Chief Mulade, the Ibe-Serimowei of Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State, on Thursday reeled out 7 point agenda in an open letter to Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori.
Mulade is the National Coordinator of the Center for Peace and Environmental Justice, CEPEJ.
In his letter, the Ijaw- born human rights advocate set some agenda before the Delta state Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori thus;
(1.) Governor Sheriff Oborevwori should run an all-inclusive government, carrying all Deltans along, irrespective of political, religious or ethnic affiliations, as Delta State is for us all.
Let us look at the last line, ‘Delta State is for all’. So far from his administration modus operandi, one will not accept that Delta state is for all, because Governor Sheriff Oborevwori is still maintaining the status quo of ‘the winner takes it all’.
From the appointments so far, the governor has been described as a one sided man. He is also trading on the path of his predecessors and Godfathers who assumed the state to be owned by ONLY those who belong to the PDP, and by extension not even everyone in the PDP.
Hence, Mulade reiterated that carrying everyone along will further unite the state, while equal opportunities should be given to all Deltans to contribute their quota towards moving the State forward and be wary of political sycophancy.
Sycophants who will not tell the governor the truth have occupied the corridors of power and are still, given appointments on daily basis.
Some do not have anything to contribute towards growth and development of the state, yet, the have or are given juicy appointments. They are not there to support the governor, but only to praise sing him and tell him juicy stories that will benefits their selfish interest. If truly the government of Sheriff Oborevwori is committed towards genuine development of the state, he will engaged capable hands that will help his administration to succeed but not the recycled, finished politicians whose urge is to amass wealth for their generation unborn.
(2) That the Delta State 2024 Budget should provide for the neglected riverine areas of the State, particularly the Ijaw and Itsekiri areas.
Yes, the riverine areas of the state needs to be develop sincerely. The resources to develop the area is there and keeps coming, and so, attention and concern should be given to the area to become a world class tourist centre devoid of insecurity and good transportation measures.
Mulade had posited that about 80% of the State’s resources to fund the 2024 budget will come from the area, though not verified, but no one will argue the volume of crude and other mineral resources that accrued from the area.
In terms of infrastructure, no Deltan will dispute the fact that the riverine area is lagging behind in terms of basic infrastructural amenities and modern development. The last celebrated major infrastructure breakthrough was the Bomadi bridge which was achieved during the regime of Chief James Onanefe Ibori.
From Warri South/West to Burutu, to Bomadi to Warri North, Patani and surroundings, the story is not different as it is seen to be deliberately neglected by successive administration, but hope the Oborevwori administration will not be the same.
And so, according to Mulade, if these neglected areas were not adequately captured in the already passed 2024 Budget, a supplementary budget that will accommodate and give sense of belonging to the riverine areas is recommended as well. A postulation that I will so much support.
In addition, even the Urhobo’s and the Isoko’s are not exempted of these challenges as they too are major producers of crude oil that generates the state revenues. Schools, health institutions, roads, electricity, employments and other projects that will make life meaningful should be taken to the area.
“3) Delta State must be on the map of progressive States. It is very heartwarming that for the first time, Delta State Government has kicked against shoddy projects, and that it will no longer be business as usual for quack contractors, as demonstrated by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, who engaged the bridge and road construction giant, Julius Berger Plc, a proof that the current administration is serious about leaving a lasting legacy as far as infrastructural development is concerned.
This is commendable, but the Governor should sustain the tempo and diversify the transport sector; attract foreign investors to the State; and set up a strong security architecture.
Yes, that the Governor is committed to quality projects is a fact. The Uduere/Okogbe street project is a testament to his taste of quality and durable jobs. He should be commended, but, just as Comrade Mulade said, the tempo should be sustain, not to be a camouflage at all.
“4) Governor Oborevwori should embrace environmental sustainability and best practices for the preservation of our ecological heritage. The Delta State Government should liaise with the Federal Government and its agencies to put an end to gas flaring, create opportunities that will discourage pollution, and encourage good sanitation habits.
The ecological funds should be utilized properly but not to settle in one pocket of an individual.
“5) The Delta State Government should focus more on education which is the bedrock of development in every progressive society. Quality education should be provided in all parts of the State, particularly in the riverine areas, where there are paucity of teachers, and learning facilities are dilapidated.
Quality education should be seen by government as an investment in citizens with the aim of reaping citizens’ positive contributions to development in the future, after being trained and certified.
Efforts should be made to reduce the number of out-of-school children to the barest minimum, while learning institutions must be strengthened to enable them make positive impacts.
To get the education right, government should focus more on the primary school teachers. Governor Oborevwori should see the welfare of the primary school teachers as important. Their salaries, promotions and treatment should be sacrosanct. He should not see the primary education as something that is not important. If you fail to attend to the needs of the primary school workers, you missed it all.
“6. The Governor should focus on agricultural development in the State. In fact, the government should engage and empower the jobless youths and women so that they can contribute to food production.
Government should establish agricultural schemes with palliatives to lure and encourage Deltans to go into crop farming and fishing. Delta State should not only be exporting crude oil but also be food sufficient with the surplus exported to neighbouring States and other countries.
Agriculture is very important as fossil fuel can no longer be relied upon as revenue base for future development. The future belongs to agriculture which has comparative advantages over crude oil.
Farmers must be encourage through soft loans and processes should be made easy for Deltans. Policies must and should be made flexible to encourage farmers as depending on oil alone is tantamount to failure in future.
“7. Security should be prioritised by the Oborevwori administration to guarantee peace, attract investors into the State, and create job and employment opportunities for Deltans and other Nigerians in the State.
Security is everybody’s business, but the State Government must put in place the needed security facilities, and collaborate with the Federal Government’s security agencies to curb criminal activities in the State to further boost confidence, and attract local, national and foreign investors.
Comrade Mulade, however, urged all residents of Delta State to give maximum cooperation and support to the current Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, to enable him implement and achieve his MORE Agenda for the benefit of all Deltans.
Comrade Mulade must be appreciated for this prompt agenda set before the Oborevwori’s administration, and we believed that if all appointees are sincere like Comrade Mulade, good things will happen to Delta state.
Godwin-Maria Utuedoye is a Delta base practicing Journalist and Publisher of @ WWW.Southernvoicenews.Com.