One Year On: Words above action, Nothing For Egbema kingdom Warri North, ___ Mingo,

One Year On: Words above action, Nothing For Egbema kingdom Warri North, ___ Mingo, 

   

Amidst the initial fanfare, good feelings, and high expectations, a new era began on May 29, 2024, as a new Governor, deputy Governor, and Commissioners other various political appointees in Delta state cutting Cake to mark one-year anniversary of His excellency Rt. Hon. Sheriff F. O. Oborevwori, Governor Delta state, However, as we celebrated, it’s clear that, Egbema people of Warri North local Government Area of Delta state are sad, feel hopeless, nothing for them for His excellency Rt. Hon. Elder Sheriff F. O. Oborevwori lead Delta state Government, 

According to the youth leader of Egbema kingdom, a prominent son of the Niger Delta Mingo Meshach Saya Ogumaka, who attended the one-year Delta state Praise day at Dome Event center Asaba, Wednesday 29th may, 2024, said, It was sad day by be in the midst of those who are celebrating dividends of democracy and who mourning for deprivation and oppression of same Government,

He said, This sentiment leadership was echoed for the various appointments made by the Rt. Hon. Elder Sheriff Oborevwori', where Egbema people felt betrayed by the lacklustre performance of their governors, after massively voted for him, Egbema kingdom is most oil rich Ijaw kingdom in Delta state, host to many multinational oil companies, such as Chevron, NPDC, SPDC, ELCREST, OML40, 30 SAHARA ENERGY, CONOIL, and other independent oil and gas companies, 

This column in a piece written, published in the various newspaper and online news for the past months, Captured the general feeling of Egbema sons and daughters home and abroad, about the state Governor thus, says nothing for Egbema kingdom, stop sidelines Egbema kingdom for your appointment, we are Deltans, 

“It is utterly absurd that instead of elected governors to focus on making the state economically viable and developing the state from down to up but turned to sidelines Egbema kingdom and Ijaw Areas for development it's alarming situation, for the past decades many governors have turned the state into fiefdoms and domains where they rule as absolute dictators controlling not just the resources of the state, but all the state institutions with impunity, bow down for  external actor's, with our resources and revenues, 

We see some past governors in Delta state, who unashamedly use public funds as their private funds and use it anyhow they want, with little or no accountability whatsoever only in their community alone” but Egbema people are equally owners of the resources of Delta state, we are entitled for same dividends, projects and appointment, the immediate past Governor of Delta state, Dr. Senator Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa, the God sent break the depression, saddle, deprivation and stand for equity and fairness on his political aspiration, who brought justice to Warri North local Government Area council, initiate rotational system of the council Chairmanship position, were the immediate past Warri North council chairman Hon. Capt Smart Asekutu became chairman after 32 years of Itsekiri ruled, he also appointed the DESOPADEC commissioner, an indigenes of Egbema kingdom representing Ijaw ethnic nationalities in board of Delta state oil producing Area Communities , Hon. Spencer Okubo Okpoye DESOPADEC, 

There were high expectations and a renewed hope that the new administrations in the state would be different this time around and would use the state’s resources to develop the state equally, as the Governor made lots of promises to the Deltans, 

To tackle the myriad problems whereby a local Government Area owned by two ethnic nationalities Ijaw and Itsekiri, all appointment and elective position for only one ethnic tribe, which Itsekiri, two commissioner slots for Itsekiri, Delta state house of Assembly for Itsekiri, council chairman for Itsekiri, and no common projects for Egbema kingdom for the past one year, 

Sadly, all Delta state Ijaw local Government Areas are heading in the same direction of hopelessness and despair as in this dispensations. Leadership is lacking, and the status quo must be changed if Delta riverine communities is to see meaningful development in the current dispensation. To address this, the governors must reflect on his performance in the last year and implement policies, structures and systems that will help him fulfil his responsibilities to the people of Egbema kingdom, and other Ijaw Areas,

