Why-lagos-state-governors-are-succeeding-where-delta-state-governors-are-failing-the-need-for-delta-state-government-to-provide-more-incentives-for-investors
September 7, 2020 | News
WHY LAGOS STATE GOVERNORS ARE SUCCEEDING WHERE DELTA STATE GOVERNORS ARE FAILING – THE NEED FOR DELTA STATE GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE MORE INCENTIVES FOR INVESTORS
Every time we consider Lagos State, we cannot help but wonder if it is possible for Delta State to be governed in like manner to attain its status or something far better. And we believe this is very possible for Delta State if only the right things are done. Lagos State, can be said to be the only State in the country that is on its ways to becoming a ‘mega city’ of attraction for domestic and foreign businesses, tourism attraction and a land of enormous opportunities.
We believe all of this could not have been possible if the Executive Governors of the State, right from 1999 to date, did not do what is expected of any performing government. Chief Bola Tinubu, can be said to be the one who laid the solid foundation of development strides in Lagos State, upon which his successors had built on and are still building on. Tinubu, on assumption of office in May 1999, started laying that solid development foundation upon which Babatunde Fashola built on, and which the current Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Abode, has continued to build on. In other words, in Lagos State, there is “evident continuity” of Government Programmes and Projects. This is what we believe that makes Lagos State exceptionally different and thriving in development, far more than other States across the country, including Delta State. This is the reason why we can say that all the past two Governors of Lagos State performed very well, and the present Governor is also doing very well.
In Delta State, the story is the opposite. Right from 1999 till date, it is evident that no ‘solid foundation’ was laid, and as such, every Governor, starting from James Ibori (1999-2007), Emmanuel Uduaghan (2007-2015), and to the current Governor Ifeanyi Okowa; only embarked on Programmes and Projects of their own, most of which were never completed or continued by succeeding Governments. There was ‘no culture of continuity of Government Projects’ in Delta State. That is why today, there are countless ‘abandoned programmes/projects’ all scattered everywhere in Delta State. But it is imperative for us to realize that, “without continuity projects”, there cannot be sustainable development across all sectors of the State. We have in several occasions, called on the current Delta State Government led by Ifeanyi Okowa to concentrate and complete all the old and existing abandoned Infrastructural Projects in Delta State, rather than embark on new Projects. We cannot be doing new Infrastructural Projects across the State when there are so many old and abandoned Projects across the State that have been left to rot and waste away. But if we were to look at this carefully, we would realize that the major reason why there is no culture of continuity of projects by successive Governments in Delta State, is simply tied to them wanting to create rooms and avenues for the misappropriation and mismanagement of public funds in the name of awarding, and re-awarding and re-awarding again and again - different projects across the State that ought to have been completed.
The situation is different in Lagos State, hence it is today known as the city of ‘excellence’ and ‘commercial hub’ of Nigeria. As noted by Abraham Ogbodo in a recent opinion publication: “Lagos State is a very peculiar State in the country. In terms of landmass, it is the smallest State in Nigeria, measuring just about 3,345 square kilometers, which is about the size of a local government area in Niger State with a landmass of 76,363 square km. But that is where the smallness of Lagos State ends. In every other index of measurement, the State is a towering giant. It is the most populous, claiming to accommodate 25 million human beings or about 16 percent of Nigeria’s estimated population of 150 million. Estimates also say that about one third of industries in Nigeria are in Lagos. In the context of national and even continental geo-economics, Lagos State is simply awesome. It is rightly called the economic capital of Nigeria and as the fifth largest economy in Africa; the State is to Africa what the State of California in the US is to the world.
“When the annual budgets of states in Nigeria stayed far below the one billion mark in the late 80s to early 90s, Lagos was the first state to cross that bar. And this year, the State has entered the books as the first to scale the one trillion mark with its N1.046 trillion budget as approved by the State House of Assembly. This is to say also that something called ‘Budget of Kinetic Crystallization’ with which Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State, where the most thriving industry is a yearly carnival in December, plans to fund a N1.3 trillion budget in 2018 is the biggest joke of the decade.
“Lagos State is indeed a pacesetter and trailblazer in many more regards. It is the only State where the dichotomy between indigenes and settlers is blunt, to the extent that any ethnic group can aspire to political leadership in the state. The character of representation of the state in the National Assembly attests to this. This is even more so at the state executive level where the persistent enthronement of non-Lagos indigenes as governors became one of the defining campaign issues in the 2015 governorship election in the state. Also, the state civil service is a geo-ethnic potpourri. Outside competence, about the only requirement, which is not compulsory, to aspire to anywhere in the state’s political and bureaucratic systems is ability to speak the Yoruba language. Discriminatory practices against non-indigenes of the state in real operations are often too soft to compel a change of the unwritten code.”
