By Fred Edoreh
There are always eras in history. From the Stone to Bronze to Iron Ages, we evolved into the Modern Age which also revolved from Subsistence to Industrial to Machine to Nuclear to Space and to Information ages.
These evolutions or revolutions which enabled higher development and growth in human culture and economy were inspired by increase in knowledge, underlining the axiom that knowledge is power.
As was espoused in Frantz Fannon’s foreword in The Wretched of the Earth, “each generation must discover its mission, fulfill it or betray it in relative opacity.”
Delta State has gone through various eras, from creation under military Governors to the administration of Chief James Ibori through Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan and unto Dr Ifeanyi Okowa.
These Governors responded to different challenges of their times occasioned not only by internal issues but by national and global developments.
As is commonly evident, Nigeria is now at crossroads. The nation’s revenue is no longer able to meet its burden of debt servicing. The continuing ASUU strike indicates a difficulty in funding its higher education. God forbid that this difficulty spirals down to secondary and primary education.
Whereas we had been worried about the capacity of the security forces to defend every inch of the nation against herdsmen, bandits and insurgents, the challenge now, as can be read from occurrences in the past few weeks, is even about defending the Federal Capital Territory and the seat of power.
This has implications for the security of the various states and communities.
To situate it clearly, after the emergence of such civil defence contraptions like Civilian JTF, Amotekun etc, we have seen the government of Zamfara, Niger and some other states call on their ordinary citizens to arm themselves to defend themselves on their own.
But where it hits most is on the economic front in which food insecurity is increasing with galloping inflation against the backdrop of declining productivity which anchors us as an all out import dependent economy with the attendant steady free fall of the national currency.
These should alert various states of the nation to begin to think out of the box for measures to ensure the survival of their people outside the relationship with the Federal Government.
But, the onus for survival depends on discerning, visionary, knowledgeable and informed leadership.
Yes, Delta is an oil producing state, but it relies heavily on Federation Account allocations from proceeds of oil sales and we can see that the proceeds are not coming as it used to due to the vagaries of external shocks and poorly structured fiscal system in the national economy that prioritizes subsidy of petroleum products.
Delta State’s Internally Generated Revenue which is even better than many those of many states is nothing to write home about in comparison with the State’s fiscal responsibilities. It is therefore not surprising that in the past few months, the state, like the Federal Government, has increasingly survived by borrowing and, as they say, “he who goes aborrowing goes asorrowing.”
Thankfully, Delta State is particularly lucky that we have a David Edevbie who, as the incumbent Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has testified, comes with immense knowledge and institutional and global experience in government and private sectors required to lead Delta through the present and coming challenges.
Thankfully, Edevbie is the lawful.and legal candidate of the leading party, PDP, and he has expressed this succinctly in his Modernisation Agenda which focuses on building a new economy for Delta State to keep it prosperous and above the murky waters.
First on the agenda is the provision of adequate electricity. It has been proven globally that no nation can grow without adequate power supply.
It was not for nothing that God started creation with “let there be light.” The sun provides energy through photosynthesis for plants to produce their food just as the sun provides critical vitamin for human health. Why and how the leadership in Nigeria has continued to neglect to prioritise power supply is therefore strange. But, with David, Delta can lead a new pathway.
Power supply will energise industrialisation which will in turn generate sustainable employment and wealth creation activities for the survival, development, growth and prosperity of the people.
To support that process, David’s plan includes catalysing industrial hubs through investing in equities in new industries as well as empowering Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises to enable production activities across the state.
These are the sure ways to productivity and self sufficiency required for survival in the present and coming times.
It must be government unusual which takes knowledge and courage, all of which reside in quantum in David. It cannot be by persons whose credentials are even glaringly in doubt.
Delta has been ruled by the PDP since the present democratic dispensation. It is therefore incumbent on the party to seize this own moment to ensure that it keeps the handle of not just the politics but the future economic survival, development and growth of Delta State.
This cannot be achieved by personal ego, malice, hate, impunity and disunity, all of which assemble to heroic flaw. Delta PDP must therefore see that it owes Deltans so so much and must re-compose itself to deliver by accepting the available best for the future of the state and the wellbeing of the people. Anything else would be political suicide.