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Calls on Deltans To Rise Up And Rescue Delta Urgently
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Okowa Has Received Awards For Excellent Performance – Gov’s Aide
Except there is a collaborative resolve by the over 4 million population of the State to pick up the gauntlet and wrestle power from the present inept leadership and governance being provided by the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Delta and Deltans face the risk of sinking into economic and political extinction.
Above is the clarion call raised by no less a personality than a world acclaimed human and environmental justice advocate, Comrade Mulade Sheriff, while addressing a section of Nigerian youths in Abuja on the occasion marking the International Youth Day celebration.
Painting a very gloomy picture of Delta State, as an entity weighed down by massive debts and poor leadership occasioned by a lacklustre and inept PDP led government, the human and environmental rights activist who hails from one of the oil-producing riverine communities of Gbaramatu Kingdom, noted that the past and present leaders of the state, especially those who were in charge from 1999 to date, have not only pauperised the state and its ever-growing population but continuously raped and ripped it, thus positioning it as the most backward state in the country.
Mulade accused the PDP and its past governors of the state, especially the incumbent governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, of poor leadership, ineptitude, unbridled corruption and lack of patriotism, adding that they have blocked the chances of the youths to progress, leaving them with positions of political thuggery, ‘agberos’ and ‘deve’ collectors as their only means of survival.
According to the environmental rights advocate who is also a High Chief of Gbaramatu Kingdom, the people state must rise up and vote out Okowa and his clique of incompetent team come 2023.
Mulade noted that the only job Gov. Okowa can offer to a handful of loyal youths in the state is the position of Special Assistant, which only entitles them to be political thuggery.
While lamenting how the economy of the state has been bastardised over the years by past and present leaders, Comrade Mulade lamented that the incumbent governor is poised to bury the remains of the state with unwarranted loans for no justifiable purposes.
The Niger Delta-born Environmental Activist, therefore, called on Deltans to brace up and take advantage of the 2023 election to retake and restore the dignity of the state by voting for individuals who have the interest of the development of the state at heart.
He particularly charged the youths not to continue to compromise their future in the state, adding that they must come out in their numbers to support and vote for individuals they can trust and not necessarily the political party.
“This requires the collective efforts of all Deltans to rescue the state through collaboration, support and experience-sharing to assist in restoring the state to its past glory and to be envied by other states in the country.
“Someone that has deep and sincere concern for those living with disabilities, real sense for economic and educational development and infrastructure, that will bring development to all parts of the state”, he advised.
“When all Deltans come together to vote in the right people as Governor, Senators, House of Representative and State House of Assembly members, Delta state will be rescued and restored from the present underdevelopment and be great once again”, he advised.
Speaking on the poor state of roads and rising level of massive poverty in Delta State, the activist warned that with several billions of naira so far received as allocation from the Federation Account as well as billions accrueable to the state from the 13% derivation , Okowa has badly mismanaged the resources of the oil-producing state so much so that he has now gone on a borrowing spree of N75bn! Mulade consequently urged Deltans to vote out Okowa’s PDP come 2023.
However, reacting to Comrade Mulade’s lamentation on the poor state of affairs of the state, the Executive Assistant to Delta State Governor on Communications, Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe Esq, stated that Gov. Okowa has received several awards “from different local and international organisations for his giant strides in socio-economic remodelling, infrastructure development, wealth and job creation, youth and women empowerment and so on”.
His position was equally echoed by Okowa’s Special Assistant on Media Mr Ossai Ovie Success
Ossai in a post on his social media handles accused Mulade for being economical with the truth stating that Delta State is more developed under Okowa.
He expressed dissatisfaction with Mulade’s statement on Governor Okowa while noting that the past administrations in Delta State did their best and the current administration of Governor Okowa has achieved a lot within the last seven years.
According to Ossai, the riverine community where Mulade came from has witnessed the unprecedented achievements of Governor Okowa not to talk of other parts of the state.
He noted that Governor Okowa has completed the Ogidigben Internal Road, Oporoza Internal Road, Okerenkoko Internal Roads, Burutu Township Road Phase One and Two, Youbebe – Biniebi-Ama Road, Obotobo – Sokebolou – Yokiri Road, Obotobo I community Internal Road, Sokebolou Internal Road, Burutu Modern Market, Funding of Ayakoromo Bridge Project, Ogbobagbene – Ojobo Road, construction/renovation of schools.
Ossai also stated that the administration of Governor Okowa has outstanding and legendary achievements across the state.
“The statement by Comrade Mulade Sheriff is misleading and needs to be corrected so he won’t continue to be uninformed…”
