The Executive Assistant to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori on Public Enlightenment (Projects and Policies), Mr Olisa Ifeajika, has dismissed claims that the governor and his predecessor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, were opposed to the creation of Anioma State.
He said that he was not aware that the people of Anioma had, in the current dispensation, collectively signed in on the agitation for a state nor had they approached the governor on such desire.
According to Ifeajika, who spoke in an interview on Politics HQ on News Central Television, there is no record anywhere that stakeholders in the seeming renewed agitation for creation of Anioma State intimated Governor Sheriff Oborevwori on it nor was there an expression, in a correspondence or declaration, of a collective will of the people for the quest.
“A state governor must be aware that part of the state he is governing wishes to be made a different state. But, in the case in point, I am not aware that promoters of the new agitation for Anioma State briefed our governor.
“So, the governor you did not consult on the matter, how can you then, begin to insinuate that he is opposed to the agitation for Anioma state”, he stated.
For former Governor Okowa, Ifeajika said that the man had consistently supported the agitation for the creation of Anioma state, explaining that Okowa had, in his entire political career, worked for the good of Anioma people and interests, including the agitation for the proposed state.
He stated that in the renewed agitation for the state, which he said was insincere and being driven by selfish political interest, “Okowa’s position is that the Anioma State agitation that he will support is the one that the state when created, will remain in South-South, and with Asaba as capital. That is his position and there is no ambiguity about it.
“So, the issue of Igboness of Okowa does not arise. Anioma State must not be in South East for Okowa and the rest of us to be seen as Igbos. We are Igbos in Delta, just as there are Igbos in Rivers. Being in Delta and South-South does not make Okowa and all of us less Igbo.
“It is same with other tribes. Take the ijaws – there are Ijaws in Ondo State, there are Ijaws in Edo, in Delta, in Rivers and in Bayelsa. They must not all be in Bayelsa before they will be seen as Ijaws.”
Ifeajika cautioned against politicisation of the state creation matter as it was currently being done, and advised that the agitation must be driven by broad consensus among stakeholders, including the people and the state government, rather than by political interests of some persons.
“It must come from the people. You do not impose a state on the people. Everybody must be carried along and they must agree that they need a state in the way they want it before the process can begin. Once there is genuine consensus, the governor and other stakeholders will naturally support it,” he added.
On Nigeria’s 27 years democracy, Ifeajika urged Nigerians to have faith in the evolution, saying that the nation’s democracy was a growing system that required patience, collective commitment and active citizen participation.
He acknowledged that there were challenges in the polity, especially in such areas as Rule of Law, Human Right and Elections credibility, but pointed out that Nigeria had continued to make progress and should not be judged harshly.
According to him, mistakes are inevitable in any evolving democracy, and such shortcoming will be corrected as the country matures politically.
“Our democracy is growing. We are still learning and improving. We may make mistakes along the way, but together, we will correct them and become better.
“Nigerians must have faith in the system because democracy is a journey. Citizens must be more actively involved in elections rather than withdrawing from the process due to skepticism,” he said.
The governor’s aide explained that voter-apathy and pessimism could undermine democratic development, and advised that Nigerians must participate in elections if they desired quality leadership.
He explained that citizens ultimately decide the kind of leadership they get through their level of participation, adding that electoral reforms and voter-education would further strengthen people’s confidence in the democratic process.
Reiterating his confidence in Nigeria’s future, Ifeajika urged citizens to remain hopeful and committed to nation-building, and expressed optimism that the country’s democracy would continue to be strengthened with time and enhanced public participation.
