AN OPEN LETTER TO G
By Assin Godstime
I write on behalf of the Urhobo Nation, being one of its illustrious sons, to passionately appeal to the Executive Governor of Delta State, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. (Elder) Sheriff OBOREVWORI to release the CONSTITUENCY PROJECTS funds to All Progressive Congress, APC LEGISLATORS in DELTA STATE.
A Governor, to the best of my knowledge, is a political leader of a state who genuinely practises an all inclusive governance irrespective of party affiliation. Unfortunately, the Nigerian politics have been laced with contrary practices. A governor ought to be a father to all ethnic nationalities in his state, he governs all and should therefore wholeheartedly renders tremendous leadership to all and sundry. He must be willing to put party politics aside when allocating power and resources.
A governor must also have a good heart and learn to easily forgive. He is not expected to harbour hate and grievances on actions prior to his election in the heart. He must not be seen as a democratic tyrant who serves only his party’s interest in public matters, no matter the situation. His interest should be geared towards transformation and growth of the State he is elected to govern. To achieve this, the system has effectively invented what is widely known as CONSTITUENCY PROJECTS given to Legislators yearly in a state to enable them render meaningful projects in their constituency or local governments.
The essence of this is to enable Legislators attend to pressing needs and yearnings of their immediate constituents. With these monies, legislators are able, where they have conscience, to deliver laudable projects in their locality. This practice is same across the country. Senators and House of Representatives members are also benefiaries of this, and it has nothing to do with political parties.
As we speak, no Nigerian Senator or House of Representatives member in the opposition parties can openly beat a hand on the chest that His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu has not given them their constituency project funds to enable them attend to the needs of their constituency. Please do not misinterpret this to mean that I am openly campaigning for Bola Tinubu who is known to have grossly failed. His one year in office has plunged the country into economic hardship and retrogression. But in spite of his flaws and deficiencies, he has been releasing the monthly allocations to all Governors which runs into billions of naira and interestingly, His Excellency, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori is a beneficiary.
Tinubu could have chosen to punish opposition governors if he had wanted to, he instead chose to be a patriot who does not play party politics with the intention to deny anyone what is due the person. Sheriff OBOREVWORI should, therefore, embrace such benevolence. He has already started well with several projects, including an ongoing flyovers in Effurun and Warri towns, and must not let anyone lure him to do the ‘wrongs’.
His advisers, especially those with brave hearts who have other means of livelihood should now speak truth to him. Those who mean well for him should immediately urge him to release what is due to all Legislators of the All Progressive Congress, APC. He should be reminded that he is the Governor of Delta State and not PDP alone. He should be told the truth that his refusal to give APC legislators what is due them is a fight against Urhobo interest and development, given that most of these legislators are of Urhobo extraction.
Ughelli North Consistency I and II are represented in the Delta State House of Assembly by the All Progressive Congress. Uvwie, Udu and Ethiope West are also of the All Progressive Cingresses. They are Urhobos, and their people voted for APC as well as PDP among other parties. They also have tax paying citizens, thus they deserve all the dividends in a constitutional democracy.
A good number of schools in the localities of these legislators are dilapidated. There are health centres that they need to fix. They have to empower those who supported them to power. Denying them their constituency project funds is contrary to the belief and practices of democracy. They are Deltans like every other person, except that they chose a path or vehicle different from that of the governor to get to their destination. The purposes for which should not been hampered because of their choice of ‘vehicle’. Besides, you will not be in power forever as a governor. Power is transient. A few years ago, you were aide to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan. Fast forward, his daughter is now your appointee. Evidently, power is transient and nobody knows what tomorrow holds. Thus, it is necessary to do what is right, one of which is to release the constituency project funds. It’s very much possible that one of these Legislators you have intentionally withheld their CONSTITUENCY PROJECTS might be the first president of Delta extraction. You never can tell, sincerely. In the interest of Urhobo and Deltans of good conscience, I speak on their behalf that you release their CONSTITUENCY PROJECTS to them, having wholesomely given to the legislators in the People’s Democratic Party, PDP. Be the patriot that you promised during the elections, please. You should not so soon forget your designation, “MORE AGENDA FOR DELTANS”.
May God protect you and lead you in the right direction! Amen. More power to your elbow for all that you do, and I hope you ponder on my appeal to you because I want you to succeed.
