*We agree with you – Political leaders
By Chancel Bomadi Sunday
Youths of Bomadi local government area of Delta state have sent a strong signal to the state governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, asking him to complete the ongoing Electricity Power Project across River Forcados before his campaign train to Bomadi, the council’s headquarters
The Peoples Democratic Party’s campaign train is billed to visit the area on Wednesday 23rd January.
The youths who protested with placards at the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, ward-to-ward campaign ground at Bomadi, vowed to disrupt the governor’s campaign gathering if he failed to heed their stance.
The protesting youths also blocked the commissioner of Energy, Barr Newworld Safugha, during his inspection visit to the project site a day to the campaign, chanting “No electricity in Bomadi, no campaign, no electricity in Bomadi, no election”.
The project manager, Engr Oghenevo Ogbor, hinted Safugha, whose ministry is saddled with the responsibility of the project, that it would take up to three weeks to complete the project, which is beyond the scheduled January 23rd Okowa campaign visit to the council area.
Speaking for the protesters, Comrade Daniel Erebor, said “we are not happy over our situation. Light is an essential amenity that can bring development to Bomadi.
In a situation whereby we don’t have light and you want us to give you our votes, we cannot guarantee that.
“We are telling Okowa that without light in Bomadi local government we will not guarantee him our votes.
“If on the other hand, Bomadi will have light before the general elections, then we will guarantee him our votes”.
However, some inscriptions on the placards read: “Warning! warning!! warning!!! No electricity before January 23rd, No campaign in Bomadi LGA; Okowa and Newworld give us our light; Enough of the darkness our leaders; Bomadians are saying that no electricity no campaign”.
Others are “Bomadi Water Project is a scam, Okowa please give us good water; BOLGASA demands for completion of the Every-Day Market project; BYA demands for employment of our youths, we are tired on the streets; Govt College Bomadi is dying because there is no road to school compound among others.
The protesters, however, had nearly scattered the party’s ward-to-ward campaign ground at Bomadi, when some other youths tried to confront them when they advanced with their placards to the high table, chanting the same song.
However, political leaders in the council area also expressed concern over the demands of the youths.
Lawmaker representing Delta South Senatorial District, James manager, Hon. Nicholas Mutu, lawmaker representing Patani/Bomadi Constituency at the green chambers and Hon. Kenneth Oboro Preyor representing Bomadi Constituency at the state Assembly all agreed that the demands of the youths were not out of place.
They appealed for calm on the part the youths, assuring them that government would complete the project within the shortest possible time.
In their campaign visits to various wards in the creeks of Bomadi, they also assured constituents that they would work hard to ensure ongoing projects in the area were completed before end of their tenures.
In his reaction, director of special duties, Delta State PDP Campaign Team, Dr Felix Tuodolo, said, “I stand on the fact that we Bomadians need electricity. It is what government has not done that the people are yearning for.
“I have listened and I know government has done certain things and some things have not been done here and I support them because that will remind government.
“We need electricity. Three major essentials everybody needs in a society are potable water, electricity and road. When these things are provided in a society other things will follow.
“So, when the people are hammering on electricity I support them. That is not to say that government has not done other things, but we want more like Oliver Twist.
“Though, I stand on the fact that we need electricity, the January 23rd time frame given by the youths is not feasible; I appealed to them to exercise patience.
“Since the project has got to an advance stage, I think government will complete it. I think we should exercise some patience”.
It could be recalled that the last time Bomadians received electricity supply was when Gov Okowa came to the council area during the local government council election campaigns in November 2017, and immediately after the governor’s campaign train left Bomadi the light went off.
