Edo @30: Youth Leader Lemon Writes Obaseki To Develop Ijaw Areas
By Binebai Princewill
As Edo State celebrates 30 years of Its creation, an Ijaw Youth Leader in the state, Comr. Lemon Austin Uduwei has called on His Excellency, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, Governor of Edo State to make urgent and concerted efforts in the development of Ijaw areas in the state.
Comr. Lemon Austin Uduwei made the appeal earlier today via a statement he personally signed and issued to newsmen in Benin, a copy of which was sent to The Liberator Newspapers Worldwide.
According to him, despite the fact that the Ijaws have been squeezed into three Local Government Areas of Edo State in Ovia South West, Ovia East and Ikpoba Okah Local Government Areas, he said the 30 years of Its creation has been nothing less than slavery for his people.
The youth leader particularly challenged Governor Obaseki to make the difference by attending to the age long developmental needs of the Ijaw people.
Speaking further, Lemon said it is high time the Governor begins arrangements to give staff of office to all Ijaw Kings in Edo State, stressing that the best time to do so is so now as they have been cheated for too long.
In his words: “First and foremost, congratulations to Edo state for clocking 30yrs.Your Excellency, Governor Godwin Obaseki,since the creation of the state, the Ijaws in the state has no meaningful development in their areas starting from Ovia South West, Ovia East and Ikpoba Okah Local Government Areas of Edo State.
“It is very sad to note that the only government presence we feel is voting during elections. Apart from that, there is completely nothing to write home about.
“We don’t have good roads, electricity, academically zero, we are far backward. I Comrade Lemon Austin Uduwei urge Governor Obaseki’s administration to make the difference in the riverine areas of the aforementioned local government areas.
“I further urge governor Obaseki to recognize our traditional stools in five kingdoms in the state, also the governor should as a matter of urgency look into the plight of the Okomu kingdom which host Okomu National Park and Okomu Oil Palm company plc.
“The kingdom is a burden of under-development, there is no single government recognized secondary school in the whole kingdom and the only existing government primary school is a shadow of itself, Ijaws are not slaves in Edo State and they must be considered in the governance of the state.”
