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By Chinelo Obogo
A public affairs analyst, Tonnie Oganah, has said that Senator Ned Nwoko who represents Delta North in the National Assembly will be more productive to Anioma people than his opponents.
Oganah, a community leader in Anioma who spoke at the weekend, enumerated Nwoko’s achievements, saying that what he has done for his constituents surpasses what his opponents, one of which is the immediate past Delta governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, did in eight years.
Ned’s achievements vs Okowa’s record
Both ex-governor Okowa and Senator Nwoko have bought their expressions of interest and nomination forms and both want to return to the senate to continue for the benefits of our people.. Their track record and achievements as senators are in the public domain and Google easily shows that Ned has achieved more as a senator compared to Okowa.
Aside from winning more awards and decorations as a senator, Ned has pushed the Anioma State creation bill no. 481 to the uttermost extent, with Asaba as capital, securing not only the first and second reading but also political party and presidential backing this far.
The word Anioma was never mentioned even once by Okowa during his time as senator! During his time as governor and till today, neither Anioma nor Delta State as a whole has any industry or legacy worth writing about. None! Not even a Delta State-owned airline like Akwa Ibom or Enugu State has. Yet the Asaba airport infrastructure can support both international passenger flights and even freight goods and other agricultural products to the world. Delta State just awards road contracts and nothing is done about the human development index or investments. There is nothing Okowa would achieve for Anioma as senator that he could not have more easily achieved for Anioma as governor in eight years of unchecked power.
The current governor was Speaker of the State Assembly and still remains absolutely loyal to Okowa, so there is no excuse. The slogan ‘eho aria ka ka kpoi,’ which means there is no money to do people-oriented projects, as was the case in the past, is now remembered with deep sadness and regret. So, besides the quest for relevance, nothing else explains Okowa’s desperation to replace Ned after just four years.
The Anioma State creation project
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The Anioma State creation request led by Ned easily qualifies as the key to unlocking the people’s bondage, as it comes with more jobs, contract opportunities and economic benefits for every class in Anioma. If Anioma State had already been created before now, Ned would be the Aniocha Oshimili senator, someone else the Ndokwa Ukwuani senator and maybe Okowa the Ika senator, if not any of his children or blood relations, as that has been his worldview in his over thirty-five years in politics.
Ned’s loyalty to Okowa
Ned had always supported Okowa as governor. Alongside the late Asagba Edozien, Ugo Ahaba, Uche Okpuno and Chief Uzor, they were the first group to openly support Okowa as Anioma governor. Ned was the campaign vice chairman for Okowa’s second term bid in office, and Ned donated over N2 billion to various youth and women groups just to ensure Okowa won. But today, Ned is getting the Humphrey Iwerebon treatment in return.
Aside from the Anioma State creation project, which both Okowa and Governor Sheriff do not support, three other Anioma priorities separate all three leaders: Ned wants the Ogwashi-Uku dam completed, the Ukpai light properly stepped down, as well as the Aboh coastal road done. But Okowa and Sheriff prefer to spend more money building a flyover bridge in Agbor, which Okowa could have easily done as governor in eight years. Which is more important to the life and economic well-being of the people, a bridge, water, regional transportation or light? Even the coastal road is of more value as it will open up the Ndokwa Ukwuani axis, which has the largest population in Anioma yet remains in abject poverty. Ned even offered to bring financiers to execute all three projects of light, water and the coastal road, but he was rudely rebuffed. That is their point of divergence, as Ned is all about a legacy of life more abundant for the people.
Even as a mere House of Representatives member in the early nineties, Ned Nwoko influenced Kema Chikwe, the then Aviation Minister, to approve the establishment of the Asaba airport. He also influenced the building of both the Asaba police headquarters and the NTA Asaba building close by. Not many people know that the dualisation of the Asaba-Benin Expressway was one of Ned’s early achievements. Till date, Ned continues to push for both a Delta State airline and the dredging of River Niger, as both projects will massively empower our people even before the Anioma State project, which will soon be a reality.
As of today, no Anioma politician has any investment in the state comparable to Ned’s private university at Idumuje-Ugboko, his hometown. Several students are on full scholarships there and many are employed both directly and indirectly. How we wish Okowa had at least established a world-class hospital! Alas, there is nothing to show for it, which explains the perpetual need to be in public office at all costs, not minding who is betrayed. Ned has commissioned several solar boreholes and street lights across Anioma land. Widows and youths have been empowered and roads are being rehabilitated.
Why Ned should return to Abuja
Ned, as an international lawyer, has options worldwide and need not be in government to continue to live a life of supreme comfort and to be of help not only to Anioma people and Nigerians, but to the black race at large. His bills are about a better life for all, be it the eradication of malaria, a monthly allowance for the unemployed and widows, the right to bear arms, or making the naira the sole legal tender in Nigeria. As a private citizen, Ned ensured that Nigeria recovered its Paris Club payments that were over-invoiced, thus ensuring that all tiers of government had enough resources to share.
Anioma is proud of such a son and should allow him to remain in Abuja for another four years to ensure we get Anioma State created, the longest agitation for a state in Nigeria.
