LAGOS JUNE 29TH (URHOBOTODAY)-The traditional ruler of Onya Kingdom in Ndokwa East LGA, Delta state, HRM Frank Akpati, traditionally called the Inawai of Onya Kingdom, has described the Governor of Delta State, Dr. Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa as man of the people, and one who identifies with the grassroots of the state.
The traditional ruler who made the statement recently while addressing the press in Warri, said the Onya kingdom got the first government presence when the governor was the Commissioner for Health during the administration of the former governor of the state, Chief James Onanefe Ibori, when the Onya Health Centre was built and commissioned.
According to the traditional ruler, the building of the health centre then, by the Ibori administration, revolutionised the medical needs of the people, which was initially handled by the traditional medical attendants.
The traditional ruler speaking further, said that the massive votes giving to the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), in his kingdom during the last general election was because of that singular contribution of Okowa when he was the commissioner of Health.
However, while appreciating the Governor for his past deeds to the people of his kingdom, HRM Akpati is calling on the new administration to come to the aid of the communities in the area, as lack of road had made them members of a different country, as the area is totally cut off from modern development.
In his word, “The opening up of the road in the area, which is one of the food basket of Nigeria, but majority of the produce is lost before it gets to the market will open up the area to economic and social development”.
According to the traditional ruler, the Onya kingdom and environ is not only suffering from lack of road infrastructure, but also gully erosion which is ravaging the area, and other social amenities such as electricity, communication facilities, as he concluded in a sad tone, “That the Onya kingdom and environ is a place in Nigeria, where there are no roads, electricity, GSM Facilities and as such does not look as if the people are Nigerians”.