N10m Oil Largess: Commuters Stranded As Rampaging Isoko Youths Block Deplorable Ughelli-Asaba Road, Call For Sack Of Askia Ogieh

Hundreds of traders plying the Ughelli-Asaba expressway and other road users were stranded at the early hours of Monday as rampaging Isoko youths blocked all section of the road owing to a protest calling for the immediate sack of Executive Director of Finance and Administration, Delta State Oil Producing Development Commission (DESOPADEC), Chief Askia Ogieh.

BigPen Online could not immediately ascertained the remote cause of the prrotest against Ogieh but a source linked it to some unsettle financial issue involving the latter.

However unconfirmed report says Ogieh, representing Isoko ethnic nationality in the oil commission was said to have allegedly pocketed the N10miliion released by the Delta State government through the oil commission to Isoko youths.

The source alleged that Ogieh was notorious for hijacking monies meant for the youths and handpicking his friends and cronies for peanut empowerment.

It was learnt that the youths were led to the protest by a factional President of Isoko Nation Youth Assembly (INYA), Comrade Umuakpo Ovie who has been a dagger drawn posture with another factional president, Mr. Victor Egbo aka “Last Mugu”, an associate of Ogieh.

According to the source, while Egbo is enjoying the backing of Askia Ogieh, Ovie is backed by a quarter of leaders from Isoko South and North local government area including the Isoko socio-cultural organization, Isoko Development Union (IDU).

A citizen journalist told our correspondent that thousands of travellers along the Ughelli Asaba road have been stranded as hundreds of the youths including women blocked the Aradhe community section of the road, bearing placards with various inscriptions.

The protesters, who defiled the presence kt security agents, our source said, were calling for the sack of Askia Ogieh who they allegedly accused of short changing the Isoko people.

“Many traders on their way to Onitsha and those who have businesses in and around the area have been lamenting the loss of time and other negative effects of the road blockade.

“Reports say women and youth were sighted among the protesters while the youth leaders of various Isoko communities were also seen trying to strengthen the blockade.

Another source said: “Both sides of the Ughelli – Asaba Rd, including all link roads are currently barricaded at Arhade, Isoko by protesting Isoko community youths and women.

“Thousands of commuters mostly traders and civil servants going to Onitsha and Asaba have been stranded here since 7am.

“No going back and no going forward as both ends of the road have been blocked with commuters trapped within. Security personnel, including, the Police and Army are on ground but there appears no respite in sight.

Meanwhile, one of the many factions of youth groups in Isoko nation has reacted to the blockage, saying that protesters were sponsored by some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains in the state.

President of Isoko Nation Youth Congress (INYC), Comrade Isheri Maclins who is also laying claim to the leadership of the youths has disassociated his group from the protest, saying that the Ovie-led faction has no right to call for the sack of Ogieh.

“We know Umuakpo Ovie is been sponsored by a faction in the PDP who are against Chief Askia recent political strides and success and are bent on doing anything possible to see that they bring the Bashorun down to achieve their selfish motive.

“Let it be known today that Umuakpo Ovie is not speaking for the youths of Isoko but for himself and some selfish minded persons who call themselves leaders thinking the Isoko Nation belongs to them alone, Oviri Kelvin Ozed, Director Media & Strategy of INYC said in a statement.

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