Chief Fred Okiemute Majemite, is a PDP chieftain in Delta State, and former Commissioner for Lands and Survey. He is a leader who have served the people meritoriously in different capacities. He is positively disposed to serving the people, open-minded, appreciates open doors and always in touch with the people.
In this interview with the crew of Andy Akeni, Moses Etu and Gift Uwagboe, he spoke on activities of the Delta State Government headed by Rt. Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, 2027 elections, herdsmen menace and many other issues. Excerpt:
Sir, may we have a brief introduction from you?
My name is Olorogun Barrister Fred Okiemute Majemite. I’m a Chieftain of PDP, Delta State. I was once a Commissioner in the state, special duties and, of course, Lands and Survey.
And I have also headed other offices, special adviser, political adviser and an active leader in the party. I’m still in the party.
Sir, okay, let’s start from Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s Government, before we ask other questions. How has it impacted on the state and Ughelli North in particular?
Well, you know, the Governor, Elder Sheriff Oborevwori, I’ll say is God-ordained, because when you follow his antecedent, he was once a councilor before becoming a member of the House. He became a Speaker in his first tenure which was unusual. He was re-elected and he retained the position of Speakership.
That shows that God wants to use him. Hence, when he declared himself to run for the Governorship, as we all did then, nobody gave him a chance. But he won in the primaries, you know, with a very large margin. Even at that, people still believed that he was not going to do well .He has been able to prove people wrong with his performance. Usually people thought that he wasn’t going to do well. But as time goes on, everybody discovered that he was one of the best candidates for the job. He is focused and he knows what he wants to do, he’s prudent. Since he got into office, he has made some milestone projects. He didn’t only continue on the projects that his predecessors left but embarked on new ones. Today, you know that he’s the master of the roads. His footprints are everywhere and within a few months in the office, he has taken on a very gigantic projects including, the flyovers in the Warri axis. Even during his inaugural speech as the governor, he did say that he was going to develop Warri.
And nobody thought he was going to do what he’s doing now. So, today, I can tell you that the governor has done very well in terms of infrastructural development, in terms of education, sports, among others. There’s hardly any local government that he has not impacted upon.
Then, of course, in my local government, Ughelli North, he has done very well. There are ongoing roads construction and new ones are coming. Like Oliver Twists, the people will always ask for more. He has promised more. We are even saying that he should, maybe not now, also give us a flyover in Ughelli. This is one big town after Warri and apart from the ease of traffic; it will also improve the aesthetic of the town.
Sir, during your tenure as a commissioner for lands and survey, how were you able to operate without crisis? Now, looking at the Edjekota and Ewu, Aladja, Ogbe Ijoh, crises, So many land disputes everywhere?
You see, those land disputes we are talking about, we had a boundary commission that resolves issues between our state and other states, even within the state. We had communal crises as a result of land issues when I was a commissioner,. What we did then was to ensure that government land that had been allocated are not given out to others.
Because then, we discovered that one or two persons’ come out to say lands had been allocated to them. So, we tried to build on our GPS. I tried to also get a map of our Asaba and environs, before extending to other parts of the state.
Through that, we were able to capture those government lands. The only thing about those crises, those disputes then, before I became a commissioner, like I said, I was also a political adviser, part of my jobs then was to go into every local government to know what was happening there.
So, when we had disputes, we tried to resolve them by bringing in the leaders to the roundtable and listen to them.
Of course, whether you like it or not, there are natural landmarks everywhere. Either you use a stream or you use a valley, you need to find out and put some marks, you know. So river is one way of having a boundary between the communities. We used those ones and also bring traditional rulers to assist us to trace the history of the place. We try to manage them. It has always been there, but we manage it. We have only a few ones that became very violent like the Aladja- Ogbe-Ijoh. But I heard now that the governor has resolved it. Otherwise, then, I suggested that government should acquire the land from the two communities.
So, you think it’s a solution?
Once government acquires the land, they will now put projects there. So, nobody can say that it’s their land again. So now, instead of saying that, oh, what do I farm there? You can’t go there. But somehow, government said we should leave it for them. But I think that has been resolved. I think the most important thing, or the real problem that we have now, based on reports from our communities is the activities of the herdsmen, when they go to people’s farms to wreak havoc.
