Environmental activist Comrade Sheriff Mulade has tasked Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State to focus on seven areas to revolutionise the economy and status of the oil-rich state.
In his new year open letter to the government and Deltans, Mulade, who’s the Ibe-Serimowei of Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South West Local Government Area, urged the governor to embrace environmental sustainability and best practices for the preservation of the ecology, especially in collaboration with the Federal Government to end gas flaring in the state.
Presenting his seven-point agenda to Oborevwori, after commending him for his inclusive style of governance so far, he said:
“Governor Sheriff Oborevwori should run an all-inclusive government, carrying all Deltans along, irrespective of political, religious, or ethnic affiliations, as Delta State is for us all. To further unite the state, all hands must be on deck, while equal opportunities should be given to all Deltans to contribute their quota towards moving the state forward and be wary of political sycophancy.
“The Delta State 2024 Budget should provide for the neglected riverine areas of the state, particularly the Ijaw and Itsekiri areas, where about 80% of the state’s resources to fund the 2024 budget will come from. This is due to the fact that for decades now, the people of the coastal areas of Delta State have been grossly neglected in terms of tangible infrastructural projects that are economically viable for the sustainable development of the riverine areas.
“If these neglected areas were not adequately captured in the already-passed 2024 budget, a supplementary budget that will accommodate and give a sense of belonging to the riverine areas is recommended.
“Delta State must be on the map of progressive states. It is very heartwarming that for the first time, Delta State Government has kicked against shoddy projects and that it will no longer be business as usual for quack contractors, as demonstrated by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, who engaged the bridge and road construction giant, Julius Berger Plc, a proof that the current administration is serious about leaving a lasting legacy as far as infrastructural development is concerned.
“This is commendable, but the Governor should sustain the tempo and diversify the transport sector; attract foreign investors to the state; and set up a strong security architecture.
“Governor Oborevwori should embrace environmental sustainability and best practices for the preservation of our ecological heritage. The Delta State Government should liaise with the Federal Government and its agencies to put an end to gas flaring, create opportunities that will discourage pollution, and encourage good sanitation habits.
“The Delta State Government should focus more on education, which is the bedrock of development in every progressive society. Quality education should be provided in all parts of the state, particularly in the riverine areas, where there is a paucity of teachers and learning facilities are dilapidated.
“Quality education should be seen by the government as an investment in citizens with the aim of reaping citizens’ positive contributions to development in the future after being trained and certified.
“Efforts should be made to reduce the number of out-of-school children to the barest minimum while learning institutions must be strengthened to enable them to make positive impacts.
“The governor should focus on agricultural development in the state. In fact, the government should engage and empower the jobless youths and women so that they can contribute to food production.
“The government should establish agricultural schemes with palliatives to lure and encourage Deltans to go into crop farming and fishing. Delta State should not only be exporting crude oil but also be food-sufficient with the surplus exported to neighbouring states and other countries.
“Agriculture is very important as fossil fuels can no longer be relied upon as a revenue base for future development. The future belongs to agriculture, which has comparative advantages over crude oil.
“Security should be prioritised by the Oborevwori administration to guarantee peace, attract investors into the state, and create job and employment opportunities for Deltans and other Nigerians in the state.
“Security is everybody’s business, but the state government must put in place the needed security facilities and collaborate with the federal government’s security agencies to curb criminal activities in the state to further boost confidence and attract local, national, and foreign investors.”
Mulade, who’s the National Coordinator of the Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ), however, urged all residents of Delta State to “give maximum cooperation and support to Governor Oborevwori to enable him to implement and achieve his MORE Agenda for the benefit of all Deltans.”
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