By Victor Otigbu

Mrs. Omawumi Beatrice Udoh, a four-term member of the Delta State House of Assembly, representing Warri South 1, Constituency, in this interview said amid challenges Deltans have reasons to celebrate 25 years of the creation of the state.

As Deltans celebrate 25 years of the creation of the state, what is your assessment of the journey so far?

It’s heart warming to witness our state’s silver jubilee. I can tell you that we have much to celebrate despite the onerous challenges we continue to grapple with.

In Delta, we have much to look back on and great cause to give glory to God for how far we have come as a state. A quick look into history points to the fact that this state has been a major contributor to the success of the Nigerian project, a status of glory that can never be denied us. Right from the colonial era, what is presently Delta State remains the biggest contributor to the national cake among all the states presently existing today. Apart from our oil wealth, we have always contributed to the national purse through timber, rubber, oil palm, etc before the era of crude oil. We have always been more of a net producer than a net consumer and that is something worthy of positive pride on our part.

On the  challenges the state is facing in terms of development

There are always challenges to be met. You can be sure that a serious government like the present Governor Ifeanyi Okowa-led administration is committed to tackling them head-on. But we must always remain focused on the brighter side as an inspiration to further excel. If you undertake a detailed assessment of all the indices of development in Nigeria, Delta State is always among those at the top. This is a state of achievement and achievers. In any area of human endeavour we are there to be counted and recognized not just among those who participated but among those who truly excelled.

How would you assess the independence of the Delta State House of Assembly?

Contrary to ill-informed comments out there, this is certainly one of the most independent if not the most independent House of Assembly in the country. The facts incontrovertibly indicate that we are not by any means a rubberstamp to the executive arm.

If you recall, contrary to expectations, we once historically overturned an executive veto with regards to the prescription of the death penalty for kidnapping in last dispensation. With regards to all the bills so far passed and undergoing legislation in the hallow chamber, what we are witnessing is an absolutely free legislature partnering with a non-interfering executive arm to deliver the dividends of democracy in this state. Once again, I must celebrate Governor Okowa for demonstrating his democratic disposition as exemplified by his commendable non-interference in the entire process.

You were a member of the 3rd , 4th  and 5th Assembly. Now you have been returned as member of the present 6th Assembly, and is chairman, House Committee on Commerce and Industry. What is the secret behind your political success?

I would rather not describe anything that happens in my life on physical terms. At the end of the day, we are all under the protection of God Almighty. The Lord has been my strength and will continue to be. My grassroots appeal, after all is a product of God’s grace and the empathy I exhibit whenever my people are in distress. What I can say I have learned from the flood of blessings the Lord Jesus has showered on me is to thank Him by giving back to the society. The servant-leader relationship between I and my constituents best exemplified what is noble and endearing about my person.

I have tirelessly used my privileged position to empower those in my sphere of contact and allow their long-nursed hopes and dreams to become reality.

Having sponsored an impressive array of Bills including Delta State Waste Management Bill, Delta State Ecology Bill, Delta State Sickle Cell Bill, Delta State Micro-Finance Bill as well as Delta State Estate Regulatory Authority Bill, my productivity in the area of legislative representation remains both astounding and creative.