Ikpide-Irri community lauds Okowa, Emoefe over road project

By Gabriel Oghenekaro,

Ikpide community in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State has lauded the Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa and Emmanuel Emoefe over the construction of internal roads in the community.

The indigenes of the community on Sunday, came out en-mass in a solidarity march along sections of the new road which is still under construction, expressed their gratitude to the governor over the project.

The indigenes, displaying placards with inscriptions such as, “Ikpide people greet you our dear governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa”, “Ikpide people greet you High Chief Emmanuel Emoefe”, “Ikpide Irri road project is on course”, “We appreciate the SMART Governor of Delta State”, among others, also commended the contractor handling the project.

Speaking to newsmen on behalf of the community, the President General, Engr. Orose Edemo noted that the community was satisfied with the ongoing project.

He said, “as far as the Ikpide indigenes are concerned, we have no problem with the road that is being constructed, the project is ongoing and we have been enjoying the services of the road for that past two years.

“All the areas and sections that have been done are motorable, we have trailers coming here, and we have tankers driving in and going out there have been no problem. Since you came, you have been going around, have you seen any problem with the road? So, we are very satisfied with the work that is going on.

“Ikpide are happy with the road that is being constructed, Ikpide has nothing to do with anybody that claims the road is not good. All such claims are false. Any claim that the road is substandard is in the imagination of those that are making such claims and in the newspapers, it is not the reality on the ground which you have seen for yourself.

“We want to thank His Excellency for this kind gesture, Ikpide is a small community and we are so surprised that he has chosen to fish us out, we are happy and we pray that his administration, his smart agenda is a testimony to behold and that God should bless him. We equally use this medium to ask for His Excellency’s more larges.”

Speaking in the same vein, Hon. Pius Utolo, a notable Chief and ex-President General of the community, said, “It is only God that gave us this road and we should appreciate the governor and those that met the governor that made him approve road for us.

“We don’t have oil, we don’t have any means of generating revenue to the state yet he considered us and gave us this road, so we are very happy and pray that God will bless them abundantly.”

The site Engineer of Portplus Limited, the company handling the road, Surveyor Ike Chidindu,   said the company has maintained the standard in the BOQ it signed with the state government.

He said, “the major challenge we are having is that is like there are internal crises, whether political or communal, I don’t know, but they are using it to face this job, giving us series of problems. Sometimes they will bring people and harass us saying what we are doing is not the right thing and all of that.

“We have been following the standard that government gave, yet they will still be harassing us. The government officials have visited severally to certify that what we are doing is in order, but I don’t know what these people want.”