Traditional Rulers and Ranking
During the launch of Delta State Security Trust Fund, three traditional rulers were invited to Asaba by the state governor.
They are the Olu of Warri, the Orodje of Okpe and the Asagba of Asaba .
No reason was given by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori as to the choice of the royal fathers apart from the fact that they represent the three senatorial districts.
But some Deltans are questioning the rationale for that.
Let it be stated here in stunning clarity that these traditional rulers are not superior to others.
The 1999 constitution has no role for the traditional rulers.
In Delta North for example, there is the Dein of Agbor, the Obi of Ogwashi Uku, the Obi of Aboh etc .
These traditional rulers are not inferior to the Asagba of Asaba.
In Delta central, the heart land of Urhobo culture and tradition, there are the Ovie of Agbon, the Ovie of Ughelli, the Ovie of Oghara and many others who can stand shoulder to shoulder with the Orodje of Okpe.
As for the Olu of Warri, there are many outstanding traditional rulers of Urhobo, Ijaw and Isoko extractions.
These traditional rulers have deep and ancient traditions unlike the traditional rulers in Igbo land that were invented by the British colonial masters .
Let Oborevwori treat all traditional rulers as equals and if distinction must be made at all, that should be the burden of the council chairmen.
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State Creation craze
Many Nigerians are eager to turn their villages into states without thinking of the economic viability.
Recently some Isoko sons and daughters are pushing for the creation of Isoko state.
This is the most absurd demand.
Isokos have two local government areas and a couple of Isoko communities in Ndokwa East LGA.
There are also Isoko communities in Bayelsa state.
If you add these together, it could not make a state except in the realm of tortoise folklore.
This is coming on the heels for the demand of Ethiope state by Senator Ede Dafinone.
These are the fallout of the aggressive move by Senator Ned Nwoko for the creation of Anioma state.
You can have Anioma state and Delta state.
The agitation for Isoko state and Ethiope state is in the realm of absurdity.
Citizens should call for responsive governance that attends to the welfare and security of people .
You don’t create states because of the selfish appetite of political elites to corner the wealth of the people into their pockets for self and their cronies.
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NDDC and state offices
Within the week, the Niger Delta Development Commission opened its liaison office in Warri.
Governor Sheriff Oborevwori told the interventionist body to fix the federal roads.
A good and timely advice.
But there is another advice NDDC should take home.
Build the people oil bearing communities by provision of social amenities, medical centres and educational progress of the people.
There is already NDDC office in Ibusa, Oshimili North LGA .
It was attracted to Ibusa during the tenure of Senator Peter Nwaoboshi.
For the record, Ibusa is the home of Nwaoboshi.
As it stands today, there are two NDDC offices in Delta state.
In a copy cat fashion of Nigerian politicians, Senator Ede Dafinone would ask for NDDC office in Delta Central Senatorial District.
This is clearly not the mandate of NDDC.
The interventionist body has acquired the unique but dubious distinction of producing a parasitic class of elite millionaires whose qualification is that they are close to the corridor of power.
It is rather unfortunate.
It is time NDDC should spend less on publicity and offices , and intervene in the lives of the people of oil bearing communities.
