By Mick Oseji, Asaba
ASABA: Senator Ned Nwoko representing Delta North in the 10th National Assembly, has expressed dissatisfaction with the 26 – year reign of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the oil bearing Delta State, saying it is devoid of healthy competition and commensurate development.
Lamenting that it has been ‘business as usual” for the PDP regarding governance and politics in the state, Nwoko vowed to end the drudgery in 2027.
The Senator also rejected Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s offer of a Land Cruiser vehicle and N10 million monthly.
Speaking in his country home in Idumuje Ugboko on Saturday, he said the offer doesn’t directly benefit his constituents.
Nwoko, who recently defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), said that his primary goal as a Senator is to improve the lives of his Delta North constituents, and not to indulge in self-interest.
According to him, the funds offered by the governor should be used for the people, rather than personal gain.
Nwoko slammed joined the PDP for allegedly holding Delta State “hostage” for a quarter of a century, claiming that the state had failed to experience the necessary development for meaningful economic growth.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Reparations and Repatriation and the Senate Ad-hoc Committee investigating Crude Oil Theft in the Niger Delta, stated that the PDP’s control of the state had left the people with no choice but to endure stagnation.
“Imagine 25 years of PDP in Delta; there has been no competition. For them, it’s business as usual,” he said.
He vowed to end the “slavery” in Delta State, announcing with excitement that he had found an alternative platform in the APC.
“I am dissatisfied with the offer. I won’t accept the offer of a Land Cruiser and N10 million monthly from the governor. The funds should be used for the people rather than for self-interest. My primary goal as a Senator is to improve the lives of my constituents,” Nwoko stated.
The Senator further alleged that the PDP in Delta State was focused on self-perpetuation in power, which he said had deprived Delta of real political competition.
Nwoko believed that the creation of the proposed Anioma State will free Delta North from the constraints of PDP governance and bring greater autonomy and opportunities to the region.
He criticised the state government’s reluctance to support the creation of Anioma State, accusing PDP leaders of brainwashing the people and preventing open discussions on the matter.
Despite this, Nwoko expressed confidence that with the support of APC leaders at both state and federal levels, Anioma State would eventually be realised, ensuring freedom for Delta people.