* Uges Oborevwori to emulate former Gov James Onanefe Ibori.

By: Favour Bibaikefie

As Delta state prepares to celebrate its 34th anniversary, renowned peace builder and environmental rights activist, Chief, Comrade, (Dr.) Sheriff Mulade (PhD.), has urged the administration of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to place greater emphasis on addressing the infrastructural gaps in the state’s riverine communities. He lamented that despite the enormous revenues generated from the petroleum industry and the blue economy, these areas remain “deprived and neglected.”

Mulade made the call while offering his congratulations to Governor Oborevwori and Deltans ahead of the remarkable occasion of the State’s 34th anniversary on August 27, 2025.

In the congratulatory message, Mulade felicitates with governor Oborevwori on the giant strides his administration is making in the State and also applauded Deltans for the relative peace, unity as well as the progress that has been achieved since its creation in 1991.

He said, “Permit me to specially felicitate with Your Excellency, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, the Executive Governor of Delta State on this momentous occasion of Delta State at 34, and the giant strides of your governance of our dear Delta State.

“It is exactly 34 years today that Delta State was created, and I celebrate not just our 34th Anniversary and togetherness as a people, but the relative peace, unity and progress we have witnessed and enjoyed in the past 34 years. We celebrate our founding fathers and the grace of God that has kept us together as one indivisible state, in spite of our cultural, linguistic, and environmental diversity,” he noted.

However, the Ibe-Serimowei of ancient Gbaramatu Kingdom lamented the deliberate neglect and marginalisation of the riverine population through infrastructural deficit, and appealed to governor Oborevwori to follow in the steps of its former predecessor, governor James Onanefe Ibori, to change the narrative by embarking on major roads and bridges so as to write his name in gold.

“It is quite unfortunate that the riverine communities mainly dominated by the Ijaw and Itsekiri ethnic nationalities are totally deprived and neglected in spite of their huge resource contribution through oil and gas as well as blue economy which is the main stay of the State’s economy,” Mulade lamented.

Continuing, he added, “I therefore urge Gov Sheriff Oborevwori to emulate His Excellency, Chief James Onanafe Ibori, who is the only governor that gave sense of belonging to the Ijaws and Itsekiri’s by constructing the Bomadi and Omadino bridges that linked the hinterland to the upland at the peak of the Niger Delta crisis with dwindling economy.

“Governor Sheriff Oborevwori should commence the construction of Ayakoromo bridge and Omadino road connecting Okerenkoko, Pepe-ama, Ekpemu, Akpata, Ogidadinor, Edeuba and Kokodiagbene communities in Burutu and Warri South-West LGA’s respectively in Delta State to write and print his name in the heart of Deltans, particularly the Ijaws and Itsekiris.

“Speaking further, just as the governor did in education in the upland, he should convert the former Delta State School of Marine Technology in Burutu which was politically upgraded to a moribound polytechnic in 2023, to a university or campus of the Delta State University, Abraka, Southern Delta University, Ozoro, or the Delta State University of Education, Agbor with a special focus on maritime to harness the blue economy, because state polytechnics are no longer a standard basis of education in the country,” he asserted.

Mulade also advise the governor not to be tempted to lavish the State’s resources on unnecessary jamboree in the name of the 34th anniversary of the State’s creation, but to instead, channel such funds into flagging-off meaningful projects towards industrialisation of the State that will create employment opportunities for our teeming youths.

“I wish to strongly advise Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, to change the narrative of celebrating the state creation with taxpayers’ money in political funfair, which is a waste of resources, but His Excellency should rather use Delta State at 34 to flag-off construction of economically viable projects such as the Ayakoromo bridge and the Omadino-Okerenkoko-Kokodiagbene road, among others alongside the recent approved flyovers at Agbor and Ughelli.

“In this respect, i wish to place on a particular note, that the effort of your Excellency on the towering human capital and infrastructural revolution in some parts of the State, is evidential. However, the riverine communities need to experience significant and economically valuable infrastructural projects that will be commemorate with her revenue contributions.

In his commendation to Deltans, he said, “Let me cease this medium to salute Deltans, past and present leaders for their commitment to statehood, the development strides, and the strengthening of our democracy. And to Deltans, we appreciate your spirit of resilience and commitment to building a state of our dream and sustaining the vision of our founding fathers,” he added.

