Okowa: How Sustainable Is The Multi-Billion Naira Ogheye Floating Market?

Since Governor Ifeanyi Okowa made a huge drama of inviting his Peoples Democratic Party national chairman and fellow political betrayer, Dr. Iyorcha Ayu to commission a bogus multi-billion naira Ogheye Floating Market in Warri North of Delta state, I have been wondering.

Was a floating market determined as a priority from a needs assessment in the area? Assuming without conceding it was so determined, how sustainable is the Ogheye Floating Market as delivered by the loan master, Okowa?

From my findings, opinion leaders in the area confirmed the bogus project was not a primary need. It’s another white elephant project of no populist appeal, just like the countless market stalls traders abandon to sell on the roadsides as common in the state.

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Leaders from the locality noted that the bogus floating market contract sum, running into billions, could have been channeled into providing pipe-borne water to a number of communities out there that don’t have potable water and also land reclamation and essential health care services being among the primary needs of the people that are lacking.

As one of Warri North’s opinion leaders said, “The hyped floating market is a desperate attempt to create an unjustified legacy, to say it’s first of its kind. Time will prove that it’s a white elephant project.

“Uduaghan flagged free health care for pregnant women as his legacy. So Okowa wants to boast that an overambitious floating market is his legacy as well. I wish these leaders will just do the simple things the people need and make life much easier.

A floating market should be a mobile market sailing from one creek/coastal community to another. Most market operations are seen as the responsibility of the Local Governments. Does Warri North LG have the resources to maintain a floating market that will rot away?

What Delta creeks/coastal communities need are sustainable connecting bridges, tunnels, and underground rails also known as tubes to link the upland urban communities in the state. The popular Dartford Tunnel is a road that passes under the water in the UK.

Entire London is covered by River Thames but London is connected by bridges and underground rails as one megacity. Okowa is only interested in projects he uses to launder and loot Delta’s treasury dry, to cover the cost of Atiku/Okowa and Sherriff campaigns.

Okowa has gone blind. Who are those praising him over Ogheye Floating Market that will rot away? Why is Deltans so easily deceived by this heartless Okowa? The entire creeks/coastal communities of Delta are not connected to the land urban cities and towns in this 21st century.

So Okowa is happy that the coastal communities’ people should continue living rural lives to remain in deprivation at the mercy of politicians that know no shame at all. Okowa should tell us where a riverine community is in Europe and North America.

New York City and London which are the business capitals of their countries are surrounded by water. So is it floating markets that make these greatest cities what they are? What they need in these riverine/coastal communities are modern infrastructures that will connect these remote riverine/coastal communities to the land areas and not wanting them to permanently live in a Stone Age era.

Why waste multi-billion naira to build a floating market that is useless and unsustainable and the so-called elites are still running after him and praising him for nothing? How much shop rent will rural riverine traders be able to pay to buy diesel and other expendables to maintain a floating market?

London mega city in the UK and New York in the US are maritime/coastal cities because these cities are connected with modern tunnels, bridges, underground rails, and roads. The Oghoye floating market is a project for Okowa and his contractor fronts to fritter more money from the state coffers.

As Okowa is quitting the stage on May 29, 2023, whoever will be elected should stay away from executing useless and unsustainable projects. Okowa, his stooge, Sherriff Oborevwori, and all who approve loans for him including, the Premium Trust Bank will pay for their sins against the Delta people.

Zik Gbemre
January 8, 2023_