Senator Ned Nwoko (Delta North Senatorial District), has disassociated the people of Ndokwa from the recent visit by the Ndokwa Neku Union (NNU) to Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori.
In a statement issued in Abuja earlier today (Wednesday, December 4) by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Prince Kay Enuenwosu Kester Emeke, a copy of which Daily Query obtained, Senator Nwoko stressed that the visit did not reflect the collective interests and pressing concerns of the Ndokwa people.
Senator Nwoko expressed dissatisfaction with the issues raised by the NNU during their visit, noting that they failed to address key developmental concerns such as the stepping down of the Okpai Independent Power Plant (IPP), a long-standing demand of the Ndokwa community.
“The NNU did not speak for the collective interest of the Ndokwa people. I painstakingly reviewed their address to the Governor and found it lacking in substance on critical issues like the stepping down of the Okpai IPP. This project, built about 20 years ago in Ndokwa land, continues to supply power to other areas, while Ndokwa communities remain in darkness,” Nwoko stated.
According to the Senator, successive representatives of Delta North in the Senate had failed to advocate for the stepping down of the power plant for the benefit of the Ndokwa people, noting that within his first year in office, significant progress had been made on the project, with completion in sight.
“I am working to ensure that the Okpai Power Plant finally benefits the people of Delta North with steady electricity. Unfortunately, this has sparked resistance from some quarters, including the state government,” Nwoko said.
The senator also criticized the NNU for neglecting other key issues during their engagement with the Governor, including road infrastructure, security, and erosion control.
He highlighted the deplorable state of roads in many Ndokwa communities such as Inam-Abbi, Umuebu, Onyia, and Eziokpor, and accused the NNU of prioritizing less critical projects.
“Our communities are becoming inaccessible due to bad roads, yet the NNU did not press for immediate action on these. Instead, they focused on less pressing issues,” the Senator’s statement further read.
On security, Senator Nwoko expressed concerns about rising insecurity in Ndokwa land, including incessant attacks by herdsmen, cult clashes and armed robbery.
He noted that the NNU failed to address these challenges during their meeting with the Governor.
“Ndokwa Nation faces some of the worst security challenges in Delta State. From herdsmen attacks in the Obiaruku-Umutu axis to cult clashes and kidnappings, these issues threaten the safety of our people and hinder development. It is shocking that the NNU did not prioritize these during their engagement,” he agonized.
