The member representing Isoko North Constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly, Bernard Odior, has called on Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to compel the contractor handling the Isoko Ring Road project to return to site or risk contract revocation, as he highlighted ongoing infrastructural development in the area.
Odior made the call while receiving members of the Ughelli Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), during a courtesy visit to his country home in Ozoro, headquarters of Isoko North Local Government Area.
Speaking during the interaction, the legislator, who also chairs the House Committee on Culture and Tourism, commended Gov. Oborevwori for his commitment to infrastructure development in Isoko North, particularly the completion of Phase I and the near completion of Phase II of the Emevor-Orogun Road.
He, however, expressed concern over the slow pace of work on the Isoko Ring Road linking Ofagbe and other communities in Isoko North and South, urging the governor to intervene decisively.
“He should prevail on the contractor to return to the site and expedite work, or revoke the contract and reassign it to a more competent contractor,” Odior said.
The legislator also used the opportunity to outline his contributions to human capital development, disclosing that he has spent over N50 million on educational support for constituents and a similar amount on health-related assistance.
Defending his overall performance, Odior maintained that effective representation should be measured by tangible projects and social impact rather than individual expectations.
“No human being can satisfy everybody; only God can do that. What matters is the impact of projects on the general public,” he said, citing road infrastructure and school renovations as key achievements that have improved living standards in the constituency.
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In his re-election bid, Odior expressed confidence that his performance would earn him another mandate, noting that even some former critics have now aligned with his aspiration.
Addressing the controversy surrounding a recent festival in Ozoro, the legislator dismissed reports describing it as a “rape festival,” clarifying that it is traditionally a fertility festival observed by locals.
He explained that the incident that drew public attention resulted from hoodlums hijacking the event and engaging in misconduct, adding that security agencies had since made arrests and found no verified cases of rape.
To forestall future occurrences, Odior disclosed plans to sponsor legislation aimed at regulating festivals and similar public gatherings across the state.
“Laws are necessary to guide behaviour in society. We must ensure such incidents do not bring our communities into disrepute,” he stated.
The lawmaker also addressed internal tensions within parts of his constituency, particularly claims by a section seeking to distance itself from the larger Ozoro community, describing the development as a misunderstanding that is being resolved through dialogue.
He expressed optimism that an upcoming stakeholders’ conference would restore unity and strengthen communal ties.
