By Godwin-Maria Utuedoye
Recently the Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, proclaimed a ban on the collection of what is known in our local parlance as ‘Deve’. An illegal levy leveled against potential investors and developers by youths, community leaders, local government and even some traditional rulers.
No doubt it is yet another bold attempt to liberate the citizens with such proclamation—especially to potential investors, developers, citizens and business oriented individuals and groups. The proclamation is also a confirmation of the oppressive nature of those involved in doing such, and It is also aimed at tackling the rascality, violence, gross impunity and extortion that follow which at most time disrupts economic advancement of towns, cities and the state.
But worries abounds as this maybe mere words either in the air or on paper. Yes it is a laudable initiative. But experience teaches us caution. We have heard such banns proclaimed with fanfare, only to wither into irrelevance.
Concerns has risen as this cannot just be another grand announcement that quietly dies in the dust of neglect.
Over the years, Delta state has flirted with the idea of encouraging investors, developers and business oriented partners, yet the landscape is littered with the ruins of failed promises allowing touts, hooligans and violent youths and leaders to grossly oppress, intimidate and extort citizens thereby discouraging their zeal to invest in some parts of the state.
It suffices to say that our policies only ends in the air or on papers as a lot have been said about policies on multiple taxation, and still, there is precious little to show for it.
I am saying this with urgency. This time must be different. This time must be real. This time, we must not allow it to go as others. This must not go the ugly Nigerian way. Let it not become another forgotten file in an air-conditioned office. Let it come alive in every village, town, and city across Delta state.
A lot is going on in the name of revenue generation which is indirectly the same thing as the ‘Deve’ collection. For instance, in Ughelli North Local Government Area, to erect a building project, a lot of obstacles and hurdles needed to be jumped, and if one is not courageous enough, one will have to quit.
It happened recently somewhere at a suburban town to the administrative headquarters of Ughelli North Area, where a Journalist and Publisher was developing a residential building and an office complex, some group of horrible looking youths appeared to put a stop to the project. The journalist was told that he had to pay the sum of One Hundred Thousand Naira (#100,000) for his building permit, else workers should stop work. Truly they stopped all workers and the journalist was told that failure to comply, his building project will remain terminated and if anyone is seen near the site, such worker will be beaten black and blue. And so, the work was terminated.
What an audacity for a none government official to put a stop to project that has been registered ab initio by the government? This is how different committees have been set up.
Now hear the man who claimed to be the building permit committee chairman in Ughelli North LGA, “I don buy the building permit contract from the local government chairman for Three Million Naira, I don pay 1.3 million naira, if you like call am if he go fit tell me to live here. If we come here and meet anybody working in the site without you paying the money, you nor go like wetin you see. For your information, down house na 100k upstair na 150k, he threatened.”
The question is, this is a project that has duly been registered by the local government, and as well lodged at the state with taxes paid to the appropriate authorities, so why the double levy? We await answers ad responses from those supposedly assigned to effect the governors ban.
It is so therefore a call to all concerned authorities—particularly the state governor, the local government chairmen especially Ughelli North LGA Chairman and all their partners—to treat this proclamation of ban with the utmost seriousness and sincerity.
A situation were communities now have their own committees for dubious and illegal collection of levies from developers and investors such as roofing permit levy committee, foundation digging permit levy, painting permit levy, plastering levy and all sorts of illegal, oppressive and unauthorized levies has to stop. Local government chairmen are not left out as they are conspirators and beneficiaries of this evil. They approved different contracts to mostly touts, rascals and criminals as reward system.
This should not just be a political charade or mere statements without action or follow up. Make Delta people to believe and have confidence in the Sheriff Oborevwori government. We are tired of illegal extortion and oppression.