APC Chieftain Demands Establishment of Federal University in Asaba

By Miracle Enuji

An All Progressive Congress (APC) Chieftain in Delta State and Chairman, Chronicles Hotels Asaba, Mr. Emmanuel Ogwuda has called on the Federal Government to establish a Federal University in the Delta State Capital, Asaba.

Ogwuda who was speaking to journalists in Asaba recently, expressed huge displeasure at the absence of a full fledged Federal University in the State especially in Asaba, stating that it is a shame that the Delta State capital is the only state capital in the country without a Federal University.

He vehemently queried the non-recognition of Dennis Osadebe with a federal University in Delta State, stating that out of the four pioneering premiers namely, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo and Dennis Osadebe, of the pre-democratic and post-independent Nigeria, only Dennis Osadebe has been neglected in having a federal university named after. “Ahmadu Bello, Obafemi Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Michael Okpara even Avan Ikoku have all been transformed to full fledged universities, where is Dennis Osadebe?” He queried.

“The Delta State capital has remained the only capital without a Federal university, it does not even have a federal presence. The implication of this is such that 90 percent of Delta state children are denied university spaces and opportunity to access university education technically or otherwise”, he lamented.

“Deltans have been denied full fledged university spaces over the years and Deltans have thoughtlessly agitated for misplaced universities instead of making their choices before the federal government to act. The Federal University of Petroleum Resources Effurun is just a one faculty university and the Maritime University is Okerenkoko is another one faculty university. They cannot solve our problems educationally. What Deltans should ask the federal government which is their right is a full-fledged federal university which comes with every other faculty”, he submitted.

The APC Chieftain further disclosed that Deltans have the highest number of enrollments in most private universities in the country. “That is capital flight from Delta State. And once capital flies from your immediate primary economy, it automatically diminishes the secondary economy because the monies that leave Delta State to those states where those universities are located will develop the secondary economy of the state”, he explained.

He lamented that the multiplier effect of the failure of leaders and politicians in the state to demand things that rightly belongs to the state from the federal government, demanding for a forensic audit into the state wage bill in the last 15 years.

Ogwuda further expressed disappointment that, the State despite its enormous resources has not been able to measure up with neighbouring states, describing Delta as a failed state.

He said a failed state is a situation where citizens lose trust in her leaders, noting that the picture is about the same in Delta state as Deltans have lost trust in leadership, “Delta state for me is a failed state”, he submitted.

The APC stalwart further took a swipe at the leadership style of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, noting that the common good of the masses have been truncated over time. In his words, “what I see as leadership is believing and thinking about  the common good of every other person both the rich and poor. The constant refusal of leaders to work towards the common good of the people has resulted into a failed society, such that Deltans have also lost confidence in state institutions especially public schools and hospitals and sadly, that is the situation in our state”.