Innocent Ojefia Blog

In a stark display of discontent, the staff of the Delta State House of Assembly have marked Governor Sheriff Oborevwori's one-year anniversary in office with a strike action, protesting his failure to implement key campaign promises. Governor Oborevwori, who ascended from Speaker of the House of Assembly to Governor, pledged to implement the CONLESS salary structure for legislative staff upon taking office. Yet, one year later, this promise remains unfulfilled, leading to widespread disappointment and frustration among the staff. Notably, it was these legislative staff who coined the term "SHERRIED," a slogan enthusiastically adopted by Oborevwori's party, the PDP, and his campaign organization. This deepens the sense of betrayal felt by the staff, as the governor has not lived up to the expectations set during his campaign. As the state celebrates his one-year milestone, the legislative staff are absent from the festivities, underscoring their dissatisfaction. By re...

One year into Sheriff Oborevwori’s tenure as the Governor of Delta State, it is pertinent to evaluate the administration's performance. This reflection serves as a crucial exercise in accountability, providing a measure of governance against the promises made and the expectations of the populace. Sheriff Oborevwori's administration, however, has been characterized by peddling lies, propaganda, and platitudes while celebrating non-performance.  Oborevwori's administration has been set apart by an emphasis on propaganda rather than substantive achievements. Claims that Delta is now a "construction site" are frequently cited by government spokespeople, yet these assertions are largely viewed by the majority of Deltans as empty rhetoric. Public perception suggests that the administration's narrative is more about image management than actual development. Despite its failings, the administration continues to waste public resources on false celebrations. They have g...

The issues plaguing local government councils in Nigeria are deeply rooted in the structural and constitutional setup, which has allowed state governors to exert undue influence over these councils. This influence has effectively stifled their ability to function independently and fulfil their roles in socioeconomic development and democracy. PROBLEMS WITH THE CURRENT SYSTEM  State Electoral Commissions (SECs): These commissions, which are responsible for conducting local government elections, are often seen as extensions of the state governors' offices. This connection undermines the integrity of local elections, resulting in the imposition of leaders who are loyal to the governors rather than those who are democratically chosen by the local populace. Constitutional Loopholes:  Sections of the 1999 Constitution, such as Section 7(1), Section 83(3), and Section 7(5), contain ambiguities and weaknesses that governors exploit to undermine local governments. These sections allow ...

On May 21, 2024, in Port Harcourt, former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan made a significant call for unity during the flag-off ceremony for Phase II of the Trans Kalabari Road Project. Addressing the ongoing political turmoil in Rivers State, Jonathan urged former Governor Nyesom Wike and his successor, Siminalaye Fubara, to set aside their differences for the greater good of Rivers State, the Niger Delta, and Nigeria as a whole. Jonathan emphasized the critical need for outgoing and incoming governors to collaborate in the collective interest of their citizens, stating, "The ongoing tension in Rivers State will not help us." This intervention is characteristic of Jonathan's statesmanship and commitment to peace and democracy. THE ROOTS OF THE CRISIS  The political crisis in Rivers State began in late 2023 with a fallout between Wike, now the FCT Minister, and Fubara. Despite President Tinubu's initial intervention, the conflict escalated in early 2024.  On May 6, ...

In 2023, the German government reported significant instances of violent crimes against various political parties. Specifically, there were 86 violent crimes against the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, 62 against the Greens, 20 against the far-left Left Party, 19 against the center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), 10 against the Free Democratic Party (FDP), and two against the Christian Social Union (CSU). These statistics underscore that no political party in Germany is immune to acts of violence, indicating a broader issue of political brutality within the country. It is undisputed that all parties, regardless of their political stance, faced violence.This trend highlights a growing phenomenon of the brutalization of public officials across Germany. Such acts reflect a disturbing shift in the way political dissent and frustration are being expressed by the public. The increasing distrust of politics among citizens is a significant factor contributing to the reso...

Leadership is often heralded as the cornerstone of development, yet in the Nigerian context, relying on leadership to drive progress has frequently proven disappointing. Political environments across the country stifle rational discourse, shrinking the pool of innovative and critical thinkers. Those capable of guiding societies towards meaningful progress have retreated, discouraged by the emboldened presence of bullies and semi-literates who dominate the political arena. In such a milieu, true development remains a myth, particularly when leaders themselves hold flawed notions of leadership. A pervasive issue in Nigerian leadership is the prevalence of corrupt officials who lack vision and knowledge. Governance, for many politicians, is treated as a business venture where personal investment of money and time is expected to yield significant returns. This transactional, self-serving capitalist approach leads to despotism, kleptomania, and widespread corruption. Such leaders prioritize...

It is appalling how, in desperation to sustain its thieving hegemony over the Delta State Government since 1999, the Delta PDP had the audacity to impose the weakest, most uninformed contender, a local champion, as Governor over a state replete with accomplished men and women of immense capacity. Given this unenviable privilege, one would have expected the fortunate placeholder governor, Sheriff Oborevwori—whose only election campaign manifesto was pledging to improve on the failed leadership of Ifeanyi Okowa, his predecessor—to engage creative minds and individuals of proven integrity to assist him in making a difference. Rather than doing the needful, Oborevwori has worsened matters by electing to engage the same spent leaders, deadwood, and gluttons that have gained prominence in running the state down over successive administrations. The result has been a government of mediocre officeholders competing to run the state for their pockets at the detriment of the populace, under a gove...