Pix: Air Vice Marshal Frank O. Ajobena(rtd)
By Ejiro Nesisa
Elder State -man and former Military Administrator of Abia State, Air Vice Marshal Frank O. Ajobena(rtd), said, without flattering, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has kept to his electioneering campaigns promises to Deltans by embarking on legacy projects in the state.
Vice Air Marshal Ajobena stated this in a chat with news men at his country home- Mereje in Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State on Monday. He said, in less than two years in office, the Governor has embarked and still embarking on infrastructural projects across the state especially the flyover bridge projects in Warri and Effurun . According to him, with the infrastructure being carried out, Warri will take its right place in the comity of states in the federation.
His words: ” When Governor Oborevwori was campaigning in 2023, he said, he was going to make Delta State a befitting place and today, we can see what he has done and still doing in the state”.
Vice Air Marshal Ajobena however said, the state Governor should also provide energy (Electricity) by having independent power plants in the state like Lagos State and other states that think in that direction to boost the economy of the state. According to him, the government should embark on skill acquisition training programmes for the youths in Agriculture to enable them go into food and animals production adding that, for them to achieve this goal, they should be provided equipment in form of loans to boost food production in the state.
He said: “We used to have Songhail Farm in Amukpe Delta State that has been abandoned, there is nothing wrong if the government can revamped it, it will create employment for the teeming graduates and help in food security“
On security challenges in the state especially, the frequent clashes between farmers and herders which have led to lost of lives, Air Vice Marshal Ajobena advised that cattle rearers be instructed to provide ranch as expected of them to rear their animals instead of roaming the farms and destroying crops. He said:” The issues of herders and farmers’ conflicts have been addressed for many years. We have said the best form of practice all over the world is ranching”.
While acknowledging that many graduates do not have jobs in the country, he said, the government can not provide all jobs needed for all persons saying, individuals or group of persons who have money can invest in businesses to create jobs for the people. He however said, the attitude of some Nigerians of stealing company’s property with reckless abandon also discourages investors.
On Rivers States crisis between Ezenwo Nyesom Wike and Sir Amaopusenino Siminalayi Fubara which led to the suspension of the Governor Fubara, Air Vice Marshal Ajobena said, while the constitution allows the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria, Ahmed Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in the state, the President does not the power to suspend the Governor describing his action as autocratic in governance.
He also advised Wike to allow Fubara be and complete his tenure adding that, it is the electorate that would determine whether he would return in 2027, and this much depends on his performance in this four years tenure. He therefore challenged government at all levels to work on the security lapses in the country and fight starvation in all ramifications to put smiles on the faces of Nigerians.