From Ameachi Prosper (The New Diplomat’s Delta Correspondent)
The Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, has announced the donation of N150 million by the Delta State People’s Democratic Party, PDP, caucus at the House of Representatives to the state government to rebuild the burnt High Court Complex destroyed during EndSARS protests.
Speaking on behalf of the lawmakers during a solidarity visit to governor Ifeanyi Okowa, Elumelu said they came to empathise with him and the people of the state over the unfortunate destruction of public buildings by hoodlums during the #ENDSARS protests.
He said the destruction and vandalism on the court building, which was recently rehabilitated and equipped, had set the state back by 28 years.
Okowa on his part, thanked the lawmakers for the visit and for always identifying with the state government and the people in difficult times, recalling that the caucus took similar step two times during the critical period of the Covid-19 pandemic in the state.
The Governor reaffirmed his administration’s readiness to partner youths in the state to improve on governance and its structures and said the government would ensure that regular communication with the youths existed to prevent misinformation which could lead to further break down of law and order.
Okowa then appealed to the youths to continue to assist the government and security agencies to ensure that criminal elements in the society were not allowed to succeed in their acts.
“Twice you came when we had issues concerning the COVID-19 infections and today, you are here again. I truly must let you know that I appreciate you very greatly because you feel for your people and you are concerned about the things that take place in Delta State.
“I must commend the unity among you as a team in NASS and that is also very important for us as a state – that our own are united and it is possible for you to speak for us with one voice and to ensure that what is due to Delta State comes to Delta,’’ he said.
He said that the state had, after Covid-19 challenges, been contending with issues associated with flooding in some areas before the ENDSARS protests set in.
The governor said that the protests were peaceful and that the state government gave a voice to it because it believed that the youths who set out to conduct the protest had a reason and their voice needed to be listened to.
“Here in Delta State, we notice on Tuesday, that there were infiltrations from outside the state into the #ENDSARS protesters and we did draw the attention of their influencers to watch very closely, because their protest was gradually being hijacked.
According to him, it was a very difficult situation to manage, but today we thank God that we have been able to manage it. Unfortunately few people lost their lives – one in the Warri area who was knocked down by a truck, obviously not from the police, and one person in Sapele.
“Another ugly incident that would have taken place was the issue of palliative-looting, but luckily that was managed because there was nothing to loot.
“The CA-COVID items were delivered to us in September, and soon as it was launched, we ensured that within two weeks it was distributed to all 270 wards of the state.
“It was specifically meant for the very indigent in every ward; so, 179 families in every ward received the items as specified by CA-COVID and every single thing has been distributed.
“A large crowd gathered around the Event Centre, but we opened it for them to see that it was empty. So, we thank God for that.’’ Okowa said.
