Take Development To Riverine Communities, Orusi Urges FG, Delta Govts

The Federal and Delta State Governments have been called upon to take dividends of democracy to coastal Communities especially oil producing Communities in the Niger Delta Region.

The call was made on Saturday, 26th March 2021, at Okwuama, Ehwu Clan, Ughelli south local government area of Delta state, by the Editor-In-Chief of The Story, Comrade Kenneth Orusi, shortly after he paid his last respect to his eldest brother, late Onome Emmanuel Orusi, who died in ghastly motor accident on February 5th, 2021 along Ughelli-Asaba dual carriage road, Otor-Iyede Junction, Isoko north local government area of the state.

Addressing newsmen, Comrade Orusi, said: “The federal, state and local governments should pay more attention to coastal communities where 80 percent of the revenue to run the country and state are derived, yet, it lacks government presence.

“Up till this 21st century, there is no road to my community, Okwuama. No power supply though there are poles with cables hanging on them, yet, the Community has no light for over 40 years counting.

“It is still heartbreaking that there is overhead tank but it has never supplied water any day. My people still rely on the water from the stream for their daily lives. That is where they fish, drink, cook, wash and take their bath. It is a life of slum.

“The healthcare centre is not equipped to take care of pregnant women and administer vital drugs when they are sick. Very painful, the primary school, the teachers are just there to receive salaries without meaningfully impacting knowledge on the children. What purpose was NDDC and DESOPADEC created for”, he queried.

He expressed dissatisfaction as the community is also ravaged by flood with no one coming to their assistance when they have representatives at all levels of government.

“I have to stay on the water for good 30 minutes with speed boat or one hour thirty minutes on engine boat locally called kpekpekpe by the people”, just as the journalist cum publisher called on the President Muhammadu Buhari and Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa-led administrations to put into consideration the people living in the riverine communities as they are Nigerians and Deltans who also deserves better standard of living.