By Oghenekevwe Laba
LAGOS JULY 27TH (URHOBOTODAY)-Minister of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe has assured delegates of Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) that the construction of the East –West Road would be completed by December, 2014.
Orubebe gave the assurance on Monday when UPU delegation paid a solidarity visit to President Goodluck in Abuja.
Addressing the UPU delegation as directed by President Goodluck Jonathan on actions already being undertaken by the Federal Government to address issues raised by the UPU delegation, Orubebe said the 42 bridges and 1040 culverts that were needed on the road including 36 bridges and 860 culverts had already been completed, while two more bridges would be completed by the middle of next month.
He disclosed that President Jonathan has approved a financial plan that will ensure that the East-West road project which was handed over to his Ministry for supervision in 2010 is completed on schedule without further delay.
Rising from the meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan, the leadership of the Urhobo Progressive Union (UPU) declared that President Jonathan just like every other Nigerian has the right to contest in 2015.
UPU Leader, Gen. Patrick Newton Aziza, who led a powerful delegation of the union to President Jonathan over the vexed issue of the planned relocation of the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, among others, made the declaration, saying the President is free to contest when the time comes.
Speaking with newsmen after the meeting, Aziza, who was the first military administrator of Kebbi State refused to disclose what they discussed with President Jonathan saying, “Everybody is entitled to contest…You know when you come to see your brother, there are so many things that you’ll discuss and you won’t like to say it outside. It’s not everything you discuss that you will say outside.”
He nonetheless disclosed that the purpose of their visit was to show solidarity to the president and to thank him for what he is doing, adding “and we pray God to give him the strength to do more.”
Commenting on issues of amnesty and oil theft, Aziza said: “I will recount amnesty to militants back at home. We love it, let it go round. That’s all we discussed.” He also said. “I support the harsh treatment to them (oil thieves). If anybody is a thief, treat him like a thief. Don’t romance him, let them pay the price.”
Top Urhobo leaders on the UPU delegation included Chief Gabriel Ofotokun, Prof. Adego Eferakeya, Hon. Ogbaburhon, Ovie Omo Agege, T. K. Dugbo, Olorogu Macaulay Popo, Tuesday Onoge, Frank Efeduma and G. G. Darah.
Others were Bar. Akpomudje, Dafe Akpedeye, John Onojakpor, Veronica Ogbuagu, Grace Usirare, Joe Asah, Moses Odibo, O. Omene, Simion Owhofa, John Onojeharho, Omo Odo Tadafe, Father Abaka and Blessing Ovwata as well as traditional rulers of Okpe, Ogor, Olomu, Abraka, Mosogar, Ughelli and Idjerhe