Concerned by the wide spread allegation on social media accusing Senator Ned Nwoko of working against the government and his constituent allegedly by one Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, Senator Nwoko has disassociate self from the baseless propaganda accusing him of working against the interest of the government in his senatorial district of Delta North..
Senator Nwoko in a statement by his media Aide, Gloria Okolugbo, made available to Journalists, said the attention of the senator, Prince Ned Nwoko has been drawn to media reports purportedly credited to one Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe tasking him to partner with the federal government, stakeholders on the Okpai Power plant project located in his District
“Recently the online media space has been a washed with various opinions and conversations steeped in Politics over excerpts of discussions between Distinguished Senator, Prince Ned Nwoko Written speculatively and in complete ignorance of the issues, the writeup drew our attention to the poor attempt, at polarizing relationships without proper Research, and raising all manner of wild speculations”, the statement added.
“Senator Ned Owoko who represents Ndokwa/ Ukuani being part of his Senatorial District of Delta North he has no hands in the various claims by Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe including the
“In the referenced article are various claims which include ” Okpai Plant which is a National asset rather than a State owned Initiative” ; sweeping statements such as Senator Nwoko’s derogatory statement” ; references to Political leaders, assumptions of Political alliances, and comparisons between Senatorial zones. It digresses from speaking to the issue at hand, which we believe is largely due to lack of grasp, of the issues, which leaves much to be desired”, the statement added.
The statement made it cleared that during a recent community Consultative forum, the Senator Representing Delta North at Ezionum, had seized the opportunity of a strong forum of Ndokwa Ukuani leaders, to explain the challenges, bedeviling development and his efforts as well as his achievements so far in One year as well as
threw light on ongoing conversations, for partnerships with other arms of Government, to his constituents.
“This was conversational, with no Ill intent. in which senator Ned Nwoko took his time to speak to a range of issues concerning them. If the question were political , The Distinguished Senator is a PDP serving Senator just like the Executive Governor of Delta State, a PDP Governor. It is disheartening that from a short clip making the rounds, wrong narratives have emerged including words like Berating the Governor being used, and this has led from speaking to the issues , to digressing and detracting from the very core of the conversation the statement stated.
“Reading through the article, shows a complete misrepresentation of how Governance works and the role of the federating units as well as the legislature. let us give a brief history here in very plain English. Okpai in Ndokwa East LGA is one of the major Independent power plants in Nigeria. It began Operation in 2005 with initial capacity of 480MW. Operated by Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) and NNPC.
In March 2022 there was an expansion ( Okpai Phase 2) and upon Commissioning, an additional 500MW was added to the Generation capacity. All this Power is fed to the National Grid through the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).
“The EPSRA 2005, (Electric Power Sector reform act) and it’s subsequent amendments entitled host communities like the Ndokwa people to enjoy and feel the impact of the energy project in their land”
The Distinguished Senator by a letter dated May 3rd 2024 made necessary enquiries on the status of all the issues from the TCN at the Delta work centre and has been well briefed. In turn he has secured, ready partnership options with 2 major investors, willing to partner the Government, and can recoup investment through PPP arrangement.
Now to the contentious issue a 132KVA Double Circuit transmission line was Commissioned to provide for the power needs of the immediate Communities of Ndokwa / Ukuani since 2021 and this is what rhetorics , politics and bureaucratic bottle necks, is stalling implementation of.
“Distinguished Senator Ned Nwoko has brought to the table a legislative Style and capacity which is not what we are usually accustomed to. Recently he wrote an open letter to the President on setting up Social Security Safety net systems, a fundamental right, as is done in more developed economies.
No one heated up the polity. In a few days time an advocacy event is planned around this, for key stakeholders working in these thematic areas, in civil society to make presentations on the matter. All this is done with active consultation”.
The statement which noted that senator Ned Nwoko has also advocated for Asaba/ Oko / Okpai/ Aboh Coastal road; and the Ogwashi uku dam treatment plant and reticulation. The road is now in the NDDC budget with almost 30b budgeted, added that the senators quest is to ensure better conditions for the people he represents.
“It is his belief that with good road networks; Water and Electricity life will be manageable for the people and Development will follow. The Distinguished Senator deployed several pronged styles of advocacy to achieve change for the collective good. Central to this is dialogue and consultations. He is investment friendly, playing his role, on behalf of the good people of Delta North who elected him to represent them.
“We therefore, advise all stake holders to be more concerned about the issues of needed development and strive to ensure that all Arms of Government, work together to achieve these goals. Finally Senator Ned is asking for concerted effort by the State Government to take control of the electricity space in the State to foster local access to electricity; facilitate delivery on MOUs signed with host communities by oil Companies to deliver Corporate social Responsibility Benefits, accruing to communities where generation is being done.
“He is investment friendly, playing his role, on behalf of the good people of Delta North who elected him to represent them. The effect on the economy of Delta State will obviously be a game changer. We therefore seize the opportunity to appeal to those spreading dis-affection to instead do better research and bring informed voices to the table for synergy of efforts in the State” stated.