By Ogbagah Matthias
UGHELLI – DELTA State Task Force on illegal structures and recovering of government lands has set to pull down the first and only shopping mall in Ughelli, SHOPFAIR, located at Otovwodo Ughelli, the business and commercials nerve of the council area.
The Delta State Director of Special Duties and chairman of Task Force on the removal of illegal structures and recovering of government lands, Chief Frank Omare who stormed Ughelli north with his Swap Buggy said the state government has declared a total war on illegal structures on the drains, walkways and Uber high tension wires throughout the state.
According to him, SHOPFAIR Mall Ughelli and the building belonged to a stalwart of the People’s Democratic Party PDP in the state has been embarked for demolition as their buildings were built on a natural waterway, causing blockage to the free flow of water.
Omare made the revelation during the opening of the water canals exercise in Ughelli North, Delta State.
According to him, the house of the Commissioner representing Isoko ethnic nationality at the Delta State Oil Producing Development Agency Commission, DESOPADEC Board, Hon Victor Egbo, has been marked for demolition of a building on a waterway in Ughelli North Local Government Area.
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 have 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 the government, and if the house of Last Mugu will be brought down because it is built on the waterways, we are not going to spare anyone.
“The exercise has just begun, and there are more swamp buggies that are coming, and for the period 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 compromise it.
“I am pleading with Ughelli people never to bribe anybody; we are not compromising so that the water that is coming would not further destroy our properties because time is 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 permission from anybody, being youth or community leadership, to clear waterways.
“Importantly, the youths of Delta State, the community leaders, and the government cannot come and meet you to get permission from you to clear the waterway. 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 the 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, the 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 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 the past week.
“As it is now, we have declared a state of emergency on our drains because all are blocked, and we were shocked that ShopFair was built on top of the drain, and that is why water is blocking that area.
Reacting to 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 waterways 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 had 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 continue to punish the people.”
Commending the state government, Mrs. Oghenero Kpeji said, “The government has tried to bring succor 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.