We were about coming to that? Okay. How do you think the issue of herdsmen should be handled?
The thing is getting out of hand. So, all hands should be on deck. I suggested then that; one, we should ensure and equip our vigilante groups. All you need to do is to profile them, screen them thoroughly; they can work hand-in-hand with the police or other security agents.
The herdsmen are mostly Nigerians. Only few are non-Nigerians. We agree that you can move anywhere as a Nigerian but don’t go and destroy farms or cause confusion. They are causing havoc.
Like my local government now, they are causing problem in the villages, like Agadama. Every year, especially when the farming season comes, the herdsmen just come there, bring their cows into farms and destroy crops with impunity. And when you challenge them, of course, you lose your life.
Sir, So, you are in support of community policing?
Of course, yes. I have always said so. Not now. I have always said so. That we should ensure that those vigilante groups that we have should be trained not to take laws into their hands but once you profile them, know who they are, equip them properly, they can work with the police. Whether you like it or not?
Do you think this can solve the issue of herdsmen, kidnapping, cultism and other things?
They will, because they are the ones that know some of these places and the people, the locals. A person that is transferred from Kaduna does not know the terrain but when you equip your people, profile them, you can give police the information they need. We can help with that. But the important thing is for you to profile them and also equip them well. If you don’t do that, before you know it, they will begin to see themselves as lords.
What advice do you have for the present commissioner?
There is a unit called fast track, which is digital. Fast track should be working very well in the ministry. So, the issue of duplicity of C of O will become a thing of the past.
They can just go to the data base and know the history of land within a few seconds. The other advice I can give is for the present commissioner to ensure that the departments in the ministry are well equipped to do their work. I heard there is a department but they are under urban renewal now. But if you go to some of our cities, villages, there is no planning at all. People must not build houses without planning? They build houses on roads. By tomorrow if the government wants to do anything, you will be surprised that the people will start making noise. They will be demanding for compensation and the government’s funds are limited. The government cannot pay 80% of the funds that are made for compensation. So. what I can say is that we should ensure that we look at that angle properly. We should ensure that they are up and doing. That they should not build without proper approval. Our staffers should always visit the sites. What I discovered when I was a commissioner, so many people who are in charge of approving these buildings and what have you, they don’t even visit the sites. They approve them from their offices. I recall several years ago, when I went on inspection, you would not believe it. People actually built houses on pipeline.
So you are in support of what the governor is doing concerning civil servants, that if you are found wanting, you will be penalized.
Of course, yes. In the civil service, some of them are corrupt. There are some bad eggs in the service. They need to be flushed out. Use some people as an example so that it can deter others.
People building houses on pipeline, how do we handle the danger in it? Once there is an explosion, it means that the whole family would be wiped out. What I did then was to pull those houses down. They were trying to read meaning to my actions by introducing ethnic sentiment that I am an Urhobo man, that I came to destroy their houses. I was only helping everybody, including myself as commissioner, because, they are Deltans.
That’s what we did there. So, the commissioner has to ensure that the department is well looked into. Ensure that they do their work.
We must pay ground rent and taxes. That’s the only way we can generate revenue. But if you have those plans, the records will be there. So, we will know who is paying ground rent or who has built on whatever. It will be easier for them. So I expect that the government will do that. And the commissioner should also ensure that the right thing is done.
2027 is around the corner and we have seen people decamping from one party to the other. What do you have to say on this?
That’s politics for you, you see, the end of one election is the beginning of another one. The only thing is that people see four years as very long. That’s very far. But it’s not true.
It’s just tomorrow here. So I know people try to align and realign. It’s only about interest. You will see them like that. But we as a party in Delta State, talking about PDP, we are not bothered at all. I know PDP is Delta, Delta is PDP. And we are on ground especially when you know that the governor is doing well. You don’t change what is good. The governor is not a neophyte in politics. He understands Delta State. He understands politics. He is a grassroots man.
That’s why he prides himself as a local content man. He has street credibility. So, there is nothing you tell him that he does not know or understands. And that is why when he became governor, he hit the ground running. He needs not be told what to do.
