By Ovasa Ogaga,
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State has criticized the arrest of a Sapele resident who staged a unique protest by bathing in a muddy, waterlogged pothole on a deteriorated Sapele road.
Recall that the Delta State government through justified the arrest of a man who was seen in a video bathing on a flooded road to highlight the deplorable state of Shell Road in Sapele, likening the road to a "swimming pool" due to frequent flooding.
The young man who has been identified as Uge Elo Kenneth, in the viral video, had been seen taking a "bath" in the middle of the dilapidated road and calling out the former governor of the state, Ifeanyi Okowa and the incumbent governor Sheriff Oborevwori as well as the Sapele Local Government Area chairman over their failure to fix the road.
Dubbed the "Okowa swimming pool," the protest drew attention to the abysmal state of roads under the administration of former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and current Governor Sheriff Oborevwori. The APC claims the arrest is a blatant attempt to stifle free speech and intimidate Delta residents from voicing dissent.
In a telephone conversation with our reporter, APC Delta State Publicity Secretary, Valentine Onojeghuo Esq., described the arrest as "disgraceful and despicable" and accused the state government of “arrogant misuse of executive power.” According to Onojeghuo, the Delta government’s handling of the incident reflects a desperate effort to obscure its failings in governance, particularly regarding the state’s crumbling infrastructure.
"The Okowa/Oborevwori administrations have failed the people of Delta State,” Onojeghuo stated. “Governor Okowa was touted as a ‘road master’ by sycophants, yet the roads he claimed to have built have vanished as if they were ghost projects. Now, under Oborevwori’s leadership, the situation has worsened, with roads in total disrepair. Instead of addressing these issues, they resort to arresting frustrated residents who have no other option but to draw attention to these failures.”
Onojeghuo pointed to what he described as widespread use of substandard materials and unqualified contractors as reasons behind the poor quality of state infrastructure. “Many of these roads were constructed by contractors tied to the administration, prioritizing connections over competence,” he alleged. “The arrest of this protester is only a deflection from the government’s glaring shortcomings."
The APC spokesperson also condemned government officials for their lack of remorse over the poor road conditions, arguing that the arrest is a diversion tactic aimed at silencing citizens. “It is shocking that instead of addressing people’s concerns, the state decided that arresting an innocent resident was the right move. His only offense was to creatively expose the failures of an administration unable to fulfill its duties to the people,” said Onojeghuo.
The APC further accused the governor’s media team of "misleading the public" by claiming the Oborevwori administration is actively addressing infrastructure issues in the state. “These officials are working overtime to create a façade that the governor is committed to fixing Delta’s roads, but the truth is nothing is being done,” Onojeghuo added. “This administration lacks a blueprint for development, leaving Delta’s vast potential untapped.”
In conclusion, the APC demanded that the Delta State government respect the right to free speech, urging it to address citizens’ concerns without intimidation. The party maintained that genuine leadership requires accountability, responsiveness, and action, not efforts to suppress dissent.
