Story By Esther Dominic
Senator Peter Nwaoboshi has recently demonstrated how grounded he is in the Nigerian Politics by educating Nigerians on some controversial issues and how to get out of the quagmire.
ON ECONOMY REFORM
“There is no doubt that he President meant well in embarking on those economy reforms but Nigerians are complaining . The recent stampede at some palliative collection venues where people risked there lives, high cost of food and services, and more are signs that people are hungry.
Government is of the people by the people and for the people, hence Mr. President should listen to Nigerians.
Senator Peter Nwaoboshi continued by pointing out that,policies are meant to be for the goodness of the people and if the people are complaining, it behoves on Mr President and his team to find a way to remedy the situation, else Nigerians may remain in this hardship.
According the Senator,” as good as the policy may be for the long time effect of Nigerians we must there should be a fast remedy to this hardship. This is because it is the Nigerian people who voted APC to power it is same Nigerians that should feel the impact of what you are doing.
Althogh Rome was not built in a day but there must be a way to cushion up the effects of the Nigerian people.
The distribution of rice and others are not enough, the President and team should look at the policies again and take them gradually so we can get to the promised land.”
Nwaoboshi still speaking,” During the reading recently, the Senate president said that Nigerians were on life support. According to Nwoboshi ” if Nigerians were on life’s support as at when APC came to power,it takes time to revive somebody on a life support .
You don’t just give injection and he gets well immediately,. it has a gradual reviving process, after which he is brought out of life support for more nursing and treatment until he gets well.
Senator Nwoboshi said he doesn’t think the Senate president is in the right position to make that statement because he was in the previous government for atleast four years when he led as Minority Leader of the Senate in which case he was in the position to criticize the policies then as a minority leader but he didn’t.
He further served as a Minister for another four years. Nwoboshi advised we have to be careful of what we say and do at any given time as the Senate President ought not to say those things as he is not in the position to say it. He urged President Bola Amed Tinubu to find a way to remedy the hardship in Nigerians and further appeal to nigerians to have more patients with the President as the implementation of some policies may take some time to be effective
SPEAKING ON TAX REFORM
Senator Nwaoboshi said ” The amalgamation of North and south by Lord Lugard in 1914 was meant for peaceful coexistence among strigments of Nigeria. They may not have equal resources and so, when the Northern brothers are crying, Mr. president should kindly look at the issues they are raising.
Previously, we had issues of Resource Control in Nigeria championed by Chief James Ibori and other when he was the Governor of Delta State.
People cried that the Resource control was going to bring problem to the Nigerian people despite the awareness of its benefits , it was going to bring the disintegration of Nigerians,so we decided to push it aside.
The tax reform might just be another reintroduction of resource control and my concern is that, i do not want the disintegration of Nigeria, hence there might be need to look into the issues raise by some northern states again ” .
Moreover, he added, ” Some states might not be complaining publicity but behind in pretence to be in support of Mr President. Meanwhile, they share thesame views of their brothers but because of their daily bread,they will not say their actual position. The fact is that our Northern brothers are not happy and politicians representing the people should be honest enough to let Mr President know the truth even if it’s bitter, rather than pretend for self gain.”
He gave example of his sincerity and bravery during his working term with Former Governor of Delta State, how he advised that an Urhobo man should not succeed him, which further raised lots of dusk and made him an enemy of the Urhobo’s and even the Cabinet Nwoboshi was serving was dissolved. But today we have peace in Delta State. In his words, ” I supported Uduaghan, and became State Chairman of PDP. After Uduaghan , Okowa came and in this same Delta when okowa was leaving there was an attempt to disrupt that arrangement.
I came out again to tell the Urhobo’s that it is their turn to produce the Governor of Delta State.If the Urhobo’s give out that position then hold yourselves responsible.
And the same Urhobos who criticized me previously, started singing my praises. This brief illustration is to guild us to saying the truth at any material time.
Therefore Mr. president should listen to the complaints of the Northernstates and see our to resolve the issue.”
ON THE CONTROVERSY FACING THE CREATION OF ANIOMA STATE.: In his words again ” When people jump into things they do not know the genesis they fall apart. I had the privilege in 1979 serving under Chief Nosike Ikpu, the first leader of Anioma State creation movement andbwas championed by Chief Denis Osadebe of the Mid-West State. Not long he died, Senator Zik ikpu now emerged as Senator Representing Bendel North Senatorial District and so he was the Chairman and was his Personal Assistant. so I followed him round all the movement of creation of Anioma State”
He continued, ” The principle of the creation of Anioma state was the issue of identity and goodness of our people. But then, the issue that came was Ogbaru and others proposing to join us but our people rejected that idea. insisting Anioma State must constitute the nine Local Government that make up the Delta North.
