The piteous conditions residents of Okuama community, Ughelli south local government area of Delta state now live upon return from the Ewu Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp after being displaced for months attest to the gross insensitivity of the state government to theirs.
The Abraham Ogbodo led Camp Management Committee indicated the camp opened 27th May 2024 had to be shut in December 31st of the same year after nearly over 15,000 claimed IDP population had left for their ancestral homeland at the start of a new farming season.
When the camp opened, the government had pledged to initiate a move to resettle them back to their destroyed homes by providing basic infrastructure.
Seven months after as the camp closed, the people returned into emptiness.
The health center, community hall, primary and secondary school projects awarded as essential housing schemes to start the resettlement programme have not met completion—no definite timeline for delivering the jobs.
This is because the contractors are engaged in shoddy execution of the awarded projects with impunity.
The last time we paid an M&E (Monitoring & Evaluation) visit, an aspect of the Community Hall foundation collapsed due to inferior materials.
The situation had left a shelter problem for the people as they congested the community’s Anglican Church, the only structure left standing when soldiers invaded, sacked, and leveled the community in reprisal over the unfortunate loss of lives of 17 soldiers over a communal dispute between Okuama of Ughelli South LGA and Okoloba neighbors of Bomadi LGA.
With the congestion and no basic hygiene facilities, no public toilets in particular, the fear of epidemic is rife with open defecation rampant as some other residents take to self-help in erecting makeshift tents. With the rains here again, the higher the risk.
What does it take to erect a tent and mobile toilets in Okuama for the people to live in as temporary shelter? Who are those who call themselves Chief Peace Building and Conflict Resolution advisers to the Delta Governor and Delta Committee of Conflict Resolution?
Okuama is facing extinction. Sheriff Oborevwori you must do something immediately to help the Okuama people. Those who want to wipe out Okuama out of existence are wicked.
Oborevwori needs to act fast. Where are our lawmakers? Where is Senator Ede Dafinone? Where is Francis Waive? Where is Festus Utuama lawmaker representing Ughelli South in the Delta House of Assembly?
Where is Lucky Avweromre, the Chairman of Ughelli South LG? Where is Ese Gam of UPU? Where is Ewu King? Where are the big Urhobo politicians bragging about?
SHAME ON YOU ALL.
Zik Gbemre
January 20, 2024
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