Residents of Warri, South Local Government Area of Delta State, has lambasted the State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, for neglecting the Oil City of Warri and its environs in terms of infrastructural development, and for allegedly selling out government properties within the area.
Reacting to the alleged sales of government property within the area, Chief Duke Uwanogho Edoja, said the act is an abnormal act and should be condemn in totality.
He faulted the recent sales of parts of the Warri Mega Station head office of the defunct Delta Intra City Transport service which was introduced by former Delta Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Ewetan Uduaghan, but abandoned by Governor Okowa administration, positing that; “Though the land in question is a government property which the former State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Ewetan Uduaghan, was building the defunct Delta Intra City Transport service station, with all the structures already on ground which shared boundary with Delta State School of Nursing and an uncompleted NDDC office close to Revenue House near Okumagba avenue along the ever busy Airport road opposite Gemstone supermarket and Matrix fuel station. But when Governor Okowa came in, he could not continue the project.
“I was so surprised when I saw the buyer mobilized workers to the land, erecting fence on the land. Government supposed to be a thing of continuity in terms of infrastructural development. But as I’m talking to you now. The land has been sold out by Governor Okowa to his cronies.
“If you drive through all roads in Warri and it’s environs, you will see that since inception of Governor Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa administration as Delta State Governor, there are few developmental projects he has established in the Oil city of Warri and its environs. All the roads are not motorable and there are no structures. Yet the one that his predecessor started, he abandoned it and the property is now being sold out by him to his political stooges. That is to tell you that, he is not concerned about the development of Warri and its environs.
“If the Governor desperate drive for cash in loans has failed, then he now resorted to selling of government properties for reasons not known to Deltans. If they will not develop Warri, the government should at least leave government properties for the next government to develop.”
Also speaking, Chief Awhoro Ejebah, faulted the sales of parts of the land, adding that; “Government would have establish another project that would yield revenue for the State in that parcel of land than selling it out without proper account, documentation or notification to Deltans.
“And its might interest you to know that Deltans are not aware of this illegal sale of government property. Because any government property that the state or federal government is willing to sell must be auctioned and there are legal process which government must pass through notifying the people that such property is for sale. But on this land, as a notable Chief in Warri there was nothing of such. That’s why I’m suspecting that the land must have been illegally sold out by Governor Okowa probably as settlement to some of his cronies in or outside his government.
“As a Deltan, if Governor Okowa does not move into stop this illegal sale of the said parcel of land. We will mobilize to ensure the sales of the land is being revoke.”
Meanwhile a notable chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party, who spoke in annomity, pleaded the PDP led government in the State not to play into the hands of opposition at a time like this and allow them further drag and ridicule the PDP, asking the government to quickly revoke the illegal allocation and sale, advice land grabbers and buyers to stay off and not waste their money as the next government coming from this side will be made to revoke same if this government fails to do the needful. He further advised party faithfuls to speak truth to government and advice the government accordingly.
