– By Zik Gbemre
The subject matter, which we had raised some weeks back, is simply an agitation for the need to re-establish the Truth, and correct a mistake that was made in the past, to project the overall interest of all and sundry. The said agitation and advocacy, has nothing to do with “PARTISAN POLITICS”, neither is it a affair of any political party nor affiliated with the interest of any political party. In other words, it has nothing to do with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the All Progressive Congress (APC), or any of the political parties in the country.
The primary, and Only objective of this agitation is for us as a people to correct a mistake, and right the wrong that was ignorantly or willfully done by the actors in the authorities at that time. Let it be reiterated here that Asaba was wrongly made the Capital of Delta Province, which was originally known as Warri Province.
This agitation is not meant to sow any seed of discord or division amongst the ethnic nationalities in the State, but rather it is aimed at “STRENGTHENING” THE UNITY IN DELTA STATE. Let us be honest with ourselves, no reasonable person from Delta State that should be pleased with the choice of Asaba being made the Provincial Capital of Delta State. It was an oppression of the voiceless people of Delta Central and Delta South, simply because of the Ibrahim Badamosi Bagangida’s Factor – who wanted to please his Inlaws in Asaba where his wife came from. The question now is, should we be frightened and not bold enough to accept the Truth, say the Truth and correct this wrong?
Delta State Politicians from the Delta South and Delta Central are the ones that should be more concerned about the relocation of Delta State Capital from Asaba to Warri, instead of being more interested in “POLITICAL APPOINTMENTS” AND “JUICY PORTFOLIOS” THAT ARE OFTEN SHORT-LIVED. POLITICAL APPOINTMENTS ARE temporary, BUT DOING THE RIGHT THING AT THE RIGHT TIME WOULD HAVE POSITIVE EFFECTS ON GENERATIONS TO COME, IN RELOCATING THE DELTA STATE CAPITAL FROM ASABA TO WARRI. The status of the Delta State Capital is a permanent thing and not their fringe benefits in Government. With the Delta State Capital at the appropriate place – Warri, it will bring about development and wealth for all.
To those who are arguing that Warri does not have the space or what it takes to be made the State Capital because of some of the society ills evident in the city, it might interest them to know that when Delta State was created and Asaba suspiciously and unfortunately made its capital, the Delta State Government House apartments were structured PortaCabins then, which were used by the then Military Administrations and even Governor Felix Ibru. Even some of the Ministries then were managing within the said facility and makeshift rooms. Asaba then was nothing but a small town. But today, that has changed simply because the place was wrongly made the State’s capital. But even at that, some of the public infrastructure like the Asaba Airport, are practically being utilized more by the South- Easterners in Onitsha – leaving those in Delta Central and Delta South, which are where the urban population is more, out of the picture. Again, virtually all the societal ills being argued are equally prevalent in Asaba. So, it is not like Asaba is devoid of these things, this include the issue of insecurity which is a national problem, as well as the drug abuse and ‘yahoo-yahoo’ (internet fraud).
Some have even said Warri has no enough space to be the State capital, and you wonder the sort of space they need for the State Governor. The US White House in Washington DC, from which exudes so much power, political and economic influence across the globe, is not really a big house. The No. 10, Downing Street, which is the Official House and Office of the UK Government and Prime Minister, is not a big place either. So, what are we talking about Warri not having a big space for? There is the Delta State Government Liaison Office Annex and a Governor’s lodge in Warri, which they can even further refurbish and upgrade if they want to, and so what again? We should not be too concerned or carried away by the size of buildings and its ambience, for the State Governor. What should be paramount here is what can be done by that State Government, as Occupants of the said Government House, to bring about economic and political transformation that would shake the nation, and which everyone would desire to reckon and associate with both within the State, across the nation and across the globe. The examples above in the US and UK should serve as lesson for us. It is about the Legislature to first address this mistake, then Warri on its own will develop to the degree we see Asaba today and even much more because the city of Warri, is considered by the International Community as a “major hub of petroleum activities and businesses in the Southern Nigeria” (check Wikipedia). Even when Asaba was made the State capital, there was no radio station there then. They were using the Warri Radio back then.
Warri, which was the Colonial Capital of the then Warri Province, remains the most appropriate and most suitable city-area for the Capital of Delta State. We cannot hide or deny the truth permanently. The Truth, no matter how long it will take, will eventually explode someday. What we are simply advocating for is that the Delta State Capital should be relocated from Asaba to its rightful place – Warri, being the Colonial Headquarters of the old Warri Province, which was later changed to Delta Province.
We understand that this piece is the most apposite write up in recent times. And we enjoin others to subscribe to the idea and call. But, while we are concerned about the ‘Constitutional huddles’ that confront the realization of this project, we also know that it is a worthy cause that should be pursued to the end by all and sundry.
Let me personally reiterate here that I am not running down the status of Asaba as the Provincial State Capital of Delta State. The point here is that Warri is more known all over the globe, and it best befits the status of the Delta State Capital. This is not being sentiment because I am from the Delta Central. I am not from the Delta South. So the argument that I am being sentimental is baseless. The city of Warri is the most appropriate and proper place to be the Capital of Delta State. This is about standing for the Truth and nothing but the Truth. Agreed, that Asaba in the Anioma area is now part of the new Delta State, but the point here is that Asaba was wrongly made the State Capital and it is time to correct this mistake. Those politicians shying away from this because of political appointments and political patronage are not being fair at all to their people and future generations.
Zik Gbemre.
June 21, 2019.
We Mobilize Others to Fight for Individual Causes as if Those Were Our Causes
