Enyaharo Okugbe Emo Isoko (Enyaharo Isoko), a prominent Isoko socio-cultural and non-partisan organisation, has condemned the arrest and detention of social media content creator Ajiri-Oghene Otagba, popularly known as MC2 Kingdom.
Otagba was arrested last Friday by contractor Matthew Edevbie, who has been accused of abandoning a critical 132KVA power substation project in Ozoro, Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State for over 15 years.
The arrest, described by Enyaharo Isoko as a “tragic irony,” comes after Otagba used his platform to call out Edevbie for failing to complete the power project, which has left the Isoko region in perpetual darkness despite contributing over 15% of Nigeria’s daily oil production.
The organisation has demanded Otagba’s immediate release and called on Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to intervene and ensure the project’s completion.
The Ozoro power sub-station project, initially awarded to Edevbie over 15 years ago, was meant to upgrade the region’s power infrastructure. However, the contractor allegedly abandoned the project midway, leaving the Isoko people to grapple with one of the worst power outages in Nigeria. This has had a devastating impact on local businesses, stifling economic growth and leaving thousands of youths unemployed.
According to the organisation, it’s a sad commentary on moral deficiency that a man who abandoned a contract he successfully bidded for, won and then abandoned halfway would turn around to arrest anyone calling on him to return to site to complete the said project.
Isoko, it stated, experiences the worst power outage in all of Nigeria because of the flagrant recalcitrance of Edevbie who has refused to complete the contract, but who finds it easy to arrest anyone calling him out to account.
It is a tragic irony, it added, that Isoko that gives Nigeria over 15% of her daily oil production output has been in darkness for years because of Edevbie’s inefficiency, but is efficient in wilfully taking the laws into his hands to compromise The Nigeria Police to perpetrate injustice on an innocent Nigerian.
“After reviewing the circumstances of Ajiri-Oghene Otagba’s arrest by men of The Nigeria Police in Lagos in Gestapo fashion and subsequently dragging him to Abuja for prosecution in a civil matter of alleged defamation that should not concern The Nigeria Police as the IGP Egbetokun recently warned his men, Enyaharo views the development as an act of aggression and oppression of a poor Nigerian youth and whistleblower, and therefore an affront on the sensibility of the Isoko nation by Edevbie and his companies,” President of Enyaharo Mr. Amos Iwary said over the weekend. “You cannot fart on someone and then turn around to give him a knock on the head for your indiscretion. That’s exactly what Mr. Edevbie has done to the entire Isoko nation. He alone failed to complete a contract he duly won over 15 years ago. Upon being asked to return to site to complete it, he replies by arresting an Isoko son who is affected by Edevbie’s breach of contract that denies him (Otagba and millions of Isoko people) power to run their business.
“Enyaharo Isoko therefore calls on Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to immediately set processes in motion to compel Edevbie and his company to return to site to complete the Ozoro power substation upgrade from the initial 132KVA contract awarded him. Isoko has suffered enough power problems on account of Edevbie’s contract breach. Edevbie is killing businesses in Isoko while his people in Ughelli enjoy uninterrupted power supply. Edevbie’s action is sabotage of the business aspirations of Isoko people. Edevbie is preventing new businesses from being established to engage our army of youths. Edevbie’s stubborn refusal to complete the power sub-station is an act of economic sabotage on Isoko. It stops now.
“Enhayaro Isoko hereby demands that Delta State Government that, should Edevbie refuse to return to site and complete the project, he should immediately return all monies paid him so far on the Ozoro power substation, so the contract is awarded to a more reliable contractor to execute the project in the shortest possible time. In fact, we give the state government till the end of 2025 to complete the Ozoro power substation, so Isoko can have light. Edevbie might deceive himself that he arrested only one Isoko son. But in fact, he has arrested the entire Isoko nation for demanding what is theirs by right. Isoko will not stand by and let this injustice go unchallenged and unpunished.”