Delta State has justified why the state ranks highest in crude oil production, stating that the state has consistently taken strategic steps to ensure peace and development in oil-producing communities across the state.
The state Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, stated this during an interview on Channels TV ‘Politics Today’ on Friday night.
Aniagwu, responding to comments made by a Delta APC stalwart, Collins Eselemo, emphasized that the state could not have emerged as the country’s highest oil-producing state without investing in the peace and development of its oil-producing communities.
According to Aniagwu, “Governor Oborevwori has brought significant development to our state. Former Governor Okowa did not commission the Ogulaha-Okonti-Odimodi Road, as claimed.
“However, Okowa did construct and inaugurate the 20.29km Obotobo I, Obotobo II, Sokebulou, and Yokiri roads in Ogulagha, Burutu Local Government Area.
“Eselemo fails to understand that the people living in the creeks have homes there. They own vehicles and need accessible roads.
“One of the key reasons we have not experienced significant pipeline vandalism in Delta is because we extended development to the creeks, where most of the oil is extracted.
“Previously, they would tell the people that development was only on paper, confined to pipeline areas.
“But instead of keeping development in the pipeline, the Delta State Government starting with the Okowa administration and now deepened by Governor Oborevwori took development directly to the people.
“Eselemo questions the economic importance of developing the creeks, but that is precisely why Delta is a leading oil-producing state because our brothers and sisters in the creeks have been empowered and included.
“He is asking why we develop those areas. It’s a shameful question. Imagine how shallow his reasoning is, especially coming from someone who is himself from the creeks.”
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The commissioner also mentioned that Gov. Oborevwori’s leadership facilitated the defection of former PDP members in the state to the APC in order to drive further development.
“We joined the APC with the intention of broadening the spectrum of development in Delta. We have extended a hand of partnership to our brothers and sisters we met in the APC.
“Naturally, not everyone will be on the same page from day one, but with time, full integration will happen.
“Talking about developments in Eselemo’s local government area, we have completed all road projects in Burutu Town. The Ayakoromo Bridge is under construction, and work is ongoing on the Ogulaha-Okonti-Odimodi Road.
“We are also building the 47-kilometer Ohoror-Bomadi Road, and Eselemo is fully aware of this. If he wants to talk about development, I am more than willing to engage him,” the commissioner added.
Responding to Eselemo’s claim that the Julius Berger bridges in Effurun and Warri are within a 400-meter stretch, Aniagwu dismissed the allegation as false and misleading.