Residents of Aviara Kingdom in Isoko South Local Government Area has called on the Delta state governor His Excellency, Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa to intervene so as to end eight years of total blackout.
Abroad Omodeka, an indigene of the kingdom said “for eight years Aviara, has been cut off from the outside world, farm produces cannot be preserved, school children cannot read without straining their eyes, businesses that rely on electricity has eventually folded up, the migration of youths to neighboring towns and cities where they can enjoy denied amenities is daily on the high side.
“The damage caused by the total power outage are too numerous to mention. Whereas electioneering promises that has over the years produced “Sokoto Votes” from the kingdom, are yet to be fulfilled. It is so unfortunate that Aviara has found itself in such a pitiable condition unlike other clans in Isoko nation even when we have all it takes to have light. Children born seven years ago in the community do not know what electricity is they are used to light with noise (generating set).”
Aviara kingdom including other sub communities namely, Araya, Okpawha, Edherie, Ewhokpaka, Aberuo, Okpare and Ukpude which are connected to the main electrical grid at Irri and passes through Oyede and Bethel, covering over thirty metres has faced total power outage for the past eight years due to lack of maintenance of power lines, broken/fallen poles, this has however lead to vandalization of the cables by hoodlums.
It was gathered that in 2016, all efforts geared towards fast tracking the process through an alternative phase by connecting the aforementioned kingdom to the main grid at Irri in a shorter distance of 7 kilometres was also abandoned to the mercy of thieves and vandals, apparently plunging Aviara and all other communities into eight long years of blackout.
Also a letter signed by the President General of the community, Counselor Umulor including other major signatories, dated 13 February 2020 and titled ‘Extension of electricity from Irri to Aviara Communities’ appealed to the state governor to use his good office in order to rescue the community from its present predicament so that there would be an influx of enormous social, business and economic activities.
