Delta State formerly with the acronym, The Big Heart now referred to as The Finger of God is indeed one of the richest states in Nigeria in terms of oil revenue, but obviously one of the slowest when it comes to human capital and infrastructural development, particularly in the last six years despite belief by its people that “Delta nor dey carry last.”
Contentious as this opening assertion may seem, the truth must be told that this apparent near lull in infrastructural and socio-economic development is due largely to lack of credible opposition political parties in the state, which has trickled down to other critical sectors like the media and labour unions.
To imagine that local government elections may hold in the state soon following the screening of DSIEC nominees by the almost one party dominated House of Assembly, yet there are little or no activity from members of the opposition political parties in readiness for the imminent polls is quite disheartening and shameful. Only aspirants from the ruling People’s Democratic Party across the state and a few from Democratic People’s Party, DPP in Delta Central are sparingly seen.
The passive attitude of the opposition on policies and programmes of Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan led administration only shows that either he is performing very well or the opposition political particles are dead and almost buried. It was quite surprising that the disagreement between Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and the State House of Assembly on the issue of death penalty for kidnappers went on without a statement from the so called opposition parties.
Whether we like it or not, any state where there is no strong opposition political party(ies) cannot witness development! The story of neighbouring Edo State and Lagos State where the PDP is offering credible opposition is clear for all to see.
Despite the credibility of the ruling party in those states and their candidates, the role of the opposition in spurring them to action cannot be brushed aside. The situation is so bad in Delta State that even the labour unions and National Media Correspondents are “pocketed and rendered ineffective”, while the only few community newspapers that tends to be credible are either intimidated, gagged or suffer from lack of patronage so as to frustrate them out of business.
Worst still, members of the toothless opposition political parties that would have taken advantage of these credible community newspapers are nowhere to be found.
If the likes of vocal rights’ activist and legal practitioner, Festus Keyamo are serious with their governorship ambition they must start by preparing candidates for elective positions in the forthcoming local government polls and start reacting to key policy decisions and programmes of the Uduaghan administration to make Delta a more progressive state.
Editor – In – Chief
Copyright: Fresh Angle International (www.freshangleng.com)
ISSN 2354 - 4104
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