SHREDDING OKUBOR’S LETTER TO SENATOR NED NWOKO

I read a letter by Dr.Festus Goziem Okubor, former civil commissioner in Delta state where he recklessly attacked Senator Prince Ned Nwoko, representing Delta North Senatorial District, for expressing his views on the Okpai Electricity plant and Ogwashi-Uku dam projects among some other important issues concerning the state.

Dr. Okubor, in the highly provocative and malicious letter, circulated in the conventional and social media specifically asked “the new State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic party, PDP, Chief Solomon Arenyeka to call Senator Ned Nwoko to order”

I recall that Senator Nwoko while addressing his constituents had in a video clip mentioned his discussions with the Delta state governor, His Excellency Rt.Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori on the need for his administration to fund the Okpai power plant in Ndokwa East local government area, estimated to cost 35billion Naira.

The Senator also requested from Governor Oborevwori,the completion of the Ogwashi Uku dam, located in Aniocha South local government area.

Nwoko was of the opinion that the Oborevwori administration can fund the projects with the receipt of significant revenue from the federation account and added that  Delta’s revenue profile was more impressive than virtually all the South Eastern states. The senator noted that the governor however explained that he is servicing inherited debts, and the state government would not be able to execute such projects as requested at this time.

The lawmaker concluded that he also asked Oborevwori to  make more  efforts to execute projects in Delta North to replicate his development initiatives in other senatorial districts,especially Warri axis where Julius Berger is constructing multi-billion Naira  bridges/roads.

Typical of Senator Nwoko,he spoke bluntly but I must say in good faith. But what well-meaning Deltans viewed as fair comment has been sadly interpreted by Okubor as undue criticisms of the Oborevwori administration.

Okubor got it wrong. Senator Nwoko shared his views frankly as a man with clear understanding of Delta’s diversity also with the intent of promoting peace and unity in a peculiar multi ethnic state. He spoke as a pan Deltan senator who believes in fostering spirit of self belonging and general development. His remarks were never voiced to bring the governor to disrepute.His concerns are about peace, progress and even  development of Delta.

As Senator of the federal republic, Nwoko understands that he was elected with a clear mandate to safeguard  the socio-economic well bring of the people of Delta North and also ensure good good governance in Delta and Nigeria in general.

I have to quickly remind Okubor that Senator Nwoko had said the same thing few months ago at the PDP caucus meeting at Government House Asaba. He addressed the governor directly as regards projects in Delta North, while commending him for doing well in Delta central and Delta South. He has nothing personal against the state governor.That was why in the video clip he once again praised the governor for “doing well “ in Warri area.

The senator offered an advice to the governor as a friend,with a sincere heart. I am old enough to know that Ned is a man of  integrity and courage who speaks candidly without fear or favour, based  on honest conviction. He can and will always speak for the people he represents.That is why he is in the senate.

Senator Nwoko gave useful and wise counsel as someone who has much regards for Oborevwori just as the governor holds him in high esteem.Both men have a long history of cordial relationship, beginning from the I990s when Prince Nwoko was a successful young lawyer  practicing then in London,United kingdom.

I am totally disappointed in Okubor. He has been in every government in Delta perpetually since 1999, having featured as chief of staff, commissioner for information, commissioner for Health, chairman of hospital board, chairman of Delta polytechnics governing councils,etc .Today he is political adviser to the current government. He is one of those that have held Deltans as prisoners. No room to breathe as long as he feeds fat on the allocations to the state.

Why can’t he understand the importance of water and light in the lives of ordinary Deltans? If the state can’t borrow to finance the completion of these essential projects, why can’t the state provide the needed guarantees by the financiers? Governments can borrow,every government borrows. Having an accumulated debt from successive governments is not an excuse not to borrow to complete these projects. Okubor will support a flyover of N50 billion in one city but not less than N50 billion that will provide light and pipe borne water to over 200 communities in Delta North. So senator Nwoko should take permission from him before he can explain what he has been doing to his constituents.

Okubor in his ill-advised letter referenced the immediate past governor,His Excellency Senator Dr,Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa .He wrote that the “ misguided vituperations against the former Governor of Delta State, his constituent, and a former senator, too, is to say the least, disheartening”. This is a most unkind accusation against a man who has been a genuine supporter of the  present and immediate past administrations in the state. What can Okubor point out as his contributions to the development of the state, other than holding all manners of political appointments,just for survival?

Nwoko has come a long way as a founding member of the PDP when the party was formed in 1999, after which he emerged as member of House of Representatives for Aniocha/Oshimili federal constituency. Even the government Okubor is enjoying currently in the state, became a realty largely through the selfless efforts of people like Ned. His commitment to the PDP is immeasurable. In the 2023 general elections, he devoted great energy  and  deployed massive personal resources running into millions of Naira  to aid the PDP campaigns, towards victory.

He was in tertiary schools, villages, wards and local government  areas especially in Delta North  to rally support for the PDP in presidential, senatorial, governorship and state assembly elections. That the PDP got the highest votes of 155168 in Delta North out of total ballots  of 360234 among the three senatorial districts, to win the March 18,2023 Delta governorship election, remained an undeniable testament  of the huge sacrifice  of people like Prince Ned Nwoko.

I can also recall that Nwoko played a leading role in the emergence of Okowa as governor in 2015 and equally worked for his reelection in 2019, spending hard earned personal funds and mobilizing vast majority of the people and different groups across Delta North and other parts of the state to ensure that the Owa -Aliero man succeeds.Where was Okubor in all these, except waiting for political appointments.

Let me note that it is again uncharitable for Okubor to cast aspersions on Senator Nwoko for his spirited efforts on the creation of Anioma state, a renewed agitation on a long standing movement by Anioma forebears. Following Nwoko’s wide consultations, all sections of Delta North including people of Ika where Okubor hails from, had all unanimously endorsed the creation of Anioma, as demonstrated especially during Anioma Stakeholders Summit held on the 31st of August 2024 at Grand Hotel, Asaba. It is unfortunate that Okubor is pretending not to understand that the movement is about the collective desires of Anioma people not his narrow interests based on temporary government appointment.

Okubor should take it easy in his sycophantic ploy to keep his paid job, against good conscience. If there is anyone that needs to be called “to order” by the state PDP leadership, he should be the one for sowing seed of discord, not Senator Nwoko, a man who has admirably laboured over the years in building PDP and championing the best interests of the people of Anioma and Delta successfully in various ways.