Delta @ 26: A Letter From Comrade Patrick Ochei

I use this medium to congratulate the Government and the good people of Delta State on this auspicious occasion of 26th Anniversary. We have all gone to thank God today in the church. In fact, I am in the mood of personal celebration to mark this great achievement.

However, while we celebrate, we should also reflect on the messy state of our State, caused by years of recklessness and impunity. 26 years is not 26 months or hours. A child born 26 years ago would have today, graduated from the University, gotten a job and possibly settled down for serious family business. In some cases where impatience becomes an issue, some 26 year olds would have been fathers and mothers of more than two children.

I am particularly happy that the Governor did not budget for Anniversary celebration, many would have swam through flood to come and partake in sharing. It doesn’t matter to them that the economy is suffering and needs prudence, it doesn’t matter to them that the previous reckless sharing is the bane of our underdevelopment today and it doesn’t matter to them that 26 years down the line, we should change our attitude from the mundane to being futuristic.

Well, the Clarion call is that it is not a time to blame anyone. But a time to become responsible, share ideas on how to move forward and honestly contribute our individual quotas towards ensuring a sane environment, politically stable and economically developed. It’s a collective responsibility!

Only on this account will we have a Delta of our dream. A Delta where impunity, recklessness and ungodliness are things of the past. We have a choice already – making Delta truly the Finger of God!

Comrade Patrick Ochei is the Vice Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Delta State Council and the Publisher, Anioma Trust Newspaper.