AVAILABLE information shows that Chief Mulade Sheriff, the Ibe-Sorimowei of Gbaramatu Kingdom and the National Coordinator of Center for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ), recently commended Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, for establishing the Ministry of Riverine Infrastructure Development in the state.
Chief Mulade who spoke via a statement personally signed by him , said ; “I must commend Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for this bold step, which is long overdue. It shows that the governor has a listening ear, and I believe through the establishment of this ministry, the riverine areas will be given a sense of belonging, and will equally experience a new lease of life if adequately funded. “We have been crying for years over the deliberate neglect of the coastal dwellers after over seven decades of oil exploration activities, accentuated by the lopsided distribution of socio-economic development,” Mulade said.
A further search reveals that it is not only Chief Mulade Sheriff that is happy over the development. Rather, the excitement spreads across the coastal communities of the state.
Take as an illustration, the Association of Coastal and Waterways Communities of Nigeria, ACWCN, Delta State Chapter, going by media reports also commended Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, for establishing the Ministry of Riverine Infrastructure Development in the state, saying it will cause agitation for equitable development by people in coastal communities.
ACWCN, in a letter addressed to Governor Oborevwori, signed by the Chairman and Secretary of Association of Coastal and Waterways Communities of Nigeria, ACWCN, Delta State Chapter, Engr: (Dcn) Tuoyo Woligho and Pst. Paul Boyitie, respectively, noted inter-alia: “We write on behalf of the entire members of Association of Coastal and Waterways Communities of Nigeria, Delta State Chapter, to appreciate you, on your administration effort in developing the entire Delta Stale.
“We have seen your strong desire in transforming Delta State. We assure Your Excellency of our full support, as you embark on this Journey of bringing more Development across Delta State in fulfilment of your MORE Agenda. “We commend you on the establishment of the Ministry of Riverine Infrastructure Development. Your administration has shown great commitment in the development of Delta State, particularly the riverine communities. This is affirmation of your strong desire to bring development to the riverine communities as promised during your campaign.
“Your Excellency sir, the desire of the Coastal and Waterways Communities is to have an Agency or Commission that will have a full mandate in the development of the areas, however, with the establishment of this Ministry, the agitation of the people in these areas will be doused. “We look forward to working with you at every call and promise to provide a level ground as a Non- Governmental Organization with membership in all the 25 Local Government Areas of Delta State. We have confidence in your administration in delivering dividends of democracy that will touch lives in Delta State, particularly the riverine areas of Deita State. “It is our earnest prayer that the Lord will give you wisdom, strength, direction and guidance to deliver on your mandate to the good people of Delta State.”
Essentially, aside from the fact that the riverine areas play host to mainly maritime, oil and gas production activities, which of course constitutes the mainstay of Nigeria’s economy, but lacks many basic amenities despite the huge contributions to the development of the state and Nigeria at large, there are many reasons why the people of the region and Mulade Sheriff in particular, is happy with the latest development, and should on the other hands, be commended and celebrated as well.
For those unaware, Chief Sheriff Mulade is the initiator and advocate behind the Coastal Area Development Agency (CADA) Bill, a draft scripted by the Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ), in February 2018, and forwarded to; the Delta State Governor, Senator (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa(as he then was), Honourable Speaker, The Delta state House of Assembly, Sheriff Oborevwori, the incumbent governor of the state.
A peep into the proposed but now abandoned Bill, shows that if passed, it wouldn’t have mistaken for, or categorized as, or runs in conflict with the already ascribed responsibilities of the Delta State Development Commission (DESOPADEC), as it is coastal dwellers-specific
Take as an illustration, SCHEDULE II, Section 4(5) of the Bill clarifies this argument as it painstakingly outlines the communities referred/described as coastal communities. These communities in question include; IJAW:Ogulagha, Egbema, Gbaramatu Kingdoms, Burutu, BomadiPatani and Okpokunou. ISOKO: IyedeAne, Onogboko and Ofagbe. ITSEKIRI: Omadino, Ugborodo, Ogidigben, Gbokoda and Bateren. NDOKWA: Ase, Aboh and Ashaka. URHOBO: Assah, Gbaregolo, Okwagbe, Esaba, Otutuama, Ophorigbala and Otor-Ewu. Again, separate from the Bill being capped with capacity for strengthening the state government’s focus on developing the area and serving the interest of the coastal dwellers, if passed, it would have united the three senatorial zones of the state. The reason for this assertion is not farfetched. A glance at the names of the communities to be included or captured by the Bill shows that they are well spread across the three senatorial zones of the state and includes the five major ethnic nationalities in the state; (1) Ijaw;(ii) Isoko; (iii) Itsekiri; (iv) Ndokwa of Anioma nationality and (v) Urhobos. Under this form of arrangement and inclusiveness, the case of envy or inter tribal crisis is without doubt bound not to arise.
Another area of interest provided by the Bill that would have made it welcoming if passed, is signposted in the Agency function/responsibilities captured in PART II.. (1).
It says: The Agency shall formulate policies and guidelines for the development of the Coastal Area; conceive, plan and implement, projects and programmes for the sustainable development of the Coastal Area; prepare a master plan to tackle ecological and environmental problems of the Coastal Area; cause the Coastal Area to be surveyed in order to ascertain measures to promote its physical and socio-economic development; undertake such research as may be necessary for the performance of its functions;
Others are; develop and operate infrastructure services and facilities within the Coastal Area; liaise and collaborate with relevant Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies; attract and promote investments for the development of the Coastal Area; enter into contracts or partnerships with any person or body (whether corporate or unincorporated) which in the opinion of the Agency will facilitate the discharge of its functions under this Bill; and execute such other works and perform such other functions which in the opinion of the Agency, are required for the sustainable development of the Coastal Area and its people.
Most importantly, it is evident that the agitation for a better life and healthy environment in the coastal region of the state did not start today. This particular fact makes it more compelling for the members of the house and the Governor to respond to this bill. In like manner, the people of the area didn’t relent in their call on the state government to intensify efforts to sustainably develop the area.
Standing as a telling proof of neglect is an open letter dated May 20th, 2019 by the Riverine communities in Delta state forwarded to Senator (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa, the immediate Governor of Delta state, where the group bemoaned the non-presence of government projects in the coastal areas,, and advocated for the creation of Coastal Area Development Agency (CADA), as a way of ensuring a sustained development of the area.
Again, in the year 2020, Comrade Mulade, environmental activist/coastal dweller in a news conference held in Asaba the state capital. Sheriff appealed to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, lamented that the Bill has not been given any consideration despite being in line with the demands by Deltans in the coastal communities, seeking a legislation to establish an agency saddled with the primary mandate to fast track development of their area. And thereafter called on the state government to kindly consider the Bill as the quest is aimed at giving hope of sustainable development and sense of belonging to the riverine peoples of the State.
In view of the above facts and efforts, it is obvious that establishing the Ministry of Riverine Infrastructure Development in the state will not only douse agitation for equitable development by people in coastal communities but serves as a dream come through for the region and its people. This singular fact explains completely why they are happy with the state government.
