Engr Otolo Orose
By Jon Egie
Contrary to allegations of low quality of the road awarded by the Delta State Government to a contractor who is an indigene of Ikpide community in Isoko South LGA, the President-General of Ikpide Community, Engr. Otolo Orose, has debunked media reports regarding the ongoing community internal roads project which described the job done so far as substandard.
According to him the purveyors of such media reports do not mean well for the community and referred to them as enemies of the community.
The PG, a seasoned Engineer and retiree of the Nigerian National Petroleum Cooperation (NNPC), spoke yesterday, during a solidarity march that was organised by the community leadership along parts of the new road.
According to Engr. Orose, the community was impressed with the quality of work done so far and were expecting the full completion of the job anytime soon.
“Ikpide people greet you High Chief Emmanuel Emoefe, “Ikpide Irri road project is on course. We appreciate the SMART Governor of Delta State”. He said and went on to also commend the contractor handling the project.
Speaking to newsmen on behalf of the community, the President General, Engr. Orose Edemo reiterated that the community was satisfied with the ongoing project.
He said, “as far as the Ikpide indigenes are concerned, we have no problem with the road that is being constructed, the project is ongoing and we have been enjoying the services of the road for the past two years.
“All the areas and sections that have been done are motorable, we have trailers coming here, and we have tankers driving in and going out, there have been no problem. Since you came, you have been going around, have you seen any problem with the road? So, we are very satisfied with the work that is going on.
“Ikpide are happy with the road that is being constructed, Ikpide has nothing to do with anybody that claims the road is not good. All such claims are false. Any claim that the road is substandard is in the imagination of those that are making such claims and in the newspapers, it is not the reality on the ground which you have seen for yourself.
“We want to thank His Excellency for this kind gesture, Ikpide is a small community and we are so surprised that he has chosen to fish us out, we are happy and we pray that his administration, his smart agenda is a testimony to behold and ask that God should bless him. We equally use this medium to ask for more largesse from His Excellency.”
While displaying placards bearing various inscriptions such as, “ say no to journalism of blackmail, say no to yellow journalism, Ikpide man do not fall for blackmail, Ikpide road is engineeringly on cause, Ikpide people greet you our dear governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, Okpugo is Ikpide! Ikpide is Okpugo!, the crowd which consisted of indigenes of Ikpide community drawn from the various chapters of the Ikpide Deveoplement Union nationwide, further asked God in prayer, to bless the state governor and High Chief Emoefe for the road.
Also in his remark, Hon. Pius Utolo, a notable Chief and ex-President General of the community, said, “It is only God that gave us this road and we should appreciate the governor and those that met the governor that made him approve road for us.
“We don’t have oil, we don’t have any means of generating revenue to the state yet he considered us and gave us this road, so we are very happy and pray that God will bless them” he said.
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