‘Emevor-Orogun Road To Be Captured In 2013 Budget’

By AUSTINE ETAGHENE
Construction of the Emevor-Orogun Road in Isoko North Local Government Area will be accommodated in next year’s budget of the Delta State Government, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has promised.
The governor gave the assurance at a thanksgiving service organised by Umeh Need Road Forum at the weekend to mark its first year anniversary. The forum, according to our reporter, is a development advocacy group in Isoko land.
Speaking at the occasion, which held at Saint Michael’s Anglican Church, Emevor, Uduaghan thanked the group for attracting government’s attention to Umeh and other parts of Isoko land.
He told the gathering that he had no personal interest in the crises which rocked Uzere Town in Isoko South, noting that promotion of peace and security was the state government’s agenda in the community.
Meanwhile, Uduaghan at the occasion received two awards, one each from Umeh Needs Road Forum and Voice of Igbide, in recognition of “his giant development strides in Isoko land and other parts of the state.”
The group specifically cited the construction of Umeh Road by the state government to open up the agrarian community for development.
Administrator of the body, Barr. Duncan Afahokor, said the award was also in recognition of the governor’s efforts at bringing development to Isoko land, particularly Umeh community.
Afahokor said despite its food basket potentials, the community suffered neglect by past administrations, pledging the people’s support for government’s vision of developing the agriculture sector to increase food production and create jobs.
He appealed for the construction of the Emevour-Orogun-Ovwodokpokpo-Igbide Road to facilitate development in the area.
Receiving the award, Uduaghan thanked the organisation for the honour and re-affirmed his commitment to opening up rural areas in the state for development.
He identified the state micro-credit programme and road construction as the critical rural development tools in the hand of government.

While saying that the award would propel him to step up efforts in the development of the state, the governor appealed to the group not to lose sight of criticising government constructively.