He added, ” With all modesty I don’t want to call some names but some persons were pushing that we most accept the ogbaru people to join Anioma State but Arewa and others were saying otherwise. So the issue then was not whether creation of Anioma State was visible or if it should be created but the issue was if we are going to accept the Onitsha and Ogbaru people in creation of Anioma State.
That was the issue then, I was there” He continued ” The battle was on until Toga led National Assembly Committee visited all the areas that were agitating for state creation at Agbor Town hall and our people, led by Senator Ikpu, Orewa, leaders from Ndukwa to hear directly from them until the end of Second Republic. When I went to the Senate by the grace of God, having had the privilege to follow up the Anioma movement from the time of Chief Denis Osadebe, I knew that the concensus of our people is that it must be the nine Local Government Areas that constitute the Delta North should be Anioma State, so I went to sSenate to propose the bill of creation of Anioma State with these nine Local Government Areas without.any controversy or aguement; it was seamless and It went through first and second reading in the Senate and was shortlisted for approval because it was a concensus option.”
Furthermore, “to create a state is a Constitutional issue and for you to create a state you must amend that section of the Constitution and to amend it, you need two-third and that is the problem in the state creation..
When we got to that stage our brothers across where looking for their own state even North and West were all looking for their own State. So where do we start from, if you stop mine I stop yours everybody wants same goal. So, it is not a question of running round and making noise, it is a pure political issue and must be identified.
Therefore any body using State creation as a medium of decieving the people is wasting his time, we are too civilized because we know the constitional position.
You have to carry all the geopolitical zones along because it’s a Constitutional issue.
I advise people should focus on what they have been sent to do in the National Assembly and tell us what you have done within the period you have been there” . Nwoboshi further cleared , that there is no Local Government Area in Delta North his effect has not been felt
ON THE ISSUE OF POWER ROTATION ( ZONING) AND ITS EFFECT ON THE NEXT ELECTION IN 2027
Senator Peter Nwaoboshi explained ” I have been involved in the politics of Nigeria since 1978.
There are very few politician in this country that can say they are my seniors. If you want peace you will consider the feelings of others.
In 1999, I was a founding member of PDP. I may be a young man , I spoke for the Delta group . I joined the G.38 before PDP I spoke for them at the International Conference Center in Abuja .
When it was time to make a presentation to the INEC because of my relationship with Ahlaji Musa who was a member of the Electoral Commission,I spoke the intention my group. I am trying to tell you about my involvement with PDP. and when PDP was formed, I was there even when the first leaders were elected.
We also elected our own leaders at PTI Warri, I emerged as the State Secretary because that was what was zoned as there was amalgamation of other parties to form PDP. We sat down and zoned offices.
When we returned back to Delta North, we sat down and elected Osakwe of Blessed memory as our Senatorial candidate and he served for 12years. Though he wanted to serve more but we dialogue with him to step down that we have other blocks like Ndukwa, Oshimili Aniocha and it takes a statesman to listen to his people. He on his own even with his wealth and contacts stepped down for Okowa who served his four years despite the challenges he faced.
This is why I asked, do people still remember history?”
“After Uduaghan tenure, Delta North was next inline as a result of Priciples of Equity Justice and Fairplay in Delta State that we fought for. Despite the opposition he had, he knew I stood by him and he emerged the Governor. I was asked to go to the Senate and I did I served for eight years. Okowa also served his eight years as Governor.
” I tell people , if you shoot an arrow on a stone, the mouth of that arrow may never be useful again in life. hence the three blocks of what constitutes Delta North has done their eight years of what is there for them. Therefore, if I was in the Senate till now, it is morally wrong for me to be asked to go back to the Senate because I was one of those who told Chief Patrick Osakwe to step down after four years. As it stands now, it is the turn of the Ndokwa’s to produce the next Senate unless they do not have any capable person to do that.
If at all there is going to be a controversy, then is the Ika people that should run for Senate bearing in mind that their chances of Governorship might be over taking as it will become a contest between Ndokwa and Aniocha- Oshimili people.
Therefore Oshimili- Aniocha wanting to go to Senate is to jettison the initial agreement of Justice Fairplay and Equity.
ON THE DEVELOPMENTAL STRIDES OF THE GOVERNOR OF DELTA STATE
“In the area of developmental strides of the the present Governor of Delta State Sherif Oborevwori, I may not be in the position to say much about sheriff because I have not had time to observe much and won’t want to speak without facts. I have been indoors trying to fix myself, business and children. But I know Shieriff as a humble, fearless and respectful young man who does not fall for pressure.
I won’t run down someone because we are not of the same party. Some of us in APC today trace our roots from PDP.
ON THE RECONCILIATION COMMITTEE OF APC.
. ” It will be an understatement to say there is crisis in the party. I passed through political tutor ledge. I did not just jumped into politics. We should know what is right or wrong”.
