By : Ike Philip Abiagom
For decades, the people of Ebu Community in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State have continued to endure what many residents describe as painful abandonment by successive governments, with little or no visible infrastructural development to justify their contributions to the growth of the state.
The community, blessed with hardworking farmers and rich cultural heritage, has remained largely cut off from meaningful government presence despite repeated promises made by politicians during election campaigns.
According to community leaders and residents, Ebu has become a familiar destination for politicians seeking votes during election seasons. Campaign promises are often made with great enthusiasm, assurances are given, and hopes are raised among the people. However, once elections are over, the community is once again forgotten, leaving residents to grapple with poor infrastructure and underdevelopment.
Many residents lament that the cycle of political promises and abandonment has become a recurring ritual spanning several decades. They argue that while other communities continue to benefit from government projects and infrastructural development, Ebu has remained on the margins of progress.
The situation has raised serious concerns among indigenes who now question whether they should continue to trust politicians who only remember the community when seeking electoral support.
It is unfortunate and inhuman for a community of this size and importance to remain abandoned for decades without significant government presence, a community stakeholder stated.
One of the most pressing concerns facing the people is the deplorable state of the Ebu–Ezi-Ukala Road, the major access route linking Ebu to neighboring communities and economic centers.
Residents describe the road as a lifeline that supports transportation, trade, farming activities, and social interactions.
The poor condition of the road has continued to hinder economic growth, increase transportation costs, and subject commuters to untold hardship, especially during the rainy season.
Consequently, the people of Ebu are passionately appealing to the Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, to come to their aid by approving and commencing work on the Ebu–Ezi-Ukala Road. They believe that a groundbreaking ceremony on the road project would signal a new dawn and mark the beginning of an end to the long years of neglect suffered by the community.
Community elders, youths, women, and other stakeholders have expressed confidence in Governor Oborevwori’s commitment to grassroots development and are hopeful that their cry for help will receive urgent attention.
They insist that the construction of the road would not only improve transportation and economic activities but would also restore the confidence of the people in government and demonstrate that Ebu is indeed part of the state’s development agenda.
As the calls for intervention grow louder, the people of Ebu remain hopeful that their decades-long wait for government attention will finally come to an end. For now, the community continues to watch and pray that the present administration will break the cycle of neglect and write a new chapter in the history of Ebu’s development.
