The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Western Zone has cautioned Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State to ensure Ijaws are giving a fair deal in the 2025 budget.
In a statement cosigned by the trio of Nicholas Igarama – Chairman, Ebi Joshua Olowolayemo Esq – Secretary, and Tare Magbei – Information Officer, the IYC warned Oborevwori against sidelining Ijaws by way of projects.
The group lamented that Oborevwori’s reign has not favoured Ijaws who voted entirely for his emergence in the 2023 election.
The IYC warned that a further marginalization could lead to a protest and subsequent shutdown of oil facilities in Ijaw territories.
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The statement reads in full;
The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Western Zone has carefully observed the Delta State Government led by Sheriff Oborevwori and is left worried by his administration’s treatment of the Ijaw areas.
For more than a year since assuming office, not a single fresh project has been awarded, and neither are the existing projects in our areas given appropriate attention.
The Ayakoromor Bridge, in particular, which is a capital project that will ripple economic activities among coastal communities, has also been left unattended.
Our doubt in Oborevwori’s priority of our developmental welfare is further heightened by the fact that similar projects awarded under his administration have been given wholesome attention financially and otherwise.
It is worthy of note that Governor Oborevwori has demonstrated goodwill by way of projects and lofty appointments to local government areas that he failed to win in the 2023 election while our people who delivered block votes have been subjected to economic and developmental backwardness.
As major contributors to the state’s economic might, we feel marginalized, shortchanged, and disrespected by this anomalies. Oborevwori’s treatment of Ijaws can be likened to the biblical muzzling of the mouth of the oxen that tills the ground.
While the IYC Western Zone anticipates news of the approval of the 2025 Budget, we are filled with hope that the governor will exhibit regard and priority for development in Ijaw areas.
Emphatically, the IYC will not condone another round of marginalization from the Oborevwori-led administration against our people who worked tirelessly, day and night, to deliver the votes he needed to be governor.
We will occupy the Government House with our displeasure and even shutdown operation of oil companies domiciled in our territories if attention is not channelled to our areas.
Again, we demand that the N936 billion 2025 Budget of Physical Consolidation should show priority for Ijaws whose backyards will be responsible for the production of a large chunk of the allocations that will generate the funds to finance the budget.
Signed:
Comrade Nicholas Igarama
Chairman, IYC Western Zone
Ebi Joshua Olowolayemo Esq
Secretary, IYC Western Zone
Comrade Tare Magbei
Information Officer, IYC Western Zone
