By Emmanuel Enebeli
The animosity that has followed the Senator’s statement has taken the spotlight away from the real issues at hand—development and progress for Delta State. Advisers and media teams on both sides should stop fanning the flames of division.
FOR the past two weeks, Delta State’s political discourse has been dominated by the fallout from a statement made by Senator Ned Nwoko, representing Delta North Senatorial District in the National Assembly. The senator’s comments, which called for the Delta State Government to make a financial commitment to the Independent Power Project (IPP) in Okpai, Ndokwa East, have sparked a wave of reactions, dominating traditional and social media alike.
The Independent Power Plant, Okpai, stepdown a project involving the Federal Government of Nigeria, and other parties like Agip, an oil consortium, operating the largest deposit plant of Natural Gas in Sub-Sahara Africa, is a project so dear to the people of the Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal Constituency, which is part of Delta North Senatorial District of the State. From the available information, the project when completed will not only serve the Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal Constituency, but also part of the Ika Federal Constituency.
The statement was made during a visit to General Mike Ndubisi, the President General of the Ndokwa Neku Union (NNU), where the senator also discussed the creation of Anioma State, which was the main reason he visited the Retired General. While his intentions may have been focused on the development of the Okpai IPP and the long-standing Anioma State agenda, the resulting fallout has been more about the tone and timing of his words. Publications on social media have blown the issue out of proportion, with many commentators, especially on social media, resorting to abusive language.
The statement had been interpreted in various ways, with ethnic bias, and intent on political positioning with references to the last Local Government Elections in the state, and the 2027 Senatorial Election, and who gets the ticket of the party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, especially with rumour that the immediate past governor of the State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa is eyeing the senate seat, which he left to become Governor in 2015. Another version is that the statement is trying to pitch Delta North against the Governor, and the other two Senatorial Districts.
At any level, governance often involves elected officials making policy statements, sometimes in informal settings. These statements, whether made in casual conversations or during significant meetings, can shape public opinion and stir controversy. Senator Nwoko’s comments on the Okpai IPP were undoubtedly made in the spirit of pushing for infrastructural development, but the backlash they received is a reminder of how sensitive public commentary can be in our polarized political climate.
Since taking office, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has demonstrated a strong commitment to Delta State’s comprehensive development. In less than two years, his administration has prioritised key initiatives aimed at improving infrastructure, healthcare, and education. In Ndokwa, it is widely acknowledged that the long-awaited Kwale-Beneku Bridge will soon be completed, thanks to the Governor’s decision to fund the final stages of the project after local leaders successfully addressed youth-related concerns.
Yet, the Okpai IPP is one of those areas that may require more attention from the government to fully unlock its potential as a source of power generation in the region. Senator Nwoko’s call for financial commitment, while valid, could have been delivered more diplomatically to avoid the current public outcry, especially when it’s known that the project did not specify any state participation, unlike the Ogwashi-Uku Dam, which has a specific duty for the state. The only known duty for the state, is perhaps, the provision of land for the step-down which they had done.
The animosity that has followed the Senator’s statement has taken the spotlight away from the real issues at hand—development and progress for Delta State. Advisers and media teams on both sides should stop fanning the flames of division.
Instead, they should focus on projecting the achievements of both Senator Nwoko and Governor Oborevwori. The people of Delta State deserve to hear more about the accomplishments of their elected officials rather than be bombarded with divisive rhetoric.
For two weeks, this issue has been a recurring theme in both traditional and social media. It’s time for it to come to an end. Public commentators and political aides should focus on fostering unity and promoting the state’s development agenda rather than stirring up controversy. Both the senator and the governor have significant roles to play in the state’s progress, and their efforts should be highlighted positively.
Governor Oborevwori, in particular, has made remarkable strides in improving the lives of Deltans, even though certain areas still need his urgent attention. It is the duty of those entrusted with marketing his administration to focus on promoting his achievements. Resorting to abusive or inflammatory statements will not serve the state or its leadership well.
Senator Nwoko also needs to call his media team, particularly those managing his social media platforms, to order. The promotion of the senator’s work and advocacy should be done with tact and diplomacy. His role in representing his constituency at the federal level is vital, but his team must allow the head to lead the discourse, especially in delicate matters like the Okpai IPP.
The media frenzy surrounding Senator Nwoko’s statement on the Okpai IPP has become a distraction from the real work at hand. Delta State has significant developmental challenges that need focused leadership from both the governor and the senator. It is high time the people of the state move beyond the current debate and refocus on the issues that truly matter.
The advisers of both the governor and the senator must take responsibility for de-escalating the tension. They should ensure that public statements highlight positive developments rather than encouraging division. Delta State’s future depends on cooperation and unity, not petty political squabbles.
For the people of Delta State, it is important to remember that the real task is development. The Okpai IPP and other infrastructural projects need collaborative effort. The energy being wasted on public disputes could be better spent pushing for progress and growth in these areas.
One of the fallouts of this incident is how the political class has over the years neglected trained media personnel, for advice, and management, but allowed everyone with a smartphone to act as media personnel and advisers. These smartphone appointees, most often neglect the instructions of the lead media manager(s). Not long ago, an incident emerged about a statement from former Governor James Ibori, advising the state Governor on getting qualified people to be part of his cabinet. Again, for weeks, the state feasted on that, with different commentaries, and attacks. From both ends. I will not be surprised that this piece will be attacked, without looking at the message, from both divides.
The Governor has a qualified Spokesperson, in the person of the Information Commissioner, backed by many other seasoned and qualified media practitioners, so also the Senator. The Social Media appointees should always allow those in charge to lead. That you have a smartphone, and a social media handle does not give you the power to act as the chief media person.
Delta State is at a critical juncture where elected officials must focus on governance and development rather than engaging in unnecessary conflicts. Senator Nwoko and Governor Oborevwori should work together to calm the storm and get back to delivering the promises they made to their constituents. It’s time to move beyond this incident and focus on building a better future for the state.
As a key figure in the Ndokwa and a prominent advocate for the Ndokwa Agenda, particularly in the push for the completion of the Okpai IPP stepdown and the establishment of higher institutions in Ndokwaland, including the recently approved Federal University of Medical Sciences in Kwale, emphasised that much of the current discourse lacks up-to-date information about the Stepdown Project.
In conclusion, everyone should remain calm and prioritise the development of the state by supporting both the Senator and the Governor, ensuring a renewed focus on progress rather than unnecessary distractions.
*Emmanuel Enebeli,
is the Chairman, Delta Online Publishers Forum (DOPF)
Credit: Ndokwa Reporters
