The Delta State government has revealed that the house of the Commissioner representing Isoko ethnic nation at the Delta State Oil Producing Development Agency Commission, DESOPADEC Board, Hon Victor Egbo has been marked for demolition for building it on a water way in Ughelli North Local Government Area.
This revelation was made known by the Director of Special Duties to the state government and chairman of Task Force on the removal of illegal structures and recovering of government lands, Chief Frank Omare during the opening of water canals exercise in Ughelli, Delta State.
This is just as he warned that the Sheriff Oborevwori administration will take on anyone obstructing the exercise across the state.
Addressing newsmen, Chief Omare said, “We have come to open the water blocked area because so many houses has blocked the water channels and glad to tell Deltans that one of the top government officials, Chief Victor Egbo’s house among the houses that would be brought down during the exercise in Ughelli.
“I am glad that he knows the policy of government and if the house of Last Mugu will be brought down because it is built on the water ways, we are not going to spare anyone .
“The exercise has just began and there are more swamp buggies that are coming and for the period of time the exercise is going to last,the people of Ughelli should cooperate as we will and cannot compromise.
“The governor of Delta State,Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, a very focused man has given us the directives and we will adhere strictly to the directives and we will not compromised it.
“I am pleading with Ughelli people never to give anybody bribe, we are not compromising so that the water that is coming would not further destroy our properties because time are hard.
“We are not going to victimize anybody just as some house owners have done to the state government by building their houses inside water canals in other to block the flow of water.”
On communities obstructing government activities, Chief Omare emphasized that the Delta State government will not seek permissions from any body being youth or community leadership to clear waterways .
“Importantly, the youths of Delta State, the community leaders, government cannot come and meet you to take permission from you to clear water way, we are not going to pay any kobo and we will not negotiate with it.
“And any youth or anybody that would want to stop process we are going to visit that person, but I am glad that the people of Ughelli are cooperating.”
“Those that had their buildings along the water channels, like the ShopFair should immediately remove them because when our Swamp Buggy comes, we will not look at anyone.” He warned.
On his part, chairman of Ughelli North Local Government council, Olorogun Jaro Egbo affirmed that exercise is part of his task of keeping Ughelli North clean and as the water is flowing, everywhere will be cleared.
“The task of keeping Ughelli North clean is a daily task and and what is happening now is part of keeping the town clean and we have declared war on those trading and built on top of our drains for past one week.
“As it is now, we have declared state of emergency on our drains, because all are blocked and we were shocked that ShopFair was built on top of drain and that is why water is blocking that area.
Reacting the demolition of his building, Chief Victor Egbo said, “I embraced the situation because I am a part and parcel of the MORE Agenda of the government and as a commissioner, I should serve as an example.
“If I cannot lead for the rest to follow, it means I am setting a bad precedent for the people, it is painful but we must do what is right for our water ways to be cleared and opened to avoid flooding.
“I did not know that the building is on a water canal and when my attention was drawn to it, I have to call the Task Force Chairman, Frank Omare to come and remove it for the water to flow to its direction.
“Today i am a victim because three of my buildings are affected but I have been assisting them by going around to show them where the water should flow as we cannot use our self interest to punish others.”
“Some of our buildings around the water canals are the major cause of the water rising during the rainy and flooding season and we cannot not continue to punish the people.”
Commending the state government, Mrs Oghenero Kpeji said, “The government has tried in bringing succour to the people of Ughelli North during this period of rain and flood and this is a welcome development.
“But my only appeal is that they should provide a way of removing the debris dug from the canals because with what I am seeing that is coming out,if they are not evacuated, people might suffer from terminal disease.