So initially people thought that he was going to be a stooge.
So there is no cause for alarm? The governor has done so much that you have so many things to point at. And again, you also know that he believes that this is the time for the youth to prove themselves. He has a lot of youth in his government. And you and I know that the youth are the leaders of tomorrow. Not tomorrow, but they are even leaders now. There is nothing to worry about.
Because we believe that come 2027, the governor will return. There is no vacancy in Osadebe House. He is doing well with the people and governance. And he has said he will do more. He still has another two years to prove his mettle. Again too, you and I know that he also plays the national politics. He is not hiding that. He has soft spot for the president. It is now left for him to ensure that he does very well for the people to return him like they did in the last elections.
How will you describe the statement of Rev. Francis Waive asking the Governor to be adopted by all parties in Delta?
Rev. Waive is like the man who saw tomorrow; you know he is in the opposition party. And he has seen that the governor, like I just said, the governor is doing very well. You don’t change what is good. So instead of beginning to shop for candidates and you have one that can take care of the interests of Deltans both PDP, APC and whatever, then you go for him, because he has been saying that he is the governor of Delta State. He is not going to tell you that he is the governor of PDP alone but for everybody. So why do you want to change him? That is why he said that even his party should adopt him as their own candidate. It has really caused some ripples as people are now saying the governor will decamp. The governor will be governor even in PDP. He need not decamp to win the next election.
Sir, let’s come to your side. In Delta Central, you are rated very high, accessible and People describe you as a good man. Where do you think you can fit into to be able to serve the people?
You know, in politics, for me, I have always wanted to serve my people, even as a private individual. Before I became partisan in politics, I have been doing that for my people. You see, it’s in my blood to serve. And by the grace of God, when I had the opportunity to serve, as a Special Adviser, Commissioner and political adviser, I’ve always seen it as a call to serve. And if you look at my antecedent, you know that. I have always wanted to serve my people at the Senatorial level. I attempted it twice and did not scale through. I’m a very loyal party man. I withdrew unconditionally for my colleagues who were later elected.
First was our leader of blessed memory, Chief Felix Ibru, who was also a one-time governor of the Delta State. And second, my brother, my elder brother, Senator Emmanuel Aguariavwodo. I also attempted to be governor by aspiring, I participated in the primaries but again, it’s only one person and he eventually became the governor. And God gave it to Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborewvori as the candidate. By the grace of God, he’s the governor today. So it behooves on some of us to ensure that he succeeds with the MORE Agenda. Those are the promises we first made during the primaries and after the primaries to support whoever win. The governor is my friend even before we got into politics. I told him that once he gets the ticket, I will support him and that is what I’m doing. After he won the primaries, I followed him throughout the campaign, supported him. And I’m happy that our efforts are not in vain. Today, he’s the governor. So I’m very happy. I have to also ensure that he returns. Because all the governors that have governed the state, they did two terms. It is my dream and wish that he also wins second tenure.
For me, at the Central District, for now, what I pray for is for God to direct me. It’s God that directs everything. Because in time past, we have always pushed but man propose and God disposes. All I can say is that I still wish to serve my people at the Central level.
But how do you see politics generally?
Politics, for me, my kind of politics is politics without bitterness. People will say politics is dirty because of the things people do. But I want to tell all of us that are involved in politics, that we should try as much as possible to play politics according to the rules.
We must ensure that the rule of law prevails. Where there is no rule of law, what we experience is anarchy. When people cannot predict what will happen if there is a crisis is a problem.
So what I can tell my brothers and sisters who are also politicians is that whatever we do, we should play politics within the ambit of the law. Because once there is a crisis and you don’t have laws, it becomes a big problem for us. So Deltans should ensure that they support Governor Sheriff Oborewvori to return to the government house in 2027, and to every other elected office that will be available, they should look at the aspirants before they make their choice, so that they can go to bed believing that they have somebody who can represent them well, from the councilors to the house of assembly, the House of Representatives and the Senate.
So that’s all I can say now. But for the governorship, we all have decided. No turning back on that.
