Fanfare as Uduaghan commissions Facebook-induced Umeh Road

• Charges micro-credit beneficiaries to grow businesses to cottage industries

IT was a carnival-like celebration at the weekend in Umeh, Isoko South Local Council of Delta State, as Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan commissioned Umeh Road and Umeh Primary School, ending decades of neglect of the community by government.

   The joy of the people of Umeh was infectious as Uduaghan joined the heads of Isoko people to celebrate democracy dividends in the community on Valentine’s Day.

   Speaking during the commissioning of Umeh Road, Uduaghan recalled that he heard about the road through the social media (Umeh Need Road Page on Facebook) and had to visit the community to know the state of the road, disclosing that it was difficult to access the community through road as at 2011, when the construction was awarded.

   According to the governor, “it was on Facebook that I knew about Umeh Road and we engaged ourselves on Facebook. During one of my inspection visits to the community, I visited the school and it was not befitting for studying. We had to award contract for the construction of the school.

   “Today, I am excited not because this is our first road project or the most expensive project but because, today, Umeh has a road,” he stated, noting that: “The traditional ruler, youths and the entire people of this community are very appreciative, supportive of government as well as protective of public projects.”

   Besides, Uduaghan explained the Umeh Road caught his attention when he got to know that the people were great farmers and had the potential to feed the country if the environment was conducive.

   This, he said tallied with his Delta Beyond Oil programme, as the road would help diversify the state’s economy away from oil by re-focusing the peoples’ attention on agriculture.

   Also, he challenged beneficiaries of his administration’s micro-credit programme to grow their businesses to cottage industries so as to be able to employ more hands.

   “Today is a day of love, Valentine’s Day. You have expressed that love to me and we appreciate that love. For the beneficiaries of the micro-credit scheme, you have to grow your businesses to enable you establish cottage industries. We have started micro- credit here and we believe that in the next two or three years, the beneficiaries of the micro-credit would have grown to own small-scale businesses.

   “This road project and the school were made possible because our People’s Democratic Party (PDP)-led administration is sensitive to the plights of the masses,” he said, stressing that a vote for the PDP in the forthcoming elections means a vote for continuous development and empowerment of the people. He called for massive votes for all candidates of the party in the general elections billed to hold in March and April.

   The state Commissioner for Works, Mr. Solomon Funkekeme, observed that it was on record that Uduaghan has constructed more than 3,000 kilometres of road in the state.

   Chairman of Isoko South Local Council, Malik Ikpokpo, said: “The story of this journey may be written in a book because the people of Umeh cried and you listened to their cry. You are a listening governor and today, development has come to Umeh.”

   The traditional ruler of the community, Odiri Ambrose Oweh, conferred the chieftaincy title, Ovielo (King of Light) of Umeh on the governor for his efforts in developing the community.