Inclusive governance will curb agitations, says Okowa

Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta has called for an all-inclusive governance to curb the myriad of agitations rocking the country.

The governor made the call on Wednesday when the Executive Chairman and Commissioners of the Federal Character Commission, Dr Muheeba Dankaka, visited him at the Government House, Asaba.

Okowa said that only fairness and equity could guarantee the loyalty of the people in terms of political appointments, projects and the civil service.

He said that the rest of the country must understand that there was a special plight on the part of those residing in the creeks and riverside communities in the state.

According to the governor, once there are equity and fairness in political appointments, civil service, social amenities and the development of our nation, they will cause Nigerians to show loyalty.

“But, once there is a distortion in equity and fairness, you begin to see all manner of agitations.

“Nigeria is a multi-ethnic nation and there are lots and lots of agitations and we believe that with your office and the people who represent various zones in the Federal Character Commission, it is actually a well-thought-out plan to ensure that there is inclusive governance in our country.

“I believe that is why the commission was set up to ensure inclusive governance in the areas of appointment into the civil service, the political class and equity and fairness in the distribution of social amenities in the development of our nation.

“An implementation of these strategies will cause Nigerians to show loyalty to the nation and if at any point in time there is a distortion in the process of ensuring equity and fairness, you begin to see people agitate.

“Agitations at one point in time tend to weaken us as a nation and they create an environment that will not encourage development,” Okowa said.

Okowa added that, “as a state rich in oil resources, there is the view of the people that we ought to have more than we have today beyond our 13 per cent oil derivation.

“If you have an opportunity of going into the creeks, you will see that 40 per cent of Delta people are actually in the creeks.

“And if you have the opportunity of ever going there, you will see that there is a different Nigeria in them because where they live, you will see that the means of transport is actually not there.

“It is imperative that as a nation we must work toward developing such places. This is important because it has become a huge task for the Delta Government in developing such places.

“Obviously, there is a lot more that needs to be done because it’s actually an expensive area to bring development to but we will continue to do the best we can.”

He charged the FCC chairman and her team to continue to raise their voices wherever they found out that things were not equitably distributed as they ought to be.

The governor said that such a reaction would ensure that things worked for the good of the country.

Earlier, Dankaka said that they were in Delta to acquaint themselves with the realities in the state as part of the commission’s mandate.

She assured the governor that the commission would continue to do its best in the discharge of its responsibilities to ensure a sense of belonging for all Nigerians.

Dankaka commiserated with the government and people of the state over the unfortunate gas plant explosion at Agbor on Friday.