There is nothing like a liberalized, free-trade-zoned and environmentally-and-business-friendly State or society where there is evident ‘good governance’ that provides needed massive infrastructure and where businesses (both private and public) can thrive unhindered by any external or internal human-engineered factors. That has been the secret that have made Lagos State what it is today. And so it is with other developed societies today across the globe. Every Government and its people, must be able to provide the needed environment and atmosphere that would attract businesses from all works of life to thrive in their domain. The Dubai that we hear of today did the exact same thing and today, most of the big businesses and the economic livewire of Dubai are owned and run by foreigners. In fact, Dubai had used its oil wealth and transformed their home into the world’s number one luxurious tourist destination and business investments. It is very possible for Delta State to also use its oil and gas wealth to transform the State into an industrialized destination where all kinds of products/goods derivable from crude oil and gas can be ‘exported for foreign exchange’, amongst other business attractions.
The Delta State Government must invest in aggressive infrastructure across the State, especially in commercial cities like Warri and environs. However, this aggressive infrastructure should not be ‘selective’. Warri and environs for instance, have all the natural attributes that would spur economic development for the State if properly utilized. This will not only provide enormous employment opportunities, it will also reduce/eliminate criminal activities of all sorts. This will only happen when the aggressive infrastructure is carried out with all sincerity of purpose. This will revive Delta State with bubbling business activities. There are so many areas the Delta State Government ought to have focused on if they are sincere in developing the State. For instance, why are all the ‘economic viable sea ports’ in Delta State, like Burutu, Koko, Warri, Sapele and old Okwagbe (built by the colonial masters), Ports – not functional today? Why is the Osubi Airstrip near Warri not expanded to a standard airport as intended by past government of the State? The truth is, if all these sea ports and the Osubi Airports are commercially operational with modern facilities as they should, the crime rate in Delta State will be reduced to the barest minimum.
Delta State is blessed beyond measure not to become the “mini-Lagos State” of the even the “Dubai of Africa.” But this can only be if we (both the Government at all levels and the Governed), start doing things differently. Is possible for the Delta State Government across all levels to be more accountable, transparent, judicious, people-oriented and committed to the management of the State’s enormous resources and wealth under their care. Is possible for the Delta State Governor to demonstrate seriousness in the area of addressing pressing insecurity issues in the State like kidnapping, armed robbery, community youth’s restiveness and unreasonable demands (e.g ‘Deve’) by our jobless youths. Is possible for the people too, especially our youths, to embrace the good ideals of hard work, patience and zeal to earn a modest/honest living and not rely of ‘quick-and-easy-means’ of making money, which leads them to unnecessary acts like extortion, used as thugs by politicians, cybercrime, illegal bunkering, etc, all of which paints a bad picture about the State to outsiders and prospective investors. Is possible for the State Government to embark on massive investments on infrastructural development that will attract outsiders, prospective investors and even oil and gas companies that have left the State, because unless prospective investors are fully convinced that it will be “more profitable and peaceful to operate in Delta State”, they will not be moved or find it appealing to invest in Delta State.
Is very possible for us as Deltans, not to discourage prospective investors/business owners, or cripple and snuff-out-the-life of existing businesses in our State with ‘not-well-thought-out’ actions like shutting down the entire businesses in Uvwie for practically a whole day, which includes the popular Shoprite (Delta Malls) around Effurun-roundabout, over the Anniversary Coronation of the Ovie of Uvwie kingdom some weeks back. Is possible for us to attach ‘Economic Benefits’ to such Traditional Activities/Ceremonies to ‘generate wealth’ for our people like we see being done in other climes, instead of focusing only on the merriment and funfair of such social gatherings. Is possible for us to use every tourist attraction site, structure or Traditional events in the entire State to attract both national and international visitors to come and spend their money in these places, like we see in developed societies - thereby adding/improving the State’s economy.
Is possible for us as a people, to collectively and ‘publicly shame’ and disregard all the known serving and ex corrupt politicians in the State, so as to discourage them and others from thinking that it is okay to steal public funds and still be celebrated as a hero. Like was done with the ridiculous grand reception and thanksgiving ceremony accorded to James Ibori some weeks back. Is very possible for our young and energetic youths not to sell their birth rights over a pot of porridge or mortgage their future and that of their unborn children because of ephemeral gains from the political class. Or allow themselves be used as pawns in the hands of these corrupt politicians to jeopardize their future prospects, from electing persons with the credibility and integrity to govern the State, as well as the various local government levels; to greater heights.
