Following increased monthly allocations accruing to Delta state from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), an environmental activist, Comrade Chief Sheriff Mulade has called on Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to invest these huge resources on physical and critical infrastructure across the state.
Chief Mulade, who is the National Coordinator for Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ), made the call shortly after he was decorated as Patron of Indigenous Correspondents’ Chapel (ICC), Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Delta State Council in Warri.
Expressing his opinion on the increased federal allocation to the state, he said Oborevwori is privileged to govern the state at the moment, saying he is the richest governor in Nigeria.
Hear him: “Delta state today, is the most richest State in Nigeria and our governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, is privileged to govern the richest state, that qualifies him to be the richest governor governing the richest state in Nigeria.
“It is my personal thought and opinion that at this point, Deltans want to see these huge resources to reflect in terms of infrastructure and in all areas of the State so that we can in turn appreciate and thank the governor for doing well.
“Some of us will not commend him for political reasons, as an activist who is the voice of the voiceless and hope of the hopeless, we are not anti-government but we will continue to express the plights of the people to the government.
“The governor should translate the resources in the State into development. This state at this moment, is not expected to borrow money from any institution either locally or international because we have the resources to run Delta.
The has informed Deltans that in the last one year, he has not and would not borrow to run the State.
Speaking further, the ICC Patron, hinted, “Delta is rich enough to even borrow to some other states with the current economy, we are well blessed to even lease to other states with interest as also the form of investment that comes to the State.
“We appreciate the governor today, for embarking on some projects across the State. One of such, is the populous or famous Julius Berger flyovers and we can see the work; we don’t expect anything less from Julius Berger, from what they are doing because we know them.
“When you visit states like Akwa-Ibom, Rivers State – Port Harcourt and even Abuja, you can see what Julius Berger is doing. So, we are not surprised that they can work in this speed.
“This projects should not be the project that Julius Berger will embark on in Delta State. This should be a pilot project, just N78 billion”, it should be a pilot project, the UN Peace Ambassador reiterated.
Continuing, he said: “N78 billion is just about two or three months Delta State money. Julius Berger should be engaged to embark on significant projects. I expect that the governor will use Julius Berger to kick off the Ayakoromo Bridge, leading to Burutu and Forcados terminals.
“Forcados terminal under Burutu local government area, is the economy life wire and base of Nigeria’s oil and gas. Escravos terminal is there, these are two terminals and if you go to some States, they struggle to get one terminal but Delta State is blessed with two terminals that Nigeria, is struggling with.
“So, if these two terminals are connected to the upland, Delta will be a designation for development. The governor should retain Julius Berger in this State and use them to embark on important projects”, he restated.