By Emma Amaize, Egufe Yafugborhi & Perez Brisibe

WARRI—THE Olu of Warri, His Majesty, Ogiame Ikenwoli, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to consider the construction of a bridge to link riverine communities in Delta State to tackle youth restiveness, pipeline vandalism and foster peaceful co-existence, particularly between Itsekiri and Ijaw ethnic nationalities.

The Olu spoke in an interview with Vanguard at his palace in Warri on his vision for Itsekiri nation and its immediate neighbour.

Shifting ground on the position of the Itsekiri on the original plan of the bridge, which is to pass through Ogbe-Ijoh community, he said: “Though our people objected prior to this time, I am saying yes now.”

On the significance of the bridge to the riverine communities in the area, he said: “The original plan was to take it through Ogbe-Ijaw and I do not mind as far as it gets to Ode-Itsekiri, because through Ode-Itsekiri, it can link other Ijaw communities around.

“The first way to curb youth restiveness in our area is to make sure that road links these areas and the government can do it, President Buhari should please try.

“Now, we are talking of pipeline vandalism. Instead of looking for boats from the boatyard to get to these areas in search of the perpetrators, you can just drive on road straight to those communities. This would minimize the efforts of protecting our area and securing our facilities.

“I am appealing to President Buhari to try his best by linking Ode-Itsekiri through Ogbe-Ijaw. It is a very short distance and from there, it can link other communities inside because once there is a road linking people, you have bridged communication gap. There will, therefore, be more understanding and the people will also be more accommodating.”