OPINION: URGENT CALL TO SAVE DELTA STATE FROM BEING SOLD AND BOUGHT BY FOREIGNERS
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By Solomon Ugbeyan
The slavery days experienced by our forefathers was too traumatic and nobody would want to read about the sad and ugly moments, talk less of a repeat in a more sophisticated form. Even the Nigeria civil war we suffered still leaves unforgettable scary memories/marks in the eyes and hearts of those who witnessed the unfortunate incident.
Whereas this war would have been averted if certain information were available to the warring parties.
Such information is reminiscent to what I shall provide hereafter, because it will be a disservice if I fail as a Nigerian and indeed a full blown Deltan to provide and acquaint you with the state of affairs in our dear Delta state.
I make bold to say that I have a good degree in Economics and almost a First Class, but only a few mark separated me away and hence I have the requisite pedigree to speak on this matter, particularly as it relates to the economy of Delta state.
Borrowing in several cases can ruin a man or the beneficiary of the fund. It is a salient bait to pull a fish out of a river and may never go back there.
The inception of the Delta state government has been witnessing an unprecedented spree and indeed a jamboree of financial borrowing. I do not intend to bamboozle you with verbosities, vocabularies or lengthy story, but would prefer to go straight to the points and to carry everybody along, irrespective of his or her level of education and understanding.
Our current level of indebtedness is fast drawing us closer to a destiny of poverty, unless you and I act swiftly.
Our total indebtedness has surged to an amazing figure of N256.66 billion, putting us in a “keg of a gunpower” and waiting to explode. From this troublesome figure, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa alone recently added N175.00 billion in the name of projects.
Our current Gross Domestic Product is heading towards zero.
Our Gross National Income is also near zero.
Our Marginal Propensity to Save is already zero, given the spree of loan applications.
Our Federal Government Allocation can no longer go round to service recurrent expenditure.
We currently cannot pay salaries adequately and regularly.
We currently cannot pay our dear Pensioners who laboured for many years to keep the economy floating. They are dying like chickens every month and even with the recent protest in Asaba, the situation still remains unabated.
Hospitals are ill-equipped with many dying everyday.
Roads are unpassable. Flood everywhere in Asaba and other cities, etc. The list is endless.
It is now mandatory to make it very clear to all Deltans that if this continues by the next government, then Delta State is sold.
We shall remain in absolute poverty. Any income received and generated will be used to service the huge debts. There will be permanent hunger and dryness in the land, while those who may have plunged us into this mess will of course disappear into the thin air.
Deltans, there is only one way to take us out of this trouble.
We need someone who has the business economics skills and pragmatism.
We need someone who is already financially positioned and will not rely on kick-back or give same to anybody at the top.
We need someone whose financial achievement and stability is not tied to any political activities or be in government at any time.
We need a fresh hand and certainly not a political party. We are tired of the old hands.
We should look at the face of the person and not the political party that he belongs.
The only man who has these qualities is OLOROGUN KENNETH GBAGI.
Gbagi started from a very humble beginning operating his private business empire, with chains of companies and private jets. Today, he is the largest employer of labour in the whole of Delta and some other states.
He does not need your money, talk less of our dear Delta State that is already financially too broke.
He does not need to bribe anyone at the top with your money, nor anyone to give him bribe from his list of Commissioners.
He will not borrow to share among his political office holders and increase our dilapidated debt profile.
Therefore OLOROGUN KENNETH GBAGI will do far better.
DELTANS, PLEASE BE WISE.
ACT NOW TO SAVE OUR FUTURE STATE AND GENERATION.
Barr. Solomon Ugbeyan writes from United Kingdom