Delta Govt Replies Omo-Agege, Says Recent Criticism of Oborevwori at Variance with Reality

Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba

The Delta State Government yesterday reacted to a recent criticism of the Governor Sheriff Oborevwori administration by a former Deputy Senate President,  Ovie Omo-Agege, labelling it as idle talk.

The State Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, gave the response in a media conference in Asaba.

Aniagwu, who was flanked by the Executive Assistant to the Governor on New Media, Mr Felix Ofou, said that some persons who had been in government before, because they do not have any appointment at the moment, are now in the habit of seeking to deceive unsuspecting Deltans.

Specifically reacting to comments made recently by  Omo-Agege during a visit to Bomadi and Burutu Local government areas of the state, Aniagwu said that the opposition politicians should be able to exhibit some decorum and “element of patriotism in identifying what government is doing and not to tell lies that make them look uninformed”.

He stressed that the state governor has continued to reply critics with verifiable projects in the health, education, road, agriculture sectors and many other areas including human capital development which cuts across the three senatorial districts.

Aniagwu said:  “At the weekend, we saw the former deputy president of the Senate, a man Governor Oborevwori defeated roundly in the last election, accusing our government of neglecting the people of southern and northern senatorial districts.

“Starting from Delta South Senatorial District, in Isoko South we have a good number of roads that we are constructing and in Isoko North Local Government Area we have the Southern Delta University located in Ozoro; and, you can see the amount of structures we are building there.

“We have also continued efforts to ensure that the Technical College in Irri is completed in good time. The College of Health Technology, Ovrode, if you go there now you’ll see the speed at which we are going on with that project.

“The Ughelli-Asaba Road, which cuts across the three senatorial districts, is also receiving serious attention; and, in Patani we are working on Uduophori Road, schools, water projects are ongoing. And, if you move from there towards Bomadi, you will see that the Ohoror-Bomadi Road, which is about 47km, is ongoing.

“In our last EXCO meeting we also approved the Bomadi-Gbaregolor road of 18.6km, in Burutu, we have the Okontu – Ogulaha Road 12.5km being reconstructed.

“In Warri South-West we have Benikrukru internal roads, Okerenkoko internal roads, Okerenkoko, Kokodiagbene pepeama  road.

“If you proceed to Warri North, the Ogbudugbudu – Ogbeinbiri Road is being worked on. The Trans Warri – Ode-Itsekiri road and bridges are ongoing and we have put the contract under ISPO which means we will be paying the contractor over a billion naira every month to enable the contractor complete the project on time. “

He added that the governor also completed a number of roads in Warri South, including the Upper and Lower Erejuwa Road, Esisi Road and the Omadino Technical College.

In the nine local government areas of Delta North, he said Oborevwori has his footprints and has been able to deal and complete the storm drainage in Owa-Alero to Owa-Ofie River, Idumu-Etiti Street is completed, Aliosimi- Owanta Road, among others are ongoing.

“In Ndokwa West, the Eweshi-Utagba – Uno Road, the Ndemili – Utagba-Uno Road, Construction of Inam-Abbi Access Road still in Ndokwa West LGA. In Ukwuani we have the Amai-Aragba Road already approved for construction in addition to what we are doing in the health and education sectors.

“Even when you come back to Ndokwa East, you know now that the people have, bid bye-bye to the use of pontoon to cross the Asse Creek. Now they take advantage of the Beneku Bridge and cross the bridge. That bridge is done and dusted.

“I needed to mention them so that these our brothers who tend to show that they are very idle and even in the afternoon when people are supposed to be busy with businesses they are gathering people and then spewing lies so that they can have enough time to read and know what is happening,” the commissioner added.

The commissioner further remarked that the former lawmaker, who was secretary to the state government under a PDP government, made an error of judgement when he alleged that the PDP abandoned certain parts of the state in the last 25 years.

“When somebody says nothing is happening, like the former Deputy State President says for how many years of PDP, he forgot that he was a Secretary to the State Government within those number of years. And, what that means is an indication of the fact that he has scored himself very low, even when he sat at a very high level.

“But maybe that failure, that kind of failure at that time is what he thinks is prevalent today? No. We have moved. We have left that channel. We are in a different channel where work is moving considerably.

“We just needed to give this information to help them so that they don’t continue to tell stories that make them look uninformed and we feel bad that they are people who are supposed to be highly exposed displaying that level of ignorance.

“We don’t want them to continue like that before they go out to the public and put us to shame as Deltans.” You know Delta no suppose carry last, so tell them to ‘wise up’ a little,” Aniagwu said.

Meanwhile, Aniagwu said that the State Government has banned illegal mining at Ugbolu Heights and other parts of the state.

According to him, this is because of the environmental degradation in the affected areas. He therefore asked that all the people digging and destroying the landscape of the Ugbolu heights desist from doing so forthwith or face the wrath of the law.