Delta State-born human and environmental right activist, Comrade Sheriff Mulade has appealed to political appointees of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to sincerely and genuinely encourage the governor to do more in the area of road infrastructures in the state.
Comrade Mulade who made the call in Asaba, the state capital, said: “As a Deltan, I am highly disappointed whenever I move across the state in terms of road infrastructural development. What’s on ground cannot quantify and represent true revenue allocations in terms of developments when compared to what we read on papers and see in documentaries depicting the governor a ‘The Roadmaster’.
“It is imperative to call and appeal to all political appointees in the state to genuinely summon courage to tell Governor Ifeanyi Okowa the level of displeasure and disappointment as expressed by Deltans.
“I strongly believe that the essence of their appointments is to work as field soldiers to the Governor to enable him achieve his political promises but it is unfortunate that what we experience today are political eye service appointees, thereby misleading the Governor to feel all is well in public domains.
“It is understandable that as a Governor, he may not be at every point to observe and collate the needs of Deltans but it is the primary responsibility of political appointees to genuinely brief the Governor with the expectations, needs and challenges of the people but the reverse is the case because of political sycophancy,” laments Mulade.
While expressing disappointment over the level of development in the state in spite of her huge resources, he said, the state cannot genuinely record the expected developmental growths compared to some of her counterpart states in the region such as Rivers and Akwa Ibom.
He said, as a bonafide son of the soil: “I am not pleased with the level of development especially in Asaba the state capital, Warri the commercial nerve of the state, Sapele, Umunede, Ughelli, Bomadi, Burutu, Koko, Ogbe-Ijoh etc.
“I want to strongly appeal to our political office holders to stop political attacks, blackmails, lip service and genuinely work to encourage, support and promote developments that will engender peaceful coexistence, which Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has reasonably strived to achieve in the state.
“Governor Ifeanyi Okowa should as a matter of urgency kindly listen to the yearnings of Deltans in terms of road development and should not see some of us who draw his attention to fundamental issues of developments as political enemies or anti-government but as voices of the people and stakeholders,” Mulade stressed.
Sycophancy is indeed a pain yet to have a cure among political appointees. In a twist also government itself gladens itself with praise singing and would resist constructive criticism vehemently. Once you speak the truth, you are branded enemy of government. But can the true situation of affairs be hidden from the public? There is no way wearing shorts can be same as wearing trousers. The difference is undoubtedly clear. Until every citizen is acknowledged to be a stakeholder in State affairs, development in all dimensions will remain stained.