By Tommy Anaduaka

MR Omordi George Ugbomah was a Commissioner for Environment and Works in Delta State. In this interview, he bares his mind on the proposed amendment bill by the Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa over the 2006 DESOPADEC Law. Excerpts:

Some chieftains and community leaders are reacting negatively to the proposed amendment bill by Governor Okowa to the 2006 DESOPADEC law, what is your take on this?

Having gone through the proposed amendment bill by Governor Okowa, I do not see anything wrong with the amendment. The amendment seeks to put a better structure of governance for the commission to enhance service delivery for which the commission is put in place. Suffice to say that the name proposed does not in anyway contradict the on-going geographical areas of competence of the commission (impacted areas occasioned by activities of oil and gas given international standard). Rather, it seeks to give a proper definition taking cognizance of the areas the commission has been dealing with.

George Ugbomah

The essential thing about the commission is how it should function to maximize funds allocated to it. Suffice to say that the issue of quantum and how it is derived in an on-going manner should be looked into and make available to all those concerned at any time. This will help to ensure equity and fairness in allocation of funds to all the ethnic nationalities that make up the commission.

What in your opinion, does the recent tussle in the National Assembly portend for our democracy?

First and foremost, it shows clearly the level of growth of our democratic practices. More so, as it relates to the legislature and the political parties in power, it shows lack of ideological orientation as can be seen clearly in the existence of our political parties. Thus, there is no fundamental distinction between the majority party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and other political parties.

What is now playing out is an attempt to resolve conflict of interests among the elites as represented in the National Assembly with all the political parties involved.

Typical examples are the emergence of the immediate past speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tambuwal and the present Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu. As long as our political parties exist without proper party discipline and enforcement, this kind of tussle will continue and our legislature will not come to an appreciable level of sophistication comparable with other legislatures in advanced polities.

On former President Goodluck Jonathan congratulating President Muhammadu   Buhari on his victory in the 2015 presidential polls

I strongly feel that, that singular disposition of former President Jonathan is simply a great mission accomplished by him.

Reflecting deeply on his political profile, particularly with his ascendancy to the presidency, I can simply say that God in his infinite mercy sent him to establish unprecedented standard and virtue of excellent practice in our collective endeavours of true democratization of our dear country, Nigeria.