My Plan For Ethiope East Local Government Area

by

Ovie Okpodu

My Fellow Citizens, 

First I need to apologize for not getting back to you a lot earlier before now. I have been attending a program in Calgary, Alberta for about six weeks now. The program was between the university and my office...learning better ways to achieve good results. So, how are you all doing -my sisters, brothers, father, mother and the children? I hope everyone is in good mood and doing well emotionally and health-wise. Also, I hope you are doing just fine with work and all the stress that government brings. Now, regarding the issues we discussed in the last few months, I have not had enough time to complete a quality proposal for you. I asked one of my associates to do some research for me, which he just completed last week Thursday and I will be going through it to complete the proposal within the coming weeks. If you need advise on environmental issues, technology development, and public fund generation, please do not hesitate to contact me. I work for an environmental consulting group, with operations in China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Peru, Mexico, Germany and United States. I have numerous resource bases to get information for you anytime you may need it. 

In our shopping around for potential investors for Delta State, generally, they have always asked for basic infrastructure, such as power, telephone and water. Though we suggest to them to have alternative provision and include the cost in their capital investment. I will have to be honest with you, that most investors are not too thrilled. They figure this will drastically reduce potential profit margins, as they will need extra staff and expertise to man these areas. This and many other issues such as "419" crime, corruption and low naira-to-dollar diminish the attractiveness Nigeria is supposed to have. I will like to suggest frankly, that if we need meaningful participation of genuine foreign partnership and investment in our State, we have to guarantee these as basic infrastructure. There are lots of developing countries that have equal opportunities as in Nigeria. But are providing these basic needs, and this makes those other countries more attractive for investment...the only thing we have in Nigeria is the population. But today (with the information age and technology, places are now closer than ever). 

I remember going to Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia and Ghana in 1999 and 2000. All these countries have lots of global participation and meaningful transfer of suitable and sustainable technology going on. Electricity and telephone are extremely stable and not much of a luxury. For the six months I was in Tanzania, there were three power-outages (and it was during routine maintenance, which was announced before time), so people and institutions prepared for it. I was able to phone my wife anytime or go on the internet from anywhere to be in constant touch with our Project office and with my family back in Canada. The opposite was the case when I got to Nigeria. I was shocked and frustrated by the lack of these basic needs in the almighty Nigeria. In Tanzania, food for everyone was no problem. It was the cheapest thing to come by...even cheaper and better than in Canada. 

This I berated our military for keeping us stranded in obscure backwardness. I read everyday about NEPA's huge plans, and their disappointment. I am sure that the federal government as always is still promising its improvement, but I am quite sure that they will be frustrated because they have not planned properly and the politics of Yoruba, Ibo and Hausa will frustrate any meaningful progress. This is why I think that we in Delta State should solve these problems ourselves. Looking at the way Mr. Olusegun Obasanjo and his cohorts are running Nigeria, it becomes more and more clear that we will not get out of this hole in the next hundred years. Ibos are saying they must produce the next president, Hausas are saying the same thing and shouting marginalization, while Yorubas are screaming to hold on to the presidency till the year 3000. The continuous fragmentation of our great country has now added southern minorities and middle belt. They also want the presidency next year, even though the presidency is not vacant till 2003. 

