MY dear Governor, Am often amazed why most aides to Nigerian leaders are allowed in the campaign trails. The definition of aides in this type of political arrangement, is somebody has won his way into an office and the resultant search for capable hands to assist him to deliver. But no Nigerian leader has ever treaded this path.

There is always a colony of political cronies. For example, my governor, all your press aides are people from your enclave. This is not the best policy in a state with over five outstanding ethnic groupings. When I raised this issue with someone close to you, his response was “these people worked for him.”

I gave him the example of ex-President George Bush (Jnr) of the United States of America (USA) who in his last two years in office appointed his worst critic. A man who never saw anything good in him and his policies as his press secretary. They achieved results because the man became committed as he saw the inside intricacies of rulership.

Former President Bill Clinton (also of USA) inherited Robert Gate (*sic) as US defense secretary, a known republican from George Bush (Snr). Since then till Barack Obama, it has become Democratic Party presidents tradition to give that portfolio to a Republican party affiliate in a country where political division even rivalry between party divide is fierce and keen.

Equally President Muhammadu Buhari missed the point of crossing line in Dr. Adewale Adesina esrtwhile minister of agriculture who was set on the threshold to transform Nigerian agriculture into modernity and the realm of canning, workable storage capability and massive export. Instead, he was traded off to AfDB for a higher personal profile though, but a loss to Nigerian agricultural development and growth.

Those who would say he is to oversee a continental body and a higher position to assist Nigeria should have a mental recollection of why that office had eluded Nigeria over the decades.

These analogies have been illustrated above because of the names above and my personal conviction as an observer from the political periphery as a journalist. I have no political affiliation but beliefs in political actors.

Based on this, the submissions are what I consider solid and what would be productive in an administration poised to go places. In a pluralistic state like Delta State, the question could be asked why this writer has taken on two people from the same ethnic group. These are people whom I have taken time to study; their works, writings and public utterances. I cannot write on past commissioners whom I observed compromising themselves with unionists or abusing contract awards.

I am kind of forced to write this seemingly rebuttal after reading a columnist description of the Veronica Ogbuagu era thus: “Dr. Veronica Ogbuagu who made a strong impact in her time was good only in the area of discipline but with no appreciable improvement in quality education in the public sector schools.” This is gross under estimation of all Veronica Ugbuagu did while she was commissioner for education in Delta State. One, considers how long she stayed in office. We are not talking of beautifying school buildings to crowd 40-50 pupils in a classroom.

When I suggested the solution of two teachers to a classroom to Professor Patrick Muoboghare as commissioner. His answer was deplorable and helpless when he said, “that will be two weeks on and two weeks off”.

This kind of helplessness was the root cause of this woman’s performance. She saw to sound teaching, inspection, punctuality and good behaviour of pupils and teachers. Here was a commissioner who paid unscheduled visits to schools, in instances locked out late comers both teachers and students inclusive. If you study in the US, this is one area where political and psychology authors refer to Governor David Ejoor of Mid West Region when he locked out civil servants in Benin City as a way of instilling discipline in most of their books then. Veronica Ugbuagu did not stop there, she entered the classrooms to inspect teachers lesson notes – the strongest weapon for any effective teaching.

She waged a relentless war against examination malpractices. She introduced a dress code for teachers in Delta State otherwise hitherto, teachers went to school with bathroom slippers, bubas, et al. Just recently, Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomhole introduced dress code for teachers in his state. She separated education from religion.

She stopped the practice of churches using schools for their services when it was first introduced for which many of the preachers came to praise her for the decision.

She reintroduced the practice of inter-house competitions in schools which many people describe as “catch them young ones.” But in fact, it goes beyond that because games and athletics are key factors in the teaching of leadership, keen rivalry, healthy living, et al in the young ones. It will be difficult to list all her achievement in a shared article but suffice to say that there is a nostalgia for her era amongst many teachers in the state.

Though she is longer in the PDP but for effectiveness across political line appointments are necessary. Am not even sure of her willingness because Chief Thompson Okpoko (SAN) turned down Ibrahim Kefa’s offer as attorney general and commissioner for justice in 1993. In fact, I have not met this woman a day but like late Dora Akinyuli –fair is fair. Delta State deserves the best.

The other person, Dr. Henry Ofa, I met when he launched his book: “The Unsung Legacy of Emmanuel Uduaghan” where he elaborated on the developmental strides of DESOPADEC in Ethiope West, Okpe and Sapele constituencies under his commissionership. Through for now there is a bill in the Delta State House of Assembly (DTHA) requesting the dissolution of the agency. But we are reassured that it may for more effects and to extend the area of beneficiaries, to be modelled on the federal government Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

My dear governor, I am in no way recommending anybody to you because I am not in a position to. Already there is a panoply of names in your file awaiting perusal. All I am doing as a journalist is a mere exposition of what I know about people in the abstract, that is, without any interactive sessions. For a man like Henry Ofa as DESOPADEC  insider, with the combination of intellectualism and productivity, writing two books on the area of his assignment awarded 155 contracts and commissioned 130 under three years is a feat in any clime and circumstance.

We have the human and natural resources and that is why the “Delta State beyond oil” slogan must be practicalised. During the campaign Obaisi Ovie Omo-Agege spoke severally of revamping moribund industries like Asaba Textile Mill, Asaba; Glass Industry, Ughelli; AT&P, Sapele and you talked about DSC, Ovwian-Aladja.

Forget DSC because it is a federal government project. Recently, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) announced recommendation for the ban of the importation of some 41 items including rice, toothpicks, canned food, private jets et al. The reality is that if agriculture is taken seriously, canned food production in the state is just a child’s play.

At AT&P, Sapele, the facilities for the production of toothpicks are already inbuilt only needing expertise for operation. There is the sand for the glass manufacture in the state and mere cotton purchase for Asaba Textile Mill to come on stream. These are vital areas that must be considered now if unemployment and real development are on the table.

Mr. Ben Etaghene, is the editorial director of The Bulletin, Sapele, Delta State.