There was palpable fear and anxiety in Asaba, Delta State capital as politicians are allegedly plotting to connive with top government officials to allocate large expanse of land belonging to Ibori Golf and Country Club (IGCC) to themselves.
The development became pronounced when top government functionaries led by the Hon Commissioner for Lands, Barr Kale Onianwa, Chairman of the State Land Allocation Committee and many others visited the golf course, thus brought the intention to allot the course to the attention of the members of the club.
Ibori golf course, foremost recreational facility, the pride of the Deltans was established over thirty years ago when the state was carved out of old Bendel by the then Military government, but was expanded and given a befitting economic advantage by the administration of former Governor James Ibori.
Members of the club who pleaded anonymity in a chat with Newsnigeriaonline.com.ng revealed that the Ministry of Land and Survey has sent a memo seeking approval to allocate a large section of the course to politicians and individuals in the state.
Moreover, this development did not go down well with the management and members of the club that cut across the 36 states and Federal Capital Territory, being one of the most functional and reliable golf course in the Niger Delta and Nigeria as a whole.
The aggrieved members hereby called on Governor Ifeanyi Okowa not to yield to the pressure of approving the proposal, noting that such action would project the state image in bad light among the Comity of States in Nigeria and beyond.
Adding that the club is recognised with its layout mapped by satellite making it one of the few Nigerian courses that can be played using GPS.
Furthermore, they added that the economic impact of the golf course and its comparative advantage to the state with regards to carbon credit would be greatly eroded if allotted to individuals.
Similarly, they confirmed that those who were bent on using this government because of their closeness to the power were not doing so to benefit the state, but for their own selfish interests, which will amount to destruction of the most acceptable recreational centre in the capital.
