Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Isaba Ward in Warri South-West local area of Delta State, Engr. Jude Akpodubakaye, has blamed the perennial inter-ethnic squabbles between the Urhobo of Aladja and Ijaw of Isaba-Ogbe-Ijoh in Delta State on the insensitivity of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led administration.
“One of the major issues we have in the Isaba kingdom is insecurity. These are things that our governorship candidate, Senator Omo-Agege, the deputy Senate president, when he becomes the governor of Delta State will tackle to attract the government’s presence to Isaba kingdom, especially, the perennial inter-ethnic squabble between Aladja/Isaba-Ogbe-Ijoh boundary dispute.
“We strongly believe that with Senator Omo-Agege as governor of Delta State, these insecurity challenges will be laid to rest and resolved amicably to allow development to come to the affected communities.
Once there is peace and security, these warring communities can do business together and there will be meaningful development. So, to us, peace and security are what bother the people of Isaba kingdom most because once there is peace and security, every other good thing will follow”, Engr. Akpodubakaye maintained.
The APC leader lamented that “even the only access road to Ogbe-Ijoh, the headquarters of Warri South-West Local Government Area, has been severally blocked, while the state government is yet to implement the recommendations of the commission of inquiry it set up on March 3, 2015, to look into the land dispute between both communities.He insisted that while the protection of lives and property remains the basic constitutional role of any well-meaning and responsible government, the Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa led-PDP administration in Delta State has continued to undermine the issues that bother on safety and protection of lives and property, especially in the riverine communities where the Ijaws live.
“Senator Ovie Omo-Agege will rescue Delta State from the massive debt burden that the Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa-led PDP has brought us. We believe that Senator Omo-Agege is a better manager of resources.
“Go to his senatorial district and see what has been able to do with the little he has for his people. He has touched lives in several communities in the different local government areas under his Senatorial District.
“He has made a massive impact there, but look at our own Senatorial District, there is nothing to show for it. So, with his experience, capacity occasioned by his position as the Deputy Senate President, when he becomes the governor of Delta State, he will certainly bring all that experience and capabilities to bear on governance, development and management of the resources of the state.
“We believe that on the day of election, our people will cast their votes for all APC candidates in order to change the narrative”, the APC Leader said.
Akpodubakaye, a former Delta State House of Assembly aspirant for Warri South-West Constituency on the platform of the ruling APC reiterated that the Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa-led government’s failure to resolve the Aladja/Ogbe-Ijoh crisis is a clear reason why the Ijaw should vote for the Deputy Senate President and governorship candidate of the APC in the forthcoming general elections in the state.
While lamenting the poor living conditions of the people of Isaba, Ogbe-Ijoh and the Ijaws in general, Akpodubakaye said Isaba-Ogbe-Ijoh people have been landlocked and have no health facilities, pipe borne water and educational facilities resulting to reduced academic activities in both primary and secondary schools in the area.
Akpodubakaye who spoke with newsmen at Isaba community in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State on Saturday after holding series of meetings with the regent, the Isaba central governing council chairman, youths and women, including operatives, further reiterated that the primary responsibility of government in any sane society is to maintain order, provide security and social stability through enforcement of the existing laws.
“We are here because we want Isaba kingdom in Warri South-West Local Government Area to give the APC their votes because we have been neglected and suffered in the hands of the PDP led-government over the years. PDP has been in power since but all along we have been severely shortchanged by the governors, Senators, House of Representatives members, up to the State House of Assembly members all these years of the PDP led-administration. Yet, there is no presence of the ruling PDP government in Isaba kingdom.
“We want Isaba people to change the status quo by voting Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, our incoming governor, who will make the difference. He has done so well in his own senatorial district. The Impact has been massively felt by his senatorial district, while in our own senatorial district under the PDP, there is nothing to show for it,” he said.
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