Why I Am Running For Local Government Chairman

With all these bickering and fighting, we will never see the end of the tunnel to spot some light. I think there are others ways to address the is sues of Nigeria. This must start from the grass-roots -the Local Government Areas. And on this, I have decided to go back to my local government area and start the change there. Nigeria is not fully accounted for as an entity. The appropriate laws and constitution that will account for this have not been put in place. This is why starting from the Local Government Area (LGA) is best. Creating laws there will now strengthen that base that we will be less interested in what happens in Abuja or Asaba. I will work hard to reduce to the barest minimum, corruption in the LG Council so that investors will be attracted to participate in the development of the area. This, with the understanding of how things work at home and how I have come to understand work ethics here in Canada, will be possible by rewarding hard-working employees and encourage high level of professionalism. I intend to introduce regulations/laws within the Council to effect this and lazy workers will be forced to butt out. On-going training with adequate facilities/equipment will be provided to give all employees independence to upgrade themselves to suit the promotion of information and technology. I have started making arrangements with colleges, universities and institutions here in Vancouver, to provide these equipment and personnel (if necessary), as I plan to involve the Delta State University, Abraka and have it as the bedrock of our training and development. If there is cooperation between Local Government Councils, Sapele Technical College (I hope it is still in existence) will be a pivotal technical resource base for training artisan and technical citizens. I can also use the company I work for to provide equipment and machinery to colleges like that. The government here encourages companies to donate to institutions overseas and they get huge tax breaks. This is one way for them to save money. My emphasis on human development will improve the welfare of Council staff and a good breeding ground for the State as a whole. I will encourage and welcome all Urhobos, Deltans and indeed Nigerians that are ready to work and start to invest in their productivity to the LGA. 

It is time boundary issues and tribalism take the back stage in our lives. I will make Ethiope East Local Government the home of anyone that feels so, and change the idea of & quot; Local Government Area of origin& quot; and & quot; state of origin & quot; to & quot; place of residency& quot;. We will welcome all Nigerians anytime to live and participate in the positive transformation of the LGA. Every citizen will be educated to claim pride in themselves...not the pride of arrogance and title accumulation, but of being productive citizens. Once my campaign begins, I will lunch a Foundation here in Canada that will generate money and materials to fund projects. Involving Nigerians around the globe will be a major part of our success. 

It is important to create an enabling environment for my friends like Uche Dike, Rudolf Okonkwo, Eze Njeribeako, Boniface Omoyeni, Wale Adeyinka, Kola Fabiyi, Tony Okinedo, Fred Oneke, Ochuko Efemini, Goodie Ishaka, Sylvester Ojobo, Samir Eidnani, Derek Williams, Chris Keenan and lots of other men and women all over the world.We can do most of these things by creating laws within the Local Government context that will help generate funds. The oil companies that operate in LGA will be encouraged to genuinely participate. I will make them understand that I know the extent their sister/parent companies involve their resources in their host communities. It is better for the LG council to involve the people and create the much needed jobs for everyone. I will be tireless in pursuing this objective, which will emphasize on human development, for generation of small businesses. Since I came to Canada, I have come to appreciate my people better than ever before. I now understand that we have resources that even Canada does not have, yet they do so well in their day to day lives. I have also come to value my Urhobo culture more than anything. I did post graduate in Environmental Science here, and during this time (with the classes I took), the bedrock of development here, is the strong sense of culture and commitment to excel. This we lack at home. 

I am thinking seriously about coming home and vie for the next Local Government Council coming up in 2003. 

The knowledge and ideas I have of home and from here, I think will help transform lives, beginning with the small LGA. I am talking with some of my friends most of whom are willing to help financially and morally. I have a vision of making Ethiope East LGA the technology base of the State with Abraka being critical for a think-tank. I see no other way than to come home and work hard and campaign for the chairmanship position of the Ethiope East LGA. Indians, Chinese, Filipinos, Israelis, Tanzanians, South Africans, and South Americans here (in Canada) are using such opportunities to help develop their home countries. I will be most grateful to hear your perspective on all of the above. I understand that you are pretty busy, but I think it is just right to let you know first what I am hoping to do. I also think that I can rely on your honesty, since at this time in our history, credible people are those we need to contribute the little there is to humanity. 

You know, I want to help build a society at home that will be very receptive to my children and where they can come and work and contribute their quota as well. I will be sending you my manifesto within the next couple of weeks. Here are some pictures of my family and me. My wife Stephanie, then Tega is my oldest (girl), Ejiro (older of the twin boys) and Ochuko the youngest (boy). If things work out fine, I will bring everyone to live at home, though we plan going later this year for a visit. Kindly greet my sisters, brothers, nephews and nieces, cousins and parents, as well as your friends and associates. Please take these issues I am proposing very seriously as we are on the same page in the common interest to develop our homeland. 

Ufuoma neno wa dia

Best regards, Ovie