These are a whole lot of ‘Possibilities’, which evident very possible in Delta State, if only both the governed and the government would shelve their selfish interests aside and start doing what would be for the benefit of all and sundry, regardless of our ethnic and political-affiliation differences.
Zik Gbemre, JP.
Every time we consider Lagos State, we cannot help but wonder if it is possible for Delta State to be governed in like manner to attain its status or something far better. And we believe this is very possible for Delta State if only the right things are done. Lagos State, can be said to be the only State in the country that is on its ways to becoming a ‘mega city’ of attraction for domestic and foreign businesses, tourism attraction and a land of enormous opportunities.
We believe all of this could not have been possible if the Executive Governors of the State, right from 1999 to date, did not do what is expected of any performing government. Chief Bola Tinubu, can be said to be the one who laid the solid foundation of development strides in Lagos State, upon which his successors had built on and are still building on. Tinubu, on assumption of office in May 1999, started laying that solid development foundation upon which Babatunde Fashola built on, and which the current Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Abode, has continued to build on. In other words, in Lagos State, there is “evident continuity” of Government Programmes and Projects. This is what we believe that makes Lagos State exceptionally different and thriving in development, far more than other States across the country, including Delta State. This is the reason why we can say that all the past two Governors of Lagos State performed very well, and the present Governor is also doing very well.
In Delta State, the story is the opposite. Right from 1999 till date, it is evident that no ‘solid foundation’ was laid, and as such, every Governor, starting from James Ibori (1999-2007), Emmanuel Uduaghan (2007-2015), and to the current Governor Ifeanyi Okowa; only embarked on Programmes and Projects of their own, most of which were never completed or continued by succeeding Governments. There was ‘no culture of continuity of Government Projects’ in Delta State. That is why today, there are countless ‘abandoned programmes/projects’ all scattered everywhere in Delta State. But it is imperative for us to realize that, “without continuity projects”, there cannot be sustainable development across all sectors of the State. We have in several occasions, called on the current Delta State Government led by Ifeanyi Okowa to concentrate and complete all the old and existing abandoned Infrastructural Projects in Delta State, rather than embark on new Projects. We cannot be doing new Infrastructural Projects across the State when there are so many old and abandoned Projects across the State that have been left to rot and waste away. But if we were to look at this carefully, we would realize that the major reason why there is no culture of continuity of projects by successive Governments in Delta State, is simply tied to them wanting to create rooms and avenues for the misappropriation and mismanagement of public funds in the name of awarding, and re-awarding and re-awarding again and again - different projects across the State that ought to have been completed.
The situation is different in Lagos State, hence it is today known as the city of ‘excellence’ and ‘commercial hub’ of Nigeria. As noted by Abraham Ogbodo in a recent opinion publication: “Lagos State is a very peculiar State in the country. In terms of landmass, it is the smallest State in Nigeria, measuring just about 3,345 square kilometers, which is about the size of a local government area in Niger State with a landmass of 76,363 square km. But that is where the smallness of Lagos State ends. In every other index of measurement, the State is a towering giant. It is the most populous, claiming to accommodate 25 million human beings or about 16 percent of Nigeria’s estimated population of 150 million. Estimates also say that about one third of industries in Nigeria are in Lagos. In the context of national and even continental geo-economics, Lagos State is simply awesome. It is rightly called the economic capital of Nigeria and as the fifth largest economy in Africa; the State is to Africa what the State of California in the US is to the world.
“When the annual budgets of states in Nigeria stayed far below the one billion mark in the late 80s to early 90s, Lagos was the first state to cross that bar. And this year, the State has entered the books as the first to scale the one trillion mark with its N1.046 trillion budget as approved by the State House of Assembly. This is to say also that something called ‘Budget of Kinetic Crystallization’ with which Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State, where the most thriving industry is a yearly carnival in December, plans to fund a N1.3 trillion budget in 2018 is the biggest joke of the decade.
“Lagos State is indeed a pacesetter and trailblazer in many more regards. It is the only State where the dichotomy between indigenes and settlers is blunt, to the extent that any ethnic group can aspire to political leadership in the state. The character of representation of the state in the National Assembly attests to this. This is even more so at the state executive level where the persistent enthronement of non-Lagos indigenes as governors became one of the defining campaign issues in the 2015 governorship election in the state. Also, the state civil service is a geo-ethnic potpourri. Outside competence, about the only requirement, which is not compulsory, to aspire to anywhere in the state’s political and bureaucratic systems is ability to speak the Yoruba language. Discriminatory practices against non-indigenes of the state in real operations are often too soft to compel a change of the unwritten code.”
