The Ijaw Youth Congress (IYC) Worldwide has accused the Delta State government of excluding the Ijaw speaking areas in the state in the distribution of democracy dividends.

Barrister Roland Perpetual Oweilaemi, IYC National President, in a statement at the weekend, said the development could lead to voter apathy, as the people in the local governments that make up the Ijaw may not vote for Governor Ifeanyi Okowa during the 2019 election.

He said: “Governor Okowa should not by commission or omission sideline or marginalise the Ijaw people in the state given the fact we have the electoral value to determine the fate of any government in the state.

“Just recently, the Delta State government approved the reconstruction and rehabilitation of over 70 roads across the three senatorial districts of the state. Regrettably, none was approved in any of the Ijaw area as if we are not part of the state.

“This is a democratic apathy taking too far. The Ijaw man can no longer accept to be a second fiddle human being. We can no longer accept to be the beautiful bride economically, but being politically raped to stupor.

“Does it make any political cum economic sense for the government to marginalise the economic life wire of the state?”

He urged Governor Okowa to reconsider his decision and immediately approve works in Ijaw areas, stressing that for the three years of stewardship by the government, Bomadi LGA has no road project ongoing to the credit of Senator Okowa.

He also maintained that not much had been given to Patani, Burutu and Warri South West, adding that the Ijaws in Warri North had no single taste of democratic dividends from the Okowa government.

He stressed: “The Ayakoromo bridge, which happened to be the only legacy project in the entire Ijaw areas in the state which the present government inherited from its predecessor, is poorly funded unlike the attention it had during Uduaghan’s tenure.

“The Ogbobagbene-Torugbene Road, which was allegedly awarded by this present government is merely a paper work as no contractor is seen on site.”

“Governor Okowa should as a matter of urgency reappraise his decision. The Ijaw areas should be included immediately in the distribution of capital projects. The governor should replicate the magnanimity of the Ijaw people who gave him block votes in 2015.

“We are going to use our voting strength to make or mar the fortunes of any of the candidates in the 2019 elections.”

•Sourced from a Daily Independent report