By Barrister Solomon Ugbeyan, London
As the breakfast and dinner of the current sitting government headed by Ifeanyi Okowa has now become borrowing and starving indigenous companies to wind up, it has become too necessary to highlight the dangers that lie ahead in the midst of this unabated style of economic ruin.
The economic architecture in Delta State has been so compromised with brazen neglects and ignorance. More than three hundred local and indigenous companies have either relocated, gone into bankrupcy or wound-up in the State, including the multi-giant energy Company Shell, due to the lack of resources to keep these companies floating, while its subsidiaries affected are quadrupled in the same economic doldrums. The multiplying effects are just too numerous to itemized herewith to avoid verbosity. This certainly ranges from the economic growth of the common man up to those on top of the pyramid. Whereas the woman who cooks and sells food items on the roadsides for workers of these firms would hitherto be maintaining economic activities, but suddenly terminated as a result of the relocation or closures of these firms. The ordinary landlord who built even a make-shift structure collects rent steadily to sustain his family but is also affected by this ’calamity’. The road transporter in the form of tri-cycle, motor-cycle, motor-vehicle will certainly be languishing in economic poverty because his passengers are no longer available as usual. Farmers cannot secure loans. Agriculture has now become for the rich. Subsistence farming have been thwarted, causing severe economics and continuous pains to families. The list goes on and on
Further effects are the reality presently on ground in Delta State in the hierarchy of higher prices of commodities and services, redundancy, unemployment, severe hunger and hardship, school drop-out owing to inability to pay fees, robbery and other criminal activities, causing fear in the environment because the sources of livelihood have been frustrated by government with so much disdain.
Unfortunately, the government of Delta State cannot point at a single company it has created since its inception. It will shock you to know that Shell Company alone in Warri, Forcados, Ughelli and other locations in Delta State had over two thousand staff on their monthly payroll with more than half the number as Delta indigenes. There was also tea/coffee, security, catering, vehicle, etc service contracts provided by indigenous contractors from Delta State with over ten thousand staff. Unfortunately, all these activities have been paralysed.
Other subsidiary companies like Pan Ocean, Department of Petroleum Resources have all relocated out of Delta State.
The Delta Steel Company located in Ovwian Aladja was reported to be performing abysmally and was therefore sold. Additionally, the NNPC Petro Chemical located in Ekpan, near Warri that is supposed to be refining petroleum products has also been under-performing for close to ten years now. The Delta Glass Company located in Ughelli is nothing to remember. All these happened in the eyes of our state government with so much lackadaisical attitude.
It is therefore an illusion to think or imagine that our Delta State is and can still survive these unavoidable reckless spend on purely non-economic activities.
DELTANS
No worries. All hope is not lost.
They are presently a group of experts, including Economists, soil experts, professionals in diverse fields, town planning, security that are currently carrying out detailed investigations in each local government to bring Delta State back to its previous glory.
OLOROGUN (BARR.) KENNETH GBAGI has been working assiduously to achieve this level of height, putting his personal resources together to ensure that it is a must for our dear State.
But he cannot do this without your vote.
I had opportunity to request for a copy of his Manifesto and was not surprised at all that all indices to bring back the glory of Delta State are perfectly enshrined in it.
Therefore, let us try him. We are tired of the present government that has ruled us close to 24 years without any meaningful substance to show for it, rather there is abject poverty and hunger. This must stop Deltans. See a copy of his Manifesto that his Teams are working on and carrying out the studies:
1. EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF RESOURCES.
2. PROVISION OF WATER IN ALL THE LGAS
3. IMPROVEMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR FOOD AND CASH CROP FOR ALL HOUSEHOLDS
4. DEVELOPMENT OF WORLD CLASS TOURISM IN THE STATE
5. PROVISION OF FIRST-CLASS EDUCATION FOR ALL OUR CHILDREN
6. IMPROVEMENT OF THE ROADS IN ALL LGAS
7. PROVISION OF BETTER HEALTH CARE SERVICES FOR ALL
8. MODERNIZATION OF ALL TOWNS IN DELTA STATE
9. PROMOTION OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND ATTRACT PRIVATE INVESTMENTS TO THE STATE
10. EMPOWERMENT OF THE YOUTHS OF DELTA STATE
11. EMPOWERMENT OF OUR WOMEN IN DELTA STATE
12. IMPROVEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
WE SHALL EMPOWER OUR PEOPLE TO UPROOT THEMSELVES FROM POVERTY, CREATE WEALTH AND PROSPERITY TO MAKE DELTA A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE IN.
The ball is now in your court to decide your future and that of your immediate family.
Go, get your PVC and vote KENNETH O. GBAGI on that day. He has enough wealth. He will not steal your wealth or borrow further to mortgage your future and future generation. Go and check on how he made his wealth and private jets, you will be truly convinced.
He has enough companies and a great employer of labour, therefore he will not discourage the creation of more companies in Delta State where yourself and family can work and boast of steady income as was the case previously in Delta State.
Don’t Fail. Don’t gamble further with your future. It is almost too late but not gone.
OLOROGUN (BARR.) KENNETH GBAGI is waiting strongly to deliver Delta State.
Barrister Solomon Ugbeyan
Gbagi all the way
Gbagi you are God sent