Is Delta State sinking under Governor Ifeanyi Okowa?

WARRI, Delta, Nigeria – There was wildspread jubilation in Delta State on August 27, 1991 when the state was created out of Bendel State with the capital at Asaba. Delta State has a land mass of 18,050, sixty percent of the land mass is dry arable land. It shares boundary with Edo State on the North and West, to the East by Anambra, Imo and Rivers and to the Southeast by Bayelsa State and Southern extreme by the Bight of Benin.

Shortly after it was created by General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, then Head of State, Air Commodore Luke Chijuiba was appointed as first Administrator. He ruled the state from August 27, 1991 to January 1992. Afterwhich, Olorogun Felix Ibru became the first Executive Governor under the Social Democratic Party(SDP).

His government was short-lived following a military coup by the late General Sani Abacha who appointed Alhaji Abdulkadir Shehu as Administrator. Shehu handled affairs of the state from November 17, 1993 to December 10, 1993 when Brigadier General Bassey Asuquo was appointed. He ruled till September 26, 1994.

Air Commodore Ibrahim Kefas was appointed as Administrator. He ruled till August 22, 1996. Lieutenant Colonel David Dungs took over still under Abacha and piloted affairs of the state until 12th August, 1998. Navy Commodore Walter Feghabo succeeded him and ruled till May 29, 1999 when Chief James Onanaefe Ibori was elected as Executive Governor under the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP).

He served the state for the mandatory eight years until May 2, 2007 and he passed on the baton of leadership to Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan who managed the state for another eight years under PDP till May 29, 2015. Senator Ifeanyi Okowa of the PDP succeeded Uduaghan and remains the governor till date. He has ruled for 4 years, his second round of 4 years has just began.

Unfortunately of all these personalities that have ruled Delta State, major developments were only achieved during the tenure of Chief James Onanaefe Ibori. The tenure of Uduaghan seems to many in Delta State to have amounted to nothing but mere passage of time.

One only hopes this same story will not catch up with Senator Ifeanyi Okowa who has less than 4 years in the saddle. Unfortunately, what is on the ground seems to point to the negative.

Delta State is naturally endowned with oil and other mineral resources. In terms of agriculture, it is noted for two major cash crops, palm tree and rubber. But as you traverse the state, you could see rubber and palm trees allover. Rubber tapping is almost dead. There are palm trees allover but no cottage industries( oil palm mills) even when oil palm is still harvested by a greater population and in the process leaving the youths to take to crime in the quest for survival.

You could see electric wires passing through almost all the villages but the fact is that most Delta communities have not seen power for almost a decade. Some examples are Otorho Agbon(Isiokolo), Opara, Ofuoma, Okuedafe and neigbouring communities. These small communities are left to generate their own power, and source for water when they have a government with seat of power in Asaba.

Apart from some inner roads which seems to be motorable with potholes here and there, the roads leadingn to these villages are in terrible shape. Topping list of these roads is the now direlict Warri-Sapele Road, which has become a nightmare to motorists and residents of Delta State. They are practically shedding tears passing through the road, forcing many to wonder if they really have a government in place.

“Do we have a government in place or is it share wickedness. A responsible government should not allow his people to suffer like this. Just take a look, we spent hours on this road daily just to get to our destination”, Ochuko Onobrorien, a Delta-based engineer told our correspondent. Even the Ovu Road, the alternative road that connects major villages in Ethiope East and West seems to have been abandoned half way by the contractor and residents of Delta State are saying that it might become another nightmare if nothing is done to complete the road.

Besides these roads, another major source of worry to indigenes is the state of federal roads in Delta State, forcing many to wonder if the Federal Government is only interested in the money generated from the state without any commersurate development. The roads are in despirate need of attention. The road leading from Benin to Warri and Warri to Benin need urgent attention. Apart from flood which has become a routine due to lack of drainage channels, there are areas on the road few minutes from Ring Road(Benin), on both side of the road, after descending Udu Bridge and before one of the second bridge on the road from Warri to Benin. Even the road leading to Effrun and Warri are not in good shape. They have been abandoned. Who will fix them?

While many have condemned the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration for lack of will to develop the Niger Delta states, and Delta State in particular despite its contribution to the federal purse, some have also blamed the Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa for his lackadaisical posture towards federal roads in his state. Commuters are saying that Okowa is doing the state and its residents great harm by folding his arm because they are federal structure when those experiencing the hardship are indigenes who voted for him.

“Governor Ifeanyi Okowa must take a cue from the former governor of Edo State, Comrades Adams Oshiomhole who did not wait for the Federal Government before he fixed Ugbowo Road, and the extention from Benin to Okada and beyond. Okowa must take a cue from former Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Fashola who did not wait for the federal government before he commenced fixing of the deplorable Lagos -Badagry Expressway instead of this his sidon look posture.

“He must immediately initiate moves to fix the bad portions of the roads if he cares for the people of Delta State and pass on the bill to the Federal Government, to do otherwise is nothing but hatred for the people he swore to protect and serve with utmost good faith”, another commuter, Samson Akpodiete told our reporter.