Delta state is made up of various ethnic nationalities which give it the uniqueness it prides herself amongst comity of states in Nigeria.
For political administration, Delta state, like other states, is divided into three senatorial districts: Delta North, Delta Central and Delta South respectively.
Administratively, the three districts have produced a governor that has ruled the state for eight years with Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa as incumbent governor of the state coming from Delta North senatorial district.
It is worrisome to note that across Delta state higher institutions of learning ranging from colleges of education, polytechnics and universities adorn various ethnic nationalities landscape except Ndokwa nation comprising three local government areas: Ndokwa East, Ndokwa West and Ukwuani local government areas.
Government presence is largely absent in the area which makes it highly underdeveloped but contributes over 60% of revenue to both the federal and state governments in Nigeria.
Ndokwa nation has the highest number of functional/active oil extractive companies across the state. It also has the largest natural gas deposits in Nigeria and supplies electricity (power) from Okpai gas plant in Ndokwa east to eight states in Nigeria but not a single kilowatt of energy is served Ndokwa nation from the power generated.
Ndokwa nation contributes over 60% of Delta state revenue in terms of sale of oil that goes into the treasury of DESOPADEC which are used for the development of oil bearing communities but Ndokwa nation is the least developed in terms of infrastructure development.
It is on this note that the chairman and Chief Executive Officer Peter Oyemike Foundation (POF) Ogbuefi Chris Oyemike, has called on Delta state government to as a matter of urgency establish a higher institution of learning in any part of Ndokwa nation.
This was made known during the distribution of clothing and cash gifts to the good women of Abbi community recently at Abbi to mark the Christmas celebration.
According to Chief Oyemike, ‘I have always told the state government that our major pain as an ethnic group is the lack of higher institution of learning in Ndokwa nation. ‘All other ethnic groups in Delta state have one higher institution or the other but we do not have one. And we usually contribute the highest number of votes during elections. Why is it so? I’m so pained over this abnormality’, Chief Oyemike said.
He used the opportunity to tell his friends vying for the governorship seat of the state and who were present at the ceremony to ensure they give Ndokwa nation a higher institution when they succeed.
According to him, it’s important and we need it because we are not less than any other ethnic groups in the state. We cannot and will not accept it, he said.
I know how painful it is in my heart that the government of Delta state owes us. When you see them tell them that they owe us. The most important debt owed us is the lack of higher institution of learning. If they give us one faculty of any of the universities in the state many unemployed persons in Ndokwa nation would be employed, thereby reducing unemployment in the area.
Before ten students who are non indigenes would be admitted into the school, three indigenes of Ndokwa nation would have been admitted, Chief Oyemike said.
The Chief Executive Officer of Peter Oyemike Foundation further stated that whether Delta state likes it or not they must give us higher institution of learning because they owe us.
We have contributed so much towards the development of Delta state and deserved to be adequately compensated with at least a faculty of any of the existing universities in the state.
This would go a long way in helping the PDP family in the coming election as well as reduce the costs incurred in sending our children to other states for higher education.
He enjoined the people to always maintain peace, adding that peace is the wheel for infrastructure development in any community.
The empowerment ceremony was graced by dignitaries from across the state including two PDP governorship aspirants; Chief Barrister Fred Majemite, a governorship aspirant and former commissioner in Delta state, Hon Efe Oforbruku former member Delta State House of Assembly and current Special Adviser to the Governor on Legislative Matters, Barr Okwaji a two-time Council chairman Ndokwa West Local Government Council, Onotu-Uku of Abbi community among others.
Highpoint of the event was the distribution of cash gifts and clothing to the women of Abbi community by the chairman of Peter Oyemike Foundation Ogbuefi Chris Oyemike and his wife.