The state scorecards for the past year, as evidenced by dire and unpleasant statistics in aspects such as poverty, food insecurity, unemployment and underemployment, environmental degradation, poor business-friendly environment, and poor policy implementation, no political appointment, deprivation are, at best, suboptimal and, at worst, grim. whereby Delta state cannot demonstrate meaningful achievement in any one area in Ijawland and are not positioned to achieve anything in the future unless something drastic is done to redirect this leadership to the proper development direction. This lacklustre and self-defeating approach to growth and development occurs when the states enjoy unprecedented FAAC allocations and other internally generated revenues.

Every month, according to the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), not less than a trillion naira is announced to have been generated and disbursed among the three tiers of government in Nigeria, at least since the removal of fuel subsidy, which has significantly improved the revenues of governments across the country. The statutory federal allocations to the coffers of the state governments alone are expected to increase by 69%, from N3.3 trillion in 2023 to N5.54 trillion in 2024, based on the approved budget and revenue projection. 

Government fiscal statistics indicate that in the first four months of 2024, states have received approximately N1.548 trillion in disbursement. The internally generated revenue of many states has significantly increased in the past year, adding more funds to the state’s coffers for growth and development. This is besides the 13% derivation revenue (for the benefitting states) and other funds accruing to states from different sources.

The recent increase in state government revenue has not improved Delta state’ quality of life especially Egbema people. Revenue from FAAC has doubled, but living standards are getting worse. More money for the state has yet to translate to substantial improvements in infrastructure, healthcare services, education, job creation, or even security in Egbema kingdom Warri North local Government Area,

Much has been written about the Delta state government’s performance in the past one year, and the verdict is nothing to cheer about. We frequently overlook that, in the state, the ways by which state governments create and implement development policies are essential to a functioning state. In Delta Ijaws people openly, disappointed and dissatisfied with how subnational entities are run. This illustrates how deeply disappointed Egbema people with the results of governance over the last 12 months.

Despite modest progress in a few of the local Government Areas, there is a systemic breakdown of massive projects, public healthcare and education facilities at the state, construction of road, billions have signed for development projects'in the state, The public’s confidence in His excellency Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori and Delta state capacity to deliver social services and look out for the welfare of the populace has been severely damaged as a result of sentiments and ethnic bias leadership,

With the significant resources the states have received in the past one year, it’s disheartening to see that Egbema kingdom have been sidelines in development project, While we acknowledge the impact of rising inflation and a decline in the value of the Naira, it’s inexcusable for state to not demonstrate significant achievements with those funds. This is lack of transparency and accountability at the state level is a key factor contributing to the suboptimal performance in Ijaw Areas, Citizens must demand and ensure transparency and accountability in governance to drive meaningful change.

Many local Government Area and their chairman and other representative need something to show in terms of infrastructural development. The level of infrastructural decay in Egbema kingdom is palpable. Few or no new roads are constructed. State governments have been empowered to regulate the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity yet only a few states have taken advantage of this constitutional amendment. Since creation of Nigeria Egbema people have never known what is electricity,

The availability of pipe-borne water and other water systems is still a mirage, and medical facilities need to be put in place to cater to the needs of the Egbema people. The newly sworn-in governors promised us these things, but one year later, there is nothing, no appointment, no project, we are stagger into the second year without a concrete plan and hope,

At all levels, I hope our political leaders recognise the importance of redeeming democracy’s reputation. The average person is beginning to question the capacity of democracy to deliver dividends that can improve his life. It will take more than impressive rhetoric to convince citizens that our political officeholders are working for our interests. 

The youth leader, Mingo further stressing that, Actions must follow words and beautiful promises. The few local Government Areas where the governors is doing well shine like illuminators for others to emulate. It is not rocket science to provide quality leadership for the people. The next three years are enough time to correct this harmful and unfruitful leadership anomaly in our state. The Egbema people deserve more, and that is what they must get!