…Wants Government to Extend Plantation City Development Model to Entire Otokutu Community
By Sunday Apah
Engr. Charles Ariko, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Otokutu Community, has commended Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s development strides across Delta State.
In an open letter dated 7th January 2026 and addressed to the Governor, Ariko appeals for the empowerment of Otokutu indigenes through appointments and other areas of human endeavor.
According to the letter: “I sincerely appreciate the Governor’s commitment to governance and for keeping faith with the people of Delta State through the MORE Agenda.
“The Governor’s leadership has continued to reflect responsiveness, inclusiveness, and a people-centered vision. However, it is important to respectfully draw his attention to Otokutu Community, which is yet to fully feel incorporated into the MORE Agenda.
“Otokutu is not merely a peripheral settlement; it is a strategic and vibrant community whose political relevance and population strength deserve deliberate inclusion in the State’s development framework.
“For many years, particularly during the era of the PDP’s political dominance in Delta State, Plantation–Otokutu has suffered noticeable political neglect despite its loyalty, electoral contributions, and peaceful disposition.
“This long-standing gap has created disparities when compared with neighboring communities that now enjoy visible infrastructural growth.
“Your Excellency, development is not only about physical infrastructure but also about human capital investment.
“Extending roads, drainage systems, schools, healthcare facilities, and economic empowerment programs to Otokutu will not only uplift the living standards of the people but will also consolidate public trust, strengthen political goodwill, and deepen citizen participation in governance.
“Strategically, inclusive development carries broader political benefits. When communities like Otokutu are visibly integrated into the government’s development agenda, it reinforces unity, sustains electoral confidence, and affirms that no community is considered insignificant in the Delta project.
“Also, Plantation City, which is managed by Megatrain, was established on the understanding and formal agreement that its development would go hand in hand with the holistic development of the host Otokutu community.
“Regrettably, this commitment has not been fully honored, as the surrounding Otokutu community continues to suffer neglect despite the massive development within Plantation City.
“Your Excellency, we respectfully urge you to use your good office to revisit the original agreement entered into with Megatrain and ensure that its provisions are faithfully implemented.
“Doing so will not only correct an existing imbalance but will also restore confidence in public–private partnerships and reaffirm the government’s role as a protector of host communities.
“It is also important to acknowledge that Plantation City itself is a model, standard community, whose infrastructure, planning, and amenities reflect modern urban development.
“This model can be strategically replicated in key quarters of Otokutu, particularly in areas adjoining Plantation City, thereby promoting inclusive growth, reducing inequality, and fostering peaceful coexistence between the estate and its host community.
“Such deliberate integration will ensure that development does not exist in isolation but rather serves as a catalyst for broader infrastructural expansion and human capital development within Otokutu, in alignment with the vision of the MORE Agenda.
“We therefore humbly appeal that your administration extend the hand of fellowship and development to Otokutu Community, ensuring it benefits equitably from both infrastructural advancement and human capital development under the MORE Agenda.
“Your Excellency, be assured that our support for purposeful leadership knows no boundaries, and we remain steadfast partners in the collective progress of Delta State.”
