OPEN LETTER TO GOVERNOR SHERIFF OBOREVWORI OF DELTA STATE
YOUR EXCELLENCY
GOVERNOR OF DELTA STATE
GOVERNMENT HOUSE, ASABA
WHAT THE GOVERNOR MUST NOT FAIL TO DO
The function of government is to provide for the needs of the people and ensure their welfare is guaranteed. The happiness of the people should be the overriding joy of the government. This is the essence of government. If everyone were to take care of themselves, then there should be no need for government. Arising from this, Your Excellency, you contested the election to become the governor of Delta state. This is based on the belief that you have what it takes to take care of the people of this state. We knew the battle you fought before you emerged victorious.
You were sworn in on May 29 as the executive governor of the state, taking over from former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa. Okowa did his best and now he has passed the baton over to you. It is expected that all things being equal, you will be governor till 2027 and possibly 2031, an eight year governor as your predecessors have done. Now that you are in the saddle, Deltans are looking up to you to build on the achievements of the past three governors and possibly exceed what they did.
While we cannot pass judgment now because it is extremely too early and your government has not been formed, seeing you are yet to swear in your cabinet members, it is pertinent to say that there are obvious signs of failure in your governance. The signs are glaring and this is not a good omen of better things to come.
Within the last two months following the removal of fuel subsidy by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigerians have been subjected to pains occasioned by the rise in the price of goods and all kinds of services, both tangible and intangible. Transport fares have been increased, prices of foodstuff, cost of fuel and all commodities in the market have moved up.
The cost of the commodities is due to the rise in the cost of fuel. Fuel is now sold for N620 per litre. Prior to the inauguration of President Tinubu, fuel was sold for between N200 and N300. But at the pronouncement of subsidy removal, the price jumped to N520, from there, it rose to N620. The increase in the cost of fuel led to rise in the cost of every other product or service, seeing they all have a direct bearing to the use of fuel.
Your Excellency, state governors, having observed the cost of commodities, thought it necessary to alleviate their people’s pains by providing palliatives to them. Many are providing buses for transportation, increasing salaries of workers, buying foods to be distributed to low income earners, subsidizing cost of transport of government owned transport firms, and other measures to ensure the impact of the fuel price does not lead to starvation and eventual death of their people.
Your Excellency, the governors, and Your Excellency, promised to take care of the needs of the people around your states, hence the vote for your victory. If the people were not assured of your commitment to their welfare, they would not have voted for you, except you are insinuating they made a mistake.
Your Excellency, there is an undue silence over palliative for Deltans. There is so much money in this state. Even now, available facts reveal that the monthly allocation to states has increased following savings from the fuel subsidy removal. These are facts in public domains. Therefore, if states like Edo, Imo, Ogun, Kwara could provide palliatives and increased salaries of workers, provide buses, purchase food for their people without waiting for the federal government’s N5bn or the five trucks of rice said to be provided for each state and the FCT, Delta cannot do less but even do more.
Your Excellency, the government house should not pretend to be unaware of the pains among people of the state. A plate of food at the local restaurants which was initially N400 is now sold for N1000. Prices of food commodities have all been increased, and Deltans are struggling to live. This is the time the governor of the state should rise up and provide for the people. If few people feeding from government house are feeding fat and do not feel the heat of the cost of commodities, the people outside are one million times more in number than people working in Delta government house.
Your Excellency, this is when Deltans need you more than ever before. All kinds of people, civil servants, public servants, students, farmers, small firm owners, travellers, parents, families, vulnerable groups, all need you now to meet their needs. While it is agreed that government cannot meet the need of everybody, the government must also be seen to have done its best before that statement from politicians can be accepted.
Your Excellency, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, it is therefore a misnomer for you to keep quiet and allow Deltans to pine away under the harsh impact of fuel subsidy removal. It is a duty of government that cannot be negotiated.
Again, the N5bn and the five trucks of rice announced to be released by the federal government should not be used to replace the palliative to be provided by the state government. It is my belief that the governor will ensure the judicious use of the N5bn and the fair sharing of the said rice to the poorest people in the state.
We are not unaware of games played by certain government officials who are notorious for diverting materials meant for the poor into their private homes. Posterity will judge such individuals. Your Excellency, we are believing in you that the funds from the federal government will be applied for the needs of Deltans while the state government contributes its quota for the good of the people.
We wish you best of luck as you battle to keep your victory at the tribunal.
WRITTEN BY AUSTIN OYIBODE, EDITOR AND PUBLISHER OF EMERALD NEWS