There is nothing like a liberalized, free-trade-zoned and environmentally-and-business-friendly State or society where there is evident ‘good governance’ that provides needed massive infrastructure and where businesses (both private and public) can thrive unhindered by any external or internal human-engineered factors. That has been the secret that have made Lagos State what it is today. And so it is with other developed societies today across the globe. Every Government and its people, must be able to provide the needed environment and atmosphere that would attract businesses from all works of life to thrive in their domain. The Dubai that we hear of today did the exact same thing and today, most of the big businesses and the economic livewire of Dubai are owned and run by foreigners. In fact, Dubai had used its oil wealth and transformed their home into the world’s number one luxurious tourist destination and business investments. It is very possible for Delta State to also use its oil and gas wealth to transform the State into an industrialized destination where all kinds of products/goods derivable from crude oil and gas can be ‘exported for foreign exchange’, amongst other business attractions.
The Delta State Government must invest in aggressive infrastructure across the State, especially in commercial cities like Warri and environs. However, this aggressive infrastructure should not be ‘selective’. Warri and environs for instance, have all the natural attributes that would spur economic development for the State if properly utilized. This will not only provide enormous employment opportunities, it will also reduce/eliminate criminal activities of all sorts. This will only happen when the aggressive infrastructure is carried out with all sincerity of purpose. This will revive Delta State with bubbling business activities. There are so many areas the Delta State Government ought to have focused on if they are sincere in developing the State. For instance, why are all the ‘economic viable sea ports’ in Delta State, like Burutu, Koko, Warri, Sapele and old Okwagbe (built by the colonial masters), Ports – not functional today? Why is the Osubi Airstrip near Warri not expanded to a standard airport as intended by past government of the State? The truth is, if all these sea ports and the Osubi Airports are commercially operational with modern facilities as they should, the crime rate in Delta State will be reduced to the barest minimum.
Delta State is blessed beyond measure not to become the “mini-Lagos State” of the even the “Dubai of Africa.” But this can only be if we (both the Government at all levels and the Governed), start doing things differently. Is possible for the Delta State Government across all levels to be more accountable, transparent, judicious, people-oriented and committed to the management of the State’s enormous resources and wealth under their care. Is possible for the Delta State Governor to demonstrate seriousness in the area of addressing pressing insecurity issues in the State like kidnapping, armed robbery, community youth’s restiveness and unreasonable demands (e.g ‘Deve’) by our jobless youths. Is possible for the people too, especially our youths, to embrace the good ideals of hard work, patience and zeal to earn a modest/honest living and not rely of ‘quick-and-easy-means’ of making money, which leads them to unnecessary acts like extortion, used as thugs by politicians, cybercrime, illegal bunkering, etc, all of which paints a bad picture about the State to outsiders and prospective investors. Is possible for the State Government to embark on massive investments on infrastructural development that will attract outsiders, prospective investors and even oil and gas companies that have left the State, because unless prospective investors are fully convinced that it will be “more profitable and peaceful to operate in Delta State”, they will not be moved or find it appealing to invest in Delta State.
Is very possible for us as Deltans, not to discourage prospective investors/business owners, or cripple and snuff-out-the-life of existing businesses in our State with ‘not-well-thought-out’ actions like shutting down the entire businesses in Uvwie for practically a whole day, which includes the popular Shoprite (Delta Malls) around Effurun-roundabout, over the Anniversary Coronation of the Ovie of Uvwie kingdom some weeks back. Is possible for us to attach ‘Economic Benefits’ to such Traditional Activities/Ceremonies to ‘generate wealth’ for our people like we see being done in other climes, instead of focusing only on the merriment and funfair of such social gatherings. Is possible for us to use every tourist attraction site, structure or Traditional events in the entire State to attract both national and international visitors to come and spend their money in these places, like we see in developed societies - thereby adding/improving the State’s economy.
Is possible for us as a people, to collectively and ‘publicly shame’ and disregard all the known serving and ex corrupt politicians in the State, so as to discourage them and others from thinking that it is okay to steal public funds and still be celebrated as a hero. Like was done with the ridiculous grand reception and thanksgiving ceremony accorded to James Ibori some weeks back. Is very possible for our young and energetic youths not to sell their birth rights over a pot of porridge or mortgage their future and that of their unborn children because of ephemeral gains from the political class. Or allow themselves be used as pawns in the hands of these corrupt politicians to jeopardize their future prospects, from electing persons with the credibility and integrity to govern the State, as well as the various local government levels; to greater heights.
These are a whole lot of ‘Possibilities’, which evident very possible in Delta State, if only both the governed and the government would shelve their selfish interests aside and start doing what would be for the benefit of all and sundry, regardless of our ethnic and political-affiliation differences.
Zik Gbemre, JP.