By Wale Akinola

Comrade Monday Agbeyi is the Secretary of Delta State Chapter of Niger Delta Youth Movement (NDYM), comprising of the Ijaw, Itsekiri  Urhobo, Isoko and Ndowa ethnic nationality youths. He is also the National Chairman of Abigborodo Youths. In this interview, Agbayi speaks  on the  anticipated return to Nigeria of former Governor James Ibori of Delta State, the role of immediate past Governor  Emmanuel Uduaghan in the polity, as  well as the