By Onomiguren Agbamu
The member representing Udu, in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Ovie Collins Egbetamah has said the recent protest by the good people of Udu Kingdom was to draw the attention of the state Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori over the poor state of Udu under-development, especially in the areas of infrastructural development.
The Honourable member who also admitted that the state governor is doing a lot of infrastructural projects and others across the 25 local government areas, said the main the Udu road from the bridge to the express junction to the Udu headquarter to Essien road where almost commercial activities is taking place is in sorry state.
He added that the Udu protest also ignite over neglects by successive governments and there were no meaningful development that is visible.
The Honourable member disclosed at his office in Asaba, Delta state capital when reacting to why the good people of Udu were protesting
He said; Well, the good people of Udu Kingdom are the ones living in Udu, they are the ones there and in my opinion, it is what they are saying, what is happening over successive governments that is what they have come out to react to”.
” You know looking out the pace at which the Governor is working in the state because the truth must say, the Governor is working in Delta state, if you see the projects he is doing in Uvwie, the flyover, Warri environs, Asaba roads and not just roads projects, there are numerous other projects in health sectors, education, and others”.
“You can’t feel that impact in Udu local government area, it is not visible in Udu; hence, the people are saying they have been marginalized”.
“The Governor may mean very well for Udu people, but you know sometimes they say, even God says when you asked, and you shall receive, perhaps, I believe the Udu people have just asked, I won’t call it a protest, they are asking the Governor, please remember us, look at the situation of Udu”.
“For instance between the major road Udu has as at today, it is that main Udu road, but if you see that main Udu road it is nothing to write home about, there are many massive death trap, potholes, and you can see that Udu is highly understand developed”.
“So, they are trying to call the attention of the Governor that the good work the Governor is doing in certain places that they are seeing, Udu need to benefit, and enjoy it too, and I believe that the Governor is someone who has listening ears and a big heart”.
“For you to be Governor the work is enormous, sometimes your mind won’t go to certain things, and if they don’t draw your attention to it, you might think that all is going well, I think that is what Udu people are yearning for, they just want to feel the Governor impact the way other LGAs are feeling it”.
“If you look at Udu there are so many virgin roads that have not been touch since inception. Take for instance, from Oleri to Emadaja, Orhuwhorun to Ogwhorode to the Otor-Udu headquarter there is no road, the main Udu road is suffering, Udu is suffering from drainage issues”.
“Like I said before, the people who are yearning for these things are the ones staying there, so they know what their pains are. Occasionally you can paint a house beautiful, but the foundation is shaking, but you actually painted the house”
“It is a matter of giving priority to what the people needs, you get closer to the people to know their needs. I can’t say there are no projects going on in Udu, like Opete road the Governor is working on it”.
“They sited some projects, but there are things that will begin to bring arguments, they are not projects that you will just have and everybody will say YES the Governor has done these things”
“There are visible projects that the masses will benefit automatically, these are the projects Udu people are actually yearning for, for instance, the main Udu road from the bridge to Otor-Udu to Essien that is the main road Udu has, if you go to that road during this period the rain is falling you will feel sorry, so many potholes, the road is nothing to write home about”.
“If the State Governor does that road project it covers everything you can describe, then you go from Orhuwhorun down to Ogwhorode, to Otor-Udu, if the Governor does that road he has saved and I can’t count the people that will benefit but some of the projects that the commissioner listed if you go to the people you will see that it just some people’s street, maybe they have influence, that is not what the public want, but it is just part of it”.
“Udu people are asking what will benefit the general populace”, he said.
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