Some former Niger Delta ex-agitators have concluded plans to stage a massive protest against the Minister of Works, Chief Dave Umahi, for his alleged shoddy handling of the East-West road project.
The former warlords are not particularly happy that Umahi has not paid good attention to a "critical road that serves as a nexus between states in the Southern part of the country and other regions."
One of the leaders of ex-agitators, "General" Osaanya B. Osaanya, said in a statement he issued in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Thursday, that they are set to carry out what he described as the mother-of-all protest.
According to him, hundreds of youths had agreed to partake in the protest, which he said would last for days to call the Federal Government's attention to the urgent need to fix the road.
Osaanya described the road as a death trap, insisting that commuters and drivers spend days at a particular deplorable section of the road around the Ahaoda azis before getting to their destination.
He said trucks and other vehicles were trapped on the road between Bayelsa and Rivers State and wondered why Umahi would maintain deaf ears despite the outcries of the people.
While blaming the development on the minister, he noted that the former Ebonyi governor engaged inexperienced contractor to work on that particular section of road.
"The problem we are facing on the East-West Road is caused by Dave Umahi, the Minister of Works. How on earth will he carve out the most disturbing spot that needs more urgent attention to a sub-standard contractor.
"Or is the Minister intentionally suffering the people of the Niger Delta? We will bring the protest to the doorstep of the Minister and the President so that President Tinubu will know what we are going through".
Osaanya called on all the relevant groups and leaders of the Niger Delta such as the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), the Movement for the Survival of Ijaw Ethnic Nationality (MOSIEN), the Ijaw Elders Forum, Dr Goodluck Jonathan and others to join the protest.
He further urged E.K Clark, the Governor of Bayelsa State, Douye Diri, whom he said had started the protest as well as former Governor Seriake Dickson and Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, to identify with the demonstration.
He said: "We can't continue to live like this as a people. This is the major road connecting all of us in the Niger Delta, where bulk of the resources used in constructing mega roads in other parts of the country come from.
"Why should we always be in our knees to be go for what we rightly deserve. This coming protest is another sad reminder of how we have been marginalized and neglected as a people".
