- Only half-completed perimeter fence on ground
Seven months more for Gov. Okowa to vacate the Government House, Asaba, he has abandoned the only signature project which he promised the Ndokwa nation for which they voted for him overwhelmingly for his two-tenure elections.
Okowa, during his electioneering campaigns in 2014 and 2018 respectively, did assure the people of the Ndokwa nation that he would establish a world-class multi-billion naira Industrial Park in Kwale with a view to making the area a commercial hub.
And it was based on the expectations that encouraged the Ndokwa people released over one thousand hectares of land to the State government free of charge.
It would be recalled that a similar project, the Warri Business Industrial Park, was established by Okowa predecessor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, in Warri City which was well over 20% complete. Okowa abandoned that project without any plausible excuse.
In June 2021, Okowa played host to Ndokwa Neku Union (NNU) led by its President General, Brig-Gen. Mike Ndubisi (retd) in a courtesy.visit at Government House, Asaba.
His excuse for the delay of the project then was the failure of the enlisted Chinese foreign investors to mobilize to site due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Although the governor claimed that compensations had been fully paid, less than eight months to the completion of his tenure the Kwale Industrial Park is yet to take off after an estimated N3 billion has been allegedly disbursed by the Okowa-led administration for the project.
Speaking to The New Diplomat amid sobbing and regret, on condition of anonymity, a Community leader from Kwale, one of the host communities that donated their lands for the project lamented the grand deception neglect of the oil-producing Ndokwa nation.
He regretted the different communities donated their land to the State government without appropriate compensation, adding that since the government has failed to develop the place, “Okowa should do well to return the communities land to them”.
Also speaking with The New Diplomat over the abandoned project a Councillor from Ndokwa West who chose to remain anonymous, said that “Yes, seven months before the end of his tenure, it is clear that Okowa has abandoned the industrial park project. He received us and we voted for him, he received us and has confiscated our farmland.
“But as at today, there is nothing on ground yet. What is only visible is an uncompleted perimeter fence work for the propised administration office.
“Okowa has not the interest of the Ndokwa nation at heart. We have been so gullible as a people. But I think the narrative must change in 2023”, he said.
