DELTA EPZ: GOV. UDUAGHAN - YOU CAN'T LEAD FROM BEHIND

THIS IS NOT DR. EMMANUEL EWETA UDUAGHAN

"It is better to lead from behind and to put others in front, especially when you celebrate victory, when nice things occur. You take the front line when there is danger. Then people will appreciate your Leadership." ~ Nelson Mandela

ABDUCTION NOT KIDNAPPING

The twist and turns following the cancellation of the Ground Breaking Ceremony of the Contentious $16 Billion EPZ Project is making interesting reading and attracting a lot of comments but the reality is that we are on the brink of another full scale crisis in Warri South – West Local Government Area in Delta State.

I read Mr. Emma Amaize the Regional Editor, South-South of the Vanguard Newspapers detailed account of the events surrounding the abduction of 14 Journalist and some Youths by Ijaw Youths from Oporoza Community or ex militants as some reports called them or hooligans as Mr. Emma Amaize will rather classify them.

The action of the Youths and their backers must be condemned in the strongest terms, no Nigerian should be subjected to any form of molestation anywhere as they go about their normal duties, how much more journalist? It’s also gratifying to note that the umbrella body of all Ijaw youths the IYC has called for a full scale inquiry into this unfortunate incident.

MIND GAME:

Am concerned that in all this His Excellency the Executive Governor of Delta State Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan (CON) is playing to the Gallery instead of addressing his obvious failures that had led to the seeming distrust again among the Ijaws of Gbaramutu and the Itsekiri’s of Ugborodo. The Governor who spoke during the 2014 Press Week of the State Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalist, NUJ is quoted to have called the unfortunate incident kidnapping even as one of the victims of the incident Mr. Emma Amaize called it abduction.

What is kidnapping? The simplest definition is “Taking away a Person by Force or Fraud, commonly to obtain ransom for his or her release. If that be the case His Excellency owe it to Deltans to tell us how much was paid for the release of the 14 Journalist and the Youths.

What is Abduction? Is the act of restraining another through the use or threat of deadly force or through fraudulent persuasion. There are various different words in the English language that can be interchanged and seem very similar. Abduction and kidnapping are two of these words that seem similar in nature, however have distinct differences. These terms are used interchangeably these days, but they differ in terms of laws. Am just curious that His Excellency will go for kidnapping and not abduction.

The Chief Security officer of the State went on to say “………President Jonathan had ordered full investigation into the Kidnap incident … “ excuse me sir, these things happened in your State, will you wait for Mr. President to carry out an investigation?  there lies the mind game of Mr. Governor, of late he had been creating the impression that everything happening in the State is as dictated by Aso Rock. So much so that there was an sms making the rounds with the terse message  "Aso Rock cannot dictate to us"

WHAT IS GOOD FOR THE GEESE:

“The point to make is to remind the governor that in the time of the Ecravos Gas to Liquid Project, EGTL, he supported three different Interface Committees for Itsekiris, Ijaws and the Ilajes, yet the EGTL was located entirely in Ugborodo (Itsekiri) soil, no doubt about that. Though the community stakes were not shared equally, the Ijaws and Ilajes whose land were not acquired had the privilege of own Interface Committees. Why would the governor who promoted this understanding on the EGTL be seeking the confusion of alienating Gbaramatus who own most of the EPZ land?” ~ Chief Godspower Gbenekama (Vanguard August 12, 2014)

If Chief Godspower Gbenekama is correct, why did not the Governor do the same with the EPZ Project? With the very sensitive nature of the Warri South – West Council Area, one would expect His Excellency to tie all loose ends before inviting Mr. President for the Ground Breaking Ceremony. It's equally important to note that there are Fourteen (14) Operational EPZ's with about Eight (8) under Construction in the Country according to the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority's website. The Ogidigben Gas Revolution Industrial Park (GRIP) is one of the 8 under construction and it's a joint venture project of NEPZA/NNPC and the Delta State Government.

It's not as if the EPZ is a magic wand that will wipe away unemployment in the State as it has not done so in States where it's already operational; such as Cross River, Lagos, Osun, Kano, Jigawa, Akwa Ibom etc. We did not read about blood letting in those completed and Operational States. EPZ WILL NOT BRING CRISIS IN WARRI SOUTH - WEST LGA. 

WAY FORWARD:

The Leaders of Ugborodo Community has requested for a new date for the Ground Breaking Ceremony, it gives his Excellency ample opportunity to bring all stake holders together to chart a way forward for this all important project. I will also appeal to the Leadership of Ugborodo Community to tow the Path of mutual coexistence. There is a saying that one family cannot eat an Elephant, in the same spirit of give and take let us all work together to build upon the Peace we have enjoyed as a People and as a State. God Bless Delta State.