A community leader, Amb. Dere Podoki, has expressed displeasure towards an alleged hatred by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State for Ijaws in the state.
Podoki, who is the spokesperson for Odimodi community also fingered the governor as real cause of the recent exodus in the Peoples Democratic Party in the state, describing it as am edge for opposition parties to inflict a defeat on the PDP.
In an interview with Daily Report Nigeria on Sunday, Podoki accused the governor of undermining and marginalizing Ijaws in the state despite their support for his administration.
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Using Odimodi as a pointer, Podoki lamented that Ijaw communities in the state have been reduced to mere figureheads without impact from the government.
Decrying the poor state of the Ogulagha-Odimodi road that has been left abandoned by Okowa’s administration, Podoki said the vice presidential candidate of the PDP does not deserve support from Ijaws.
He also condemned the borrowing spree of the governor, adding that nothing positive has gone the way of Ijaws from the monies borrowed.
He further stressed that the people will look elsewhere with their votes if things do not take a positive turn before the elections.
He said;
“Okowa is the cause of the exodus in PDP, especially in the riverine areas where he has demonstrated heightened hatred for Ijaws.
“This has caused collapse in many strongholds in the PDP. We can’t vote in some one who refused to fix our road that has taken lives due to its deplorable state.
“Okowa borrowing N100 billion four months to the end of his tenure is a call for concern. I don’t understand what the governor is up to. His tenure ends in four months and its just one month to election, he’s still borrowing.
“The last time N150 billion was buried, nothing tangible was done in Ijaw areas despite our heavy sacrifices for him.
“The Ogulagha-Odimodi road, Ayakoromor bridge, Marine School Burutu and others have been left at the mercy of Okowa’s administration. He has continued to marginalize Ijaws despite our support for him and the PDP.
“Our stand as Odimodi people is simple. If the Ogulagha-Odimodi road is not completed from this recent loan, our votes will not be for Okowa and his party.
“He cannot put Deltans in more debt and expect us to vote for him. And that is why many persons are moving to opposition parties. Okowa has given the opposition an edge in the forthcoming election.
“This time, we will vote for individuals and not political parties this time,” Podoki added.
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