By; EMMA ARUBI, Warri
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP), in Delta State has successfully dismantled the opposition APC structure as the party won all the 25 local government councils in the just concluded local government polls.
A former Councilor in Warri South LGA Hon. Tony Eburajolor made this remark, while speaking to newsmen at his residence, saying, “the APC is dead and buried in Delta as shown in the landslide victory recorded in the just concluded Local Government polls across the state”, he opined.
This comes as the Senator representing Delta South Senatorial District at the Red Chamber in Abuja, Senator Joel Onowakpor Thomas accused successive FG administrations of being unfair to Delta South in spite of its huge financial contribution to economic growth of Nigeria through the massive production of oil and gas resources.
He said that successive Federal governments have been unfair to his Senatorial District in terms of infrastructural, human capital developments and inclusiveness in governance.
Speaking on Tuesday at Emede in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State while declaring a strategic leadership retreat organised for his legislative aides open, Senator Joel-Onawakpo recalled that Delta South Senatorial District is one of the largest producers of crude oil and gas in the country yet past federal administrations had shown little or no interest in the development of the area and the empowerment of the people.
“Whenever I think about what Delta South is contributing in terms of crude oil production and look at the deprivation that our people are subjected to, my heart bleeds. Delta South Senatorial District gives her all for this country, but successive governments have been largely unfair to us.
“There is hardly the presence of government in Delta South, and this is really alarming. The pollution we experience, the environmental degradation, the lack of infrastructural and human capital development, the little or no inclusivity in governance, etc., are all indicators showing how unfair governments have been to us for contributing so much,” he said.
Senator Joel-Onowakpo, however, expressed disgust over the just concluded Local Government polls saying the state electoral body conducted a sham election that lack credibility and transparency by all standards even as it failed to provide results sheets for the election proper.
Senator Onowakpor expressed confidence in the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to address the anomaly and change the ugly narrative.
“However, I have strong confidence in the Renewed Hope Agenda that he shall do his best to salvage Delta South. I trust the President that he shall look at critical issues affecting our Senatorial District, such as environmental pollution and degradation, erosion and flooding, lack of development, poor inclusiveness in government, as well as empowerment of our people,” Joel-Onowakpo said.
While inaugurating over 180 Legislative Aides that he has appointed, the Senator said, “As you are aware, the office of a Senator is officially entitled to only five Aides. However, I have gone a step further to make over 180 appointments simply to accommodate all interests and to ensure that the people of Delta South get the best from my representation. This is a huge burden on me, but I have no option than to accommodate our people until government looks our way.”
He urged the legislative aides to make good use of the office to change their political fortune by working effectively to serve Delta South Constituents.
Speaking on behalf of the Aides, the Senior Legislative Aide, and a former House of Assembly member, Hon. Raymos Guanah expressed appreciation to Senator Joel-Onowakpo for giving them the opportunity to serve.
He acknowledged that the Senator has set an unbeatable record with the appointment, remarking, “This is the first time this is happening in our Senatorial District since our return to democracy in 1999. We shall not take this opportunity for granted.”
