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In a protest on Friday August 21, 2020 by the Niger delta activist forum, the National President of the forum Comrade Success Jack have declared that the deplorable state of the Odukpani/Itu/Ikot Ekpene road is unbecoming and a serious threat to the life of the people of the Niger Delta.
According to him, in the year 2019 during a protest over the same road, the minister of power, works and housing Babatunde Fashola lied to the people of Niger Delta by telling them that by February 2020, the road would be given a priority attention and funded by the federal government.
Furthermore, Comrade Jack also stated that the Honorable minister have refused to pick calls from them ever since February adding that up till now, the Federal Government has done nothing about the state of the road.
“It is pathetic because Niger Delta produces the whole oil for revenue and federal budgeting. But we give to Nigeria money that they use in building gallows and slaughter slaps for our people.” He said. Adding that on daily bases, people die due to the poor state of roads in the Niger Delta region.
Comrade Jack further mentioned that currently there is an approval of 50.3 million by the Federal Executive Council meant to fix the Odukpani/Itu/Ikot Ekpene road, but Fashola has chosen to prioritize other roads over that of the Niger Delta.
“This is not right, we are all Nigerians and the money to fund the places he has chosen comes from the Niger Delta. If this punishment is what deserve, then we call on President Buhari to Sack Babatunde Fashola. ” he added, stating that lives have been lost on daily bases, economic sabotage and a high rate of crime on the road due to the poor state of the road.
“If our lives no more matter, then there is no need for Fashola to remain in the office. This is not the problem of President Muhammadu Buhari, it is that of the Minister who has decided that the people of Odukpani and Niger Delta must be punished, because the money has already been released”
“Fashola cannot do this in the Yoruba land, even in the heat of Covid-19 work was on in the Lagos – Ibadan Express way. Currently, Billions have been released to fix the third mainland bridge. Are the lives in the Niger Delta of less important than those in the South West?” he said.
Also speaking, the Cross River State Chairman of Niger Delta Activist Forum, Comrade Paul Adie said the state of the road is a complete sabotage and a disgrace to the people of Cross River and Akwa Ibom State. He also added that people whose responsibility it is to work on the road have paid less attention to it and also presented it as complete before the presidency.
Furthermore, he promised to leave a legacy of value for his own people as the chairman of the forum in Cross River State. Also adding that the protest will be consistent on till the road is attended to.
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