Commuters’ stranded as protesters blocked Ozoro-Kwale-Asaba express road

… Calls for the sack of Askia Ogieh, DESOPADEC EDFA

 

——————-By Shedrack Onitsha,————————-

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Commuters’ plying the ever busy Ozoro-Kwale-Asaba express road, Delta State were left stranded for several hours as youths under the umbrella of Isoko National Youth Assembly, (INYA) as well as women, Monday morning barricaded the road in protest.

The protesters called on the Delta state Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa to immediately sack Executive Director, Administration and Finance, Delta State Oil Producing Development Commission, (DESOPADEC), Mr Askia Ogieh over what they called bad governance and corruption.

The protesting youths and women slammed governor Okowa for neglecting the Isoko nation, accusing him of turning a blind eye to the monumental corruption and embezzlement of millions of naira meant for youths’ empowerment in Isoko nation by Mr. Ogieh.

The protest which started as early as 7:00 am caused traffic gridlock along the busy Ozoro-Kwale-Asaba express road, preventing vehicular movement, as the youths used aged women as shield, against military men that came to the scene of protest.

In placards with different inscription such as; “Enough is enough of Okowa taking Isoko for granted,” “Bashorun Askia must be shown the exit from DESOPADEC,” “Askia leave Isoko you money alone,” “Okowa release DESOPADEC money,” “Okowa respect Isoko kings and leader,” the group said that Okowa has not done anything in Isoko in the past three years.

They also accused Askia Ogieh, of converting their commonwealth for his personal use, while Governor Okowa urges him on, thereby depriving Isoko youth millions of naira accrued to them from the Commission for their empowerment.

“Askia continue to connive with a criminal appointed as SA to governor Okowa, one Victor alias “last mugu” to embezzle our money meant for empowerment. Okowa and Askia are common enemies of Isoko nation. Okowa decided to kill DESOPADEC and continue to fund Asaba Capital Development Agency with funds meant for the commission,” Mrs. Oghenero one of the protesters said.

According to the leader of the protesters and President of Isoko National Youth Assembly, (INYA), Comrade Umuakpo Ovie while addressing newsmen said that the protest is about bad governance in Delta state and the refusal of governor Okowa to complete the Section B of the Isoko-Asaba-Ughelli road dualization.

He also berated the Okowa led-government deliberate policy of not funding DESOPADEC in the past two years, tasking the governor to expedite action and release the moribund interventionist agency budgeted fund to enable it function optimally to meet the yearning of oil bearing communities.

The group frowns at consistent abandonment of the Isoko axis of the Ughelli-Asaba dualization road project, adding that because Isoko youths as peace loving Nigerians, they decided to mobilized for the protest which is the only peaceful way to press home their demands to the Federal Government and the Governor Okowa.