A creative individual from Delta State recently used TikTok to spotlight the poor condition of Shell Road in Sapele, comparing the frequently flooded road to a “swimming pool.” The video, which quickly gained traction online, was intended to shed light on the infrastructure issues plaguing the area.
However, rather than addressing the concerns raised in the video, the state government reportedly deployed undercover security agents to apprehend the individual. The arrest has sparked conversations about the government’s priorities and approach to handling public criticism, with many questioning why the focus was on silencing the messenger rather than fixing the problem.
In a viral video shared on social media by user Morris Monye, the man was seen wearing yellow underwear and using a bright orange bucket to take a bath in the floodwater that had accumulated on the road.
In his satirical gesture, the man criticized not only Governor Oborevwori but also former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and the Sapele Local Government Chairman, Eugene, accusing them of neglecting the road’s condition. He sarcastically thanked them for providing a “swimming pool” instead of fixing the road.
“So the swimming pool they made for us, I want to appreciate them for this swimming pool. I want to take a bath,” he said, requesting soap and a sponge. He then proceeded to lather up and bathe in the dirty water while continuing his mockery. He ended the video by repeatedly thanking the government officials for their “efforts.”
The video, lasting three minutes and twenty-eight seconds, highlights the frustrations of residents in Sapele, a town long plagued by infrastructure challenges. It also casts a spotlight on the state government’s seeming lack of urgency in addressing these issues, despite Delta State receiving significant allocations from the Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC).
In response, Dr. Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, Director General of Delta State Orientation and Communications Bureau, defended the administration, stating that Governor Oborevwori is fully committed to addressing road conditions in Sapele and across all local government areas. He mentioned the governor’s approval of more than 15 kilometers of road rehabilitation and reconstruction in Sapele, including Orhorhor Road, Mr. Benjamin Aboneje Road, and Shell Road expansion.
Oghenesivbe reassured residents that while the government is working on improving Shell Road and other major routes like Okirighwre-Benin Road, additional phases will address other bad roads within Sapele and across the state’s 24 local government areas.
For now, however, the viral video serves as a sharp reminder of the gap between the promises and the realities of life for many Delta State residents.
See the video of the arrest
