The relative peace in Delta state, especially the state capital territory has been a subject of mystery to some people, considering that just across the bridge marks a different atmosphere security-wise. But how long that could be sustained considering the growing unrest in the South east, could be considered a subject of concern to the burgeoning community in the state. How did the past government handle it? How is this government handling it?
In the return to Democracy and the ascendance to the leadership of Delta State by Governor James Onanefe Ibori, there was relative unrest by ethnic nationalities especially in Delta South. With a touch of Charisma and dialogue, Chief James Ibori with the Cooperation of ethnic leaders, peace and relative harmony was established in the big heart state, and the politics and political cooperation among the ethnic nationalities flourished.
The tenure of Governor Uduaghan saw the rise of hostilities taken to higher limits in the creeks by agitators. Nonetheless, the ingenuity and magnanimity of late President Umaru Musa Y’aradua is referenced to have brought about peace to a crisis that had Nigeria on its knees. It is therefore modest to say that the government of Dr Emmanuel Ewetan Uduaghan was relatively peaceful and harmonious apart from the hostilities of the agitators, which was however perceived to be Nigerian in outlook rather than a Delta State situation.
The government of Dr Ifeanyi Okowa was accompanied with the nationwide hostility of the strife between the Fulani Herdsmen and farmers, the hostage and kidnapping that flourished almost nationwide, and the incursion of IPOB into the state, mostly the Northern part of the state. While so many believe the Presidency and its approach was responsible and in charge of the management of these crisis, some others believe each state came up with their unique way of managing the situation occasioned by these insecurities.
Not everyone agreed with the management style of Governor Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa, but almost all in and outside Delta State will affirm that Governor Okowa gave security attention, and was credited to have been responsive to the surge. People generally affirm that Dr Ifeanyi Okowa had a good showing and enabled modest peace and security in Delta state. At no time before his administration had insecurity been this hydra headed, but he managed to keep Delta State afloat despite the circumstances that crippled most states that faced similar challenges.
The proximity of Delta state to the South East, where the activities of IPOB has nearly crippled the economies of the states there in, is critical to appreciating the security situation faced by Delta State, mostly Delta North. Most people have ascribed the accomplishment to the governor’s ingenuity and putting together a team of security experts, advisers, managers and assistants, who were to a large extent proactive rather than reactive.
In the words of one of his assistants, Chief Cassidy Iloba, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Security Matters; ” Dr Okowa doesn’t sleep, whenever there is a security challenge. He mobilises us and gives us adequate resources and necessary backing and mandate to mange it. Most significantly, he believes in forestalling insecurities by doing whatever was necessary and expedient to prevent it. Dialogue has mostly been his major approach in the management of security. Insecurity would have consumed Asaba and its environ, had there been no intervention such as we had at the Bridgehead, Abraka market, some places in Ughelli, Abraka, Illah and Ika.”
With the entrance of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, who was active during in Dr Okowa’s government as the speaker of the House of Assembly, Deltans are optimistic that the same stream of relative peace or an improvement would be witnessed. Has the situation in the South East abated? The answer should be in the negative. Is Delta state still in danger? obviously it could be said in the affirmative, considering that in the recent weeks, it has taken the response of the military to quell infiltration of the IPOB enforcers of Sit-at-home. Has the present government shown effort and capacity at managing it as with the preceding government? It will be too early to say. But it is expected that politics and politicking wouldn’t be a model of approach and management. Most likely what worked previously and much more would be employed to keep the fastest developing state on the road, and on course.