Delta State will on Thursday, August 27, 2020, Clock 29 Years of it’s creation after it was carved out from the former Bendel State in 1991, by the then Military President of Nigeria; General Ibrahim Babangida Rtd.
In a bid to appraise how the state has fared in the last Twenty Nine Years of existence; Ika Mirror Newspaper reporter on Tuesday, August 25, 2020, went round Boji Boji Metropolis, to get the views of residents.
Here are the contributions of some of the respondents who bared their minds on the issue.
Mr. Emmanuel Uzor, A Businessman, said “We must as a matter of fact thank God for keeping the State intact in the past 29 years, it was a joyous moment when Delta State was created from the old Bendel State. So far there has been some developmental projects and noticeable achievements within the state; based on the above I think the state has fared beyond expectations.
However, the infrastructural development in Delta State when compared to the volume of income that comes into the state, I do not agree that the expectations of the masses had been met; we expect that Delta State as an oil rich state supposed to have done much more than what we are seeing presently. It is a sad commentary that at 29, Delta State is still trying to grabble with so many issues like Human Capital Development, again when you compare Delta State with other South Southern States, I doubt if Delta State will come out first. As I said earlier some impacts have been made but there is need for more improvement.
Hence, I will advice that the political leaders of the day should not rest on their oars, although in my own view, the present government have done something but I still believe that a lot more needs to be done especially in the area of youth employment, infrastructural development, stable power supply and other vital needs of the citizens and residents of the state”.
Mr. Cletus Eziokwu Okwuokenyen, A Businessman, said “Contributing on the subject Delta at 29, I think we have three issues to look at, namely; Human capacity building or human capital development, the citizenry and development; talking about human capital development, Delta State is still very much backward in the sense that the state government has never made any change; and the citizens are not free in the state, for instance in the past four to five months here in Delta State Covid-19 has not taken more than One thousand lives, but in the process of enforcing Covid-19 laws more than Three to Five Hundred persons were killed irrespective of the virus that was pandemic. Away from that talking about business in Agbor, a person who started from the basic sourced for money to commence business either in a large or small scale would be disturbed and forced to pack out of town because of touts who do not even have a store yet they work with those in power, their actions are set backs which has frustrated a lot of people. Talking about the level of development in general, it has been very much selective, take for instance a situation where the government has promised to supply everyone with prepaid meters as a means of regulating the excesses of over billing and estimated bills; how can a person run a small or large scale business when you don’t have a generator set at your disposal; with such scenario the economy of the state must crumble.
So, if the government of Delta State wants to satisfy her citizens firstly, they should caution law enforcement agencies about their excess of illegalities and secondly, remove touts from enforcing government laws; thereby removing nuisance. While the power regulating officers should sit up to their responsibilities and give us prepaid meters and stop dragging us into abeyance of over estimated billings”.
Evang. Ehitito Ehiabor, An Evangelist of God, said “We thank God for Delta clocking 29 years, indeed it’s a great thing to appreciate God for, because if it has not been God who made it possible for the President then, General Ibrahim Babangida, whom God put in his heart to create Delta State among the other States that were created 29 years ago; we want to thank God for that move, knowing that since then till now a lot have gone under the bridge, many rulers have come and gone. To God be the Glory things have not been really too bad, things have been going on well to the Glory of God because we have been praying and God the Lord Jesus Christ have been hearing our prayers and therefore on the basis of our prayers even when things were going off track by the manipulation of the devil, our prayers, God, Jesus Christ have been putting the hands of the devil down and causing progress, success, breakthrough and development to happen to Delta State. We have all course to say Glory be to Jesus Christ, Blessed be the Name of Jesus, we have all course to say Thank you Jesus for indeed it has been very good for us now; with the present Governor in office things are getting better for all Deltans, infrastructures here and there and we give God all the Glory. So, 29 years we have all course to glorify God, to say God Thank You that with you on our side it has been good even when things were trying to go wrong your divine power has caused the wrongness to disappear and the rightness to come into place, that is what we have been experiencing and I pray in the Name of Jesus Christ that we will continue to experience in the years ahead; God bless Delta State, Happy Celebration and Happy 29 Years Anniversary”.
Mr. Philip Elueme, A Retired Civil Servant, said “I want to say that the state has progressed tremendously in the sense that there are infrastructures on ground; roads have been tarred, although there are many works to be done, the State Governor has tried his best, but I know he still has some time to work; he should not relax, he should continue with the good works. But there is something I want the Governor to look into, which is the issue of the herdsmen and kidnapping in Delta State, he should find the means of may be setting up a joint security outfit, with a combination of the Army, Police, DSS and the Air force; he should put them together to see that they are able to nip the menace of insecurity across the State to the bud; however apart from this security challenges, the Governor is trying; for when you have a formidable security network in place the people of Delta State will be able to say this is the good work of this man, this is what the state Governor has done; and they will be able to enjoy the dividends of democracy to the fullest”.
Withdraw From Cult Related Activities – Uzum Advises Youths
The Director – General of the Delta State Orientation Bureau, Barr. Eugene Azuka Uzum, has advised youths within and outside Delta State to refrain from Cult related activities and instead, engage in meaningful things that can enhance personal and societal growth.
Uzum who made the disclosure during the week at his office in Asaba in an interactive session with Press men noted that the State Government is aware that some Youths have been initiated into various secret Cults which he said calls for sober reflection of the Youth.
The DG stressed that the State Government has taken steps to mitigate these Cult related activities which have caused numerous deaths among the Youthful population and further said is the reason the State government is collaborating with the State Ministry of Justice for effective implementation of the criminal Justice process.
The Orientation helmsman therefore, emphasized the need for the Youth to shun Cultism just he mentioned the dangers inherent in its activities, explaining how Cultism has caused the deaths of many Young people, encouraging social vices in the society.
Enumerating further, the DG Orientation noted that Cultism attracts failure, armed robbery, kidnapping, drug abuse, and in most cases death as well as disgrace to good meaning and hard working parents.
He therefore harped on the need for religious leaders to move from prosperity to mental infrastructural development in their sermons just as he implored traditional institutions to help in setting the pace for the Youth to uphold societal and ethical values
Good governance: Chief Henry Omorodon hails Governor Obaseki
A business tycoon and the Odunanoba of Benin Kingdom, Edo State, Prince Chief Henry Hausa Omorodon, has hailed Governor Godwin Obaseki for promoting good governance in the state. The revered community leader who stated this during a recent press interview at his country home in Igbontor, Igbanke stated that Governor Obaseki has since his inauguration displayed exemplary leadership styles which he said is typified in his judicious allocation and equitable distribution of resources among competing interests.
He added, “Governor Godwin Obaseki allowed equity and fairness to guide the allocation of projects to all nooks and crannies of the state. Obaseki has distinquished himself in the area of health care delivery through the policy of affordable, quality and efficient health care system.
The Igbanke born philanthropist noted that Governor Obaseki’s administration has created wealth for not only the youths but, also all strata of the society, pointing out that the governor’s performance has been acknowledged by the Edo people.
“Let me say this for the upteenth time and very loud that Governor Obaseki has not only made the difference but, has also raised the bar in enthroning good governance as exemplified by the judicious allocation of resources which has engendered harmonious co-existence among diverse groups in the state. No doubt the state is more united today and the people are together more than ever”, he said.
The Odunanoba used the medium to appeal to the Edo State Government to pay more attention to his community (Igbontor, Igbanke), particularly in the area of provision of basic infrastructures such as road. He disclosed that Igbontor has no good roads. He also called on the Edo State Government to site a university in Igbontor, noting that his community has vast land to donate to the state government for such project.
