Ndokwa East alleges marginalisation

By Austin Ogwuda
Asaba — THE people of Ndokwa East Local Government Area of Delta State, weekend, expressed regret over alleged marginalisation. They called on the state Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and the management of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, to “urgently ensure that this trend is ameliorated”.

They made the call at a meeting held at Aboh, where the member representing the area in the state House of Assembly, Dr. Olise Imegwu was invited to render his stewardship.

They said in a communique that the people observed that from “his (Imegwu) briefing, especially as Chairman, Delta State House of Assembly  Works Committee, the value of projects awarded was N134 billion on just one sub-head out of three sub-heads under the Ministry of Works.

“Delta South senatorial district is to have N66 billion, Delta Central senatorial district, 43 billion, while Delta North senatorial district, where Ndokwa East which is the livewire and the only oil and gas producing community is to have about 25 billion.

“Of this amount, Oshimili/Aniocha federal constituency would have N18 billion, Ika federal constituency, N4 billion and Ndokwa federal constituency only N3 billion,” he said.

It further said  that “it is sad to note that the only viable projects in Ndokwa East, whichof course is the much orchestrated Aboh Road, had been recklessly abandoned  for several months with only one excuse, Setraco had not been paid”.

“It is also settled that the Delta Micro Credit Programme, DMCP,  for which Delta State has a Central Bank award did not have any impact on the Ndokwa East people, neither did the DESOPADEC which some cheques were negligently dishonored till date.

“The people of Ndokwa East are asking the question, is it because we are non violent? Are we being punished for being peaceful and adopting dialogue as the best form of negotiation”, the communique added.