The Delta State government has demolished three buildings belonging to the Commissioner representing Isoko ethnic nationality at the Delta State Oil Producing Development Areas Commission, DESOPADEC board, Hon Victor Egbo and a mini estate built on a water canal obstructing water flow in Ughelli North Local Government Area.
The demolition supervised by the State Director of Special Duties and Chairman, Task Force on Recovery of Government Lands, Chief Frank Omare has been a successful continued exercise since its inception about a week ago in Ughelli North despite threats and obstacles.
Speaking during the exercise, Frank Omare disclose that over 200 houses built on waterway in Ughelli North has been marked for demolition for the period the exercise will last in the local government.
He said, “I don’t know when as Nigerians when it will be convenient for to respect the law as sentiments has be carried out here and blackmailers are on.
“Why would anybody build on water channels and for anyone to do that is an offence but my joy is that official from the urban renewal, APO 1 and APO 2 are here to guide with us in any local government.
“But in Ughelli here, I am so surprised when over 200 houses are being built on water canal and I am happy that a serving commissioner in this state was the first victim this morning among old people who above 70-yr.
Demolished Delta State DESOPADEC Commissioner Buildings At Ughelli, Delta State.
“I have directed the officials from the Urban Renewal to serve everybody whose building are on the water canal around Ughelli, so they would not say they were not served the notice
“We have spent so much money as government to clear drains so that when the rain comes, people and their properties would not be affected by over flow of water as we cannot be doing same thing every year.
“The governor of Delta State,Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori has a clear calls and Ughelli is like a call out where the canals are connecting and you see canals a dustbin.
“There is impunity, of am a community leader, youth leader and some kind of funny stories that, I must give them money before I will work, I want to see that person.
“We have being here for over a week and If I was selective,I would have exonerate the commissioner’s houses but I said no, the house must go down and we did pull them down.
“This is just the beginning and I will spend nearly two months here and I want the APOs to properly served all the house owners so that nobody will not say I wasn’t informed.
“We are not reckless government but a responsible one that is doing the work. Because of the way the houses are being built, the roads will get destroyed in few years as the water is passing to nowhere.
“This exercise is not a PDP, APC Labour Party affairs neither a Muslim or Christian and if your house is on a canal, it will come down and I want to tell Ughelli people that they should not allow anyone to use them.
“It is important that we should do the right thing and we are very serious about it and those that built their houses on water channels in Ughelli, should remove their properties before we visit them as we will not hear please.
“We are aware of some obstacles of blackmail, misinformation targeted to destroy the image of the government, but very good enough, those are just 20 percent while the remaining 80 percent are applauding the state governor,Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori for his boldness.
“Some people will cry, some will praise, some will be happy and sad but it is important that we are doing the right thing at the right time.
“The whole of Delta State is the governor constituency and we are aware that some people brought out gun to kill and the security agencies are handling the matter currently”
Also speaking,the Area Planning Officer 1, Ughelli North Mr Sylvester Eruvwedede said, “What we are seeing today is the effort from the state government on how to sanitize our society to have a very decent community in respect to issues that has to border on flooding that affects our people.
“Some of the house owners given approval to develop their property did not develop according to what was approved and that is violation of the approval and illegality.
“The Commissioner’s building that was brought down was sitting on the canal and they have to be removed as we have a public interest that supercede a personal interest.
Eruvwedede who denied any form of sharp practices among official of the ministry held that any approval being convey ought to go with field inspection by the officer that gave that approval or it may be a misconceptions by those that were on ground as it could be they did not visit the site to know what is on ground before the approval was conveyed.
Reacting to the demolition of his buildings, the Commissioner representing Isoko ethnic nationality at the board of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC , Hon Victor Egbo said, “As at today our call to duty is to serve humanity and this is part of the services we are rendering to the people in making them to be comfortable and be happy.
Part of Engr Osas Osaretin Mini Estate Demolished At Up Agbarho, Ughelli, Delta State
“It is not the responsibility of the governor alone to look after the well-being of the people but those who have been appointed as members of his cabinet to also contribute their quota to humanity and this is my contribution.
“Contributing part of my land and properties for the water to flow is a huge contribution I have given to humanity and the development of our dear state and think the people are happy about it as their not no more water disturbances.”
