DELTA State Government said it has consistently taken strategic steps over the years to boost national revenue by ensuring peace and development in oil-producing communities across the state.
The Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, made this assertion during an interview over the weekend.
In response to comments made by a Delta All Progressive Congress (APC) stalwart, Collins Eselemo, Aniagwu emphasised that Delta State could not have emerged as the country’s highest oil-producing state without investing in the peace and development of its oil-producing communities.
According to Aniagwu, ‘’Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has brought significant development to our state’’. He further clarified, “Immediate Past Governor, Sen (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa did not commission the Ogulaha-Okonti-Odimodi Road, as claimed.
“However, Okowa did construct and inaugurate the 20.29km Obotobo I, Obotobo II, Sokebulou, and Yokiri roads in Ogulagha, Burutu Local Government Area.”
“Eselemo fails to understand that the people living in the creeks have homes there. They own vehicles and need accessible roads. One of the key reasons we have not experienced significant pipeline vandalism in Delta is that we extended development to the creeks, where most of the oil is extracted.
“Previously, they would tell the people that development was only on paper, confined to pipeline areas. But instead of keeping development in the pipeline, the Delta State Government, starting with the Okowa administration and now deepened by Governor Oborevwori, took development directly to the people.
“Eselemo questions the economic importance of developing the creeks, but that is precisely why Delta is a leading oil-producing state, because our brothers and sisters in the creeks have been empowered and included.
“He is asking why we develop those areas. It’s a shameful question. Imagine how shallow his reasoning is, especially coming from someone who is himself from the creeks.”
The Commissioner also mentioned that Governor Oborevwori’s leadership facilitated the defection of former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members in the state to the APC to drive further development.
“We joined the APC to broaden the spectrum of development in Delta. We have extended a hand of partnership to our brothers and sisters we met in the APC. Naturally, not everyone will be on the same page from Day One, but with time, full integration will happen.
“Talking about developments in Eselemo’s Local Government Area, we have completed all road projects in Burutu town. The Ayakoromo Bridge is under construction, and work is ongoing on the Ogulaha-Okonti-Odimodi Road.
“We are also building the 47-kilometre Ohoror-Bomadi road, and Eselemo is fully aware of this. If he wants to talk about development, I am more than willing to engage him”.
Responding to Eselemo’s claim that the Julius Berger bridges in Effurun and Warri are within a 400-metre stretch, Aniagwu dismissed the allegation as false and misleading.
“He claimed that the bridges being constructed in Effurun and Warri are only 400 metres apart. That’s not true. One of the bridges alone exceeds 400 metres in length, and we are building three.
“Let him tell you whether the Enerhen Junction is just 400 metres from the DSC Roundabout. Let him say if PTI Junction is just 400 metres from Enerhen Junction, or the DSC Roundabout. He is not telling the truth.
“And it’s not just bridges we are building, we are also expanding the corridor. Everyone who travels through that corridor has commended Governor Oborevwori for his commitment to infrastructure.
“So I want to know what exactly my brother Collins is unhappy about. Is it our move to the APC or the state’s infrastructural progress? That needs to be clarified.
