-Obubu-Emadadja Road, Ubogu-Ogbe-Udu Road, and many others. Fixing these roads will attract huge development to those areas. Even the Orhuwhorun Road from the Ovwian Roundabout to the Cross and Stop at Ekete needs dualization. These are major roads. Considering internal roads within communities like Maternity Road, Kotokoto Layout and many others. The situation is really horrible and requires an emergency response. Talking of other sectors, the Udu General Hospital seems not to be functional, most of the health centres in the various communities are not active, school buildings are dilapidated, a lot of projects like the Oleri Leisure Park, have been abandoned since Governor Uduaghan’s tenure. In fact, the neglect of Udu LGA by the Delta State Government should be a case study in a research work: on how a people are marginalised by their own government. By the way, there is neither a higher institution, not even a campus, nor a technical vocational training facility in Udu.
In all these, after your meeting with the Delta State Director of Protocol, Government House, Asaba, why your persistence call for a full blown protest in Udu LGA?
I do not know of any formal meeting with the Director of Protocol (DOP). The DOP we understand was in town for a social event and used the opportunity to meet with some of his friends in Udu who were planning to join the mass protest. After their so-called meeting, we saw a statement from a misguided individual who wanted to derail the planned protest, claiming that our demands have been met long before now. The statement sounded very incoherent with reality.
How do you justify the Group’s agitation in Udu LGA?
The agitation is necessary and essential as the neglect and marginalisation against the Udu people are so obvious. In an ideal situation, the state Governor should have certain percentage of projects that should be evenly distributed across the twenty five LGAs, while the remaining can be for special consideration. It is despicable that Udu, an Oil producing LGA that contributes significantly to the economy of the state cannot boast of a major road constructed by the government. Many of the roads that we calling on the government to rehabilitate were built in Udu before the return to democracy in 1999. Ordinarily, by its strategic position, as a gateway to other local governments, Udu should be entitled to better welfare from the state.
Lest I forget, let me address the careless statement of the Honourable Commissioner of Rural Roads and Information Mr. Charles Aniagwu that Udu did not overwhelmingly vote for Gov. Oborevwori. That is an irresponsible statement from a public official. Besides, the Udu people voted massively for the Governor. The votes from Udu were very pivotal to emergence of the Governor. As a matter of fact, Udu votes were more than those of many LGAs. Udu gave higher percentage of votes to Governor Oborevwori than LGAs that have landmark projects, assuming that votes were the determinant factor for attracting projects. These are verifiable data. So, the state government has no justification to neglect and marginalize the Udu people.
In addition, many of the projects listed by Mr. Aniagwu are likened to audio projects. He also manipulated facts to mislead people. For example, he cited projects in Uvwie to argue that development is coming to Udu. He also misrepresented the length of roads in Udu like the abandoned 12km Orhuwhorun – Usiefrun – Ekrokpe Link Road, which has less than 4km in Udu. Generally, what do you have to say on the State of the once productive Delta Steel complex, Ovwian/Aladja?_
On DSC, it is a very sad situation since the FG seems unwilling to revive the company. The state government has also not shown interest in escalating the issue. “There is huge unemployment, and the data show that Nigeria, which desires to be among industrialized nations, is heavily reliant on imports of steel, while it has a steel plant that can transform its fortune”.
Your advice?
The Udu Mass Protest is fixed on the 22nd and 23rd of July, and the Udu people are ready. We will conduct ourselves peacefully, and we will inform the law enforcement agencies about our actions. We have scheduled a series of meetings and sensitization activities before the deal day. We urge more people to join this mass movement.
Also,” I want to call on the state Governor, His Excellency, Rt. Honourable Elder Sheriff Oborevwori to intervene by refocusing his Renewed Hope Agenda towards Udu. We have seen his efforts and great strides across the state in various sectors, and Udu desires to be part of his testimony“. We want him to urgently consider the Udu-ECN Road, the Orhuwhorun-Owhrode-Otor-Udu Road, etc., for immediate rehabilitation. We want a Technical College to train our young people. We want an equipped and functional General Hospital.