APC KNOCKS OKOWA OVER DEMOLISION OF ILLEGAL STRUCTURES

APC KNOCKS OKOWA OVER DEMOLISION OF ILLEGAL STRUCTURES

The All Progressives Congress (APC), Delta State frowns on the insensitivity and insincerity of the PDP-led government, under the whims and caprices of Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa; the Governor of Delta State, on the hardship being visited on Deltans who are striving hard on a daily basis to eke out a living. The purpose of governance is to create the enabling environment and avenues for citizens to thrive in their legitimate businesses. In Asaba and its environs, the reverse is the case.

In recent times, the governor has overtly and covertly, through the office of the Director General of Asaba Development Commission inflicted unquantifiable economic and social injuries on the residents and traders in Asaba and its environs. The Commission, few weeks ago, announced intention to demolish every illegal structures and shanties in Asaba, the State capital. The citizens and the enlightened minds welcomed the idea of the Commission. Little did Deltans know that the Okowa led government has an ulterior motive.

In a bid to settle old scores and/ or help her political and business associates, the Director General of the Commission went outside her mandate areas, not backed up by law and closed down the business and residential premises of people on the pretext that they were not recently painted. This to our minds is taking her  scope of operation outside the legal bound of the Commission and it is illegal.

There are unassailable facts that the market and a plaza at the midwifery junction along Okpanam Road, Asaba was closed down on the flimsy excuse that the traders who operate on the road-sides constitute nuisance. Well, kicking against street trading has its own advantages, but what is shocking is that the plaza that has nothing to do with the street trading was also closed down! On enquiry, information revealed that there is a recently built plaza, named "Ada Anioma Plaza", very close to the midwifery  junction, Asaba, belonging a politician from Oshimili axis whose interest is to make sure that any form of business around midwifery junction, Asaba collapses, for her Plaza  to function maximally.

Business and residential premises along the major streets/roads in Asaba are also not spared. Their owners and occupiers are presently suffering because of the overzealousness of Okowa led government ill-inteded "beautification exercise in Asaba", without notice and/ or adequate notices to the affected. Funnily, this is a government that sworn to defend the general good of all! 

Deltans should note that the powers being presently exercised by the Director General of Asaba Development Commission to wit, forcing people to paint buildings, painted not too long ago is illegal and outside the Commission's area of mandate. Therefore, Deltans should not sleep over their rights.

We urge all well-meaning Deltans and Civil Society Organizations to wake up, arise and help the weakest in the State. The few in government should and must learn to work within the ambit of the law, as that is the only way Delta State can grow economically, socially, not by application of brute force .

Barr. Ogheneluemu Sylvester Imonina, 

Publicity Secretary, APC, Delta State.

20th of January, 2020.