THOSE BEHIND THE ECONOMIC RETROGRESSION AND HARDSHIP IN DELTA STATE. APC ATTACKS PDP

THOSE BEHIND THE ECONOMIC RETROGRESSION AND HARDSHIP IN DELTA STATE, APC ATTACKS PDP

 

When a lie is continuously told without being challenged, it begins to wear the toga of truth. It is on this premise that the All Progressives Congress (APC), Delta State, condemns in totality the abdication of PDP led government of Delta State responsibility of providing good leadership and economic prosperity for Deltans, rather than misleading them on what and who is responsible for their economic downturn and woes. What is the responsibility of a State Government if not to make a State viable for her people to benefit from? 

We dare to state that when there are certain government policies, meant to correct some social and economic anomalies, those on the wrong side of the law will always cry to high heavens of the injustices of the government of the day. For instance, those who are the major beneficiaries of pipelines vandalism, importation of banned goods and services that could be provided by Nigeria/Nigerians will always cry to high heavens, blaming the Federal Government for their woes. Meanwhile, genuine businessmen and women are smiling to the banks, and other legitimate businessmen whose businesses were affected by the policies have changed their businesses to be in line with the Federal Government's policy(ies). It has become a win/win for the Federal Government and those who have keyed into the policies. In Delta State, it is difficult for them to key into the Federal Government policies because the State Government has not keyed into the policies and has not created an enabling environment for the people to take advantage of. 

It is laughable that the Delta State PDP propagandists, through the social media and other channels of dissemination of information are making people to believe that the present Federal Government is responsible for the hardships being experienced in Delta State. Far from it! The truth is that economic downturn of Deltans is a product of PDP led government of Delta State. Rather than keying into the Federal Government policies, especially the agricultural initiative to truly make Deltans prosperous, they are busy sharing the money!

It is a fact that the closest level of governments to people are the Local and State Governments, and these governments in Delta State are  controlled by the PDP. Unlike the Federal Government  which has most of her machineries of governance situated in Abuja and a few other places in the Country, that of the State and Local governments are close to the people. Ordinarily, their closeness ought to affect the people directly in one way or the other. In other words, once the State government does well in allocation of resources and investments, there is usually economic development and the citizens of the State are happier for it. 

Between 1999 and 2007, there was nothing spectacular, done by the Federal Government, led by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo for Delta State/Deltans. Yet,  Deltans were economically better than now. The reason is not far-fetched. Although, Delta State government of that time had her own dark side, most Deltans were proud of Delta State, unlike now. 

During the period in question, nearly all streets in Delta State boasted of one Local or State Government Contractor. That is, irrespective of tribe, religion and political leaning, there were sizeable numbers of jobs for Deltans who were government Contractors. Jobs meant for Deltans were awarded to Deltans, and same paid for. The effect of that was economic boom and development. 

Under the present PDP led government, it is only those in the State Executive, Legislature and top PDP demagogues that are awarded  government contracts in Delta State. In most cases, the contracts are awarded to themselves and the jobs are not done, so the benefits from the contracts do not trickle down to the people. If the contracts are done, people around the site of the contracts would benefit as they would have the opportunity to provide one service or another. 

Another sad thing is that, it is only a few members of the PDP cabal and those in position of authority that enjoy Delta State Government's patronage. PDP members who are less privileged are presently eating the bread of sorrow talkless of other Deltans, hence the cry of "country hard" by most Deltans! Why should country be hard in Delta State, an oil producing State with the highest federal allocation? Why should country be hard if the government invests in projects that will yield benefits to the people! Now with the rice revolution, many States have keyed in, they are now rice producers. But, Delta State seem not to be part of the revolution going on in Nigeria. Deltans depend on rice produced in other States which is being sold at exorbitant prices. Delta State Government is sleeping in the scheme of things, but the cabal do not sleep when sharing the money(ies) and/ or common patrimony of Deltans!

The trending thing now is that, Commissioners, PDP House of Assembly Members and few PDP bigwigs have at least twenty companies each, registered by them to secure government contracts for themselves, which only exists on paper at the expense of the people of Delta State. 

Recently, it was revealed by a prominent Deltan that a serving Senator from Delta State, has three hundred contracts from NDDC, with different companies used as fronts,  and about one hundred and twenty of the contracts have been fully paid, amounting to hundreds of billions of naira, without execution. Even with this revelation, the communities which would have been transformed if these projects were executed are mute, looking at one man living large with their common wealth. 

The above glutonic attitude of the said Senator is what plays out in PDP led government of Delta State, thereby making few people super-rich, while majority of Deltans are "super-poor"!

It is the position of APC, Delta State, that what is responsible for the economic downturn of most Deltans is as a result of the thievery, criminal neglect and wanton acquisitions of what belongs to Deltans, by a few in PDP led Government of Delta State! Deltans should not allow themselves to be misled by the PDP led Government of Delta State, with lies that it is a federal problem. 

It is worthy of note that over a period of one year, Delta State received the highest Federal allocation. What the present Government of Delta State receives on a monthly basis is far above what the Government of  Delta State received on a monthly basis between 1999 and 2007, and what other States are receiving. States that do not receive half of what Delta State is receiving have legacy projects and investments to show, which benefit their people. We therefore urge Deltans: Royal Fathers, Youth Groups, Community Leaders and all Deltans in particular to demand from the PDP leadership at the Local and State government levels to account for the huge resources/allocations of Delta State. Deltans cannot continue sitting by the river and using spittle to wash hands. 

THE SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEMS OF DELTANS ARE IN OUR "SHOKOTO", NOT SOKOTO. 

Signed:

Barr. Ogheneluemu Sylvester Imonina, 

Publicity Secretary, APC, Delta State.

Dated this 27th day of November, 2019.