By: Divine Perezide

The Ijaw Publishers’ Forum (IPF) has commended the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for speaking against the corrupt activities of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) under the Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku.

The media practitioners while intensifying the call for a thorough investigation into the leadership of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to borrow a leaf from the ICPC to expose suspected corrupt activities such as contract scams, unauthorized spending, ghost project-Hope, unrealistic youth intensive programs, failure to pay/third-party payment of contractors, execution of substandard contracts, abandoned contracts and other failed projects of the commission to recover looted funds.

The call was made in a statement signed by the Spokesperson of the Forum, Comrade Ezekiel Kagbala, copies of which were made available to newsmen in Warri Delta State on Monday.

While reacting to the warning by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences to NDDC’s staff against engaging in corrupt practices, the Forum said EFCC should focus on its mandate of being a watchdog to all institutions and organizations in the country, rather than being a friend with a cat.

Stating further, the Publishers’ said the recent statement of the EFCC applauding Dr Ogbuku’s led administration was unhealthy and suspicious, noting that Niger Delta region may lose confidence in EFCC ability and capacity to fight crime in the country if this political praise-singing of trade by barter continues.

The forum cautioned EFCC to refrain from dining with people who were responsible for the underdevelopment of the Niger Delta region, adding that EFCC should not make itself a depart of the NDDC, but should stand with impoverished people of Niger Delta to checkmate the commission’s corrupt activities.

“We express our deep concerns over the use of “reckless and fraudulent schemes” employed by the current NDDC leadership to siphon resources intended for the infrastructural development of the Niger Delta region.

The statement also urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to expose corruption in NDDC just as ICPC during their quarterly anti-corruption sensitization workshop for NDDC staff warned that “anybody caught in corrupt act would face the full wrath of the law”.

“The partnership between the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and anti-graft agencies, particularly the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), raises serious questions about the integrity of efforts to combat corruption within the agency.

“The EFCC must prioritize its mandate, to prevent and prosecute corrupt Individuals, rather than engaging in partnerships that may inadvertently shield corrupt officials from scrutiny.

“The EFCC should re-evaluate its approach, and show commitment to its core mission of safeguarding public funds, ensuring that it does not become complicit in the very corruption it was established to combat -the Forum emphasised.

By: Divine Perezide

The Ijaw Publishers Forum (IPF) has called on the Federal Government to investigate the activities of Dr. Ogbuku and call the NDDC Management to order, given the series of activities signalling gross incompetence and wastage of the people’s resources on frivolous projects and programmes to the abandonment of key infrastructural projects. A case the body seriously points to is the abandonment of Udo-Ofinama road project.

The Udo–Ofunama Road in Egbema Kingdom, Edo State, stands today as one of the most glaring examples of uncompleted projects under the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). Conceived as a vital link road to connect communities, boost trade, and ease transportation, the project has suffered repeated delays and neglect despite its importance.

For years, promises have been made, contracts have been awarded, and funds have reportedly been allocated. Yet, the road remains undone—leaving the people of Udo, Ofunama, and neighboring communities stranded in poor access and underdevelopment.

This situation is not isolated. Across the Niger Delta, the NDDC is saddled with a history of abandoned and delayed projects. Reports show:

Over 18,000 projects have been initiated since 2002.

Of these, more than 7,000 have been completed, but thousands remain uncompleted or abandoned. The 7,000 completed are mostly inconsequential and ghost projects like grass cutting, water hycent removal, etcetera.

The Udo–Ofunama Road is one of such projects where neglect has deepened frustration among host communities.

The delay has now triggered action. The youth of Egbema Kingdom have declared a peaceful protest on August 25, 2025, to demand answers and accountability from the NDDC and government authorities. Their message is simple: enough of the promises, the road must be completed.

The Udo–Ofunama Road is more than just an infrastructure project—it represents hope, connectivity, and development for a people long denied the dividends of the resources taken from their land. Every delay only widens the gap of distrust between the Commission and the very people it was created to serve.

The question remains: why the delay, and when will the people of Egbema Kingdom finally see the completion of the Udo–Ofunama Road?

#nddc25 NDDC #Tinubu #edostate

Photo credit: Delta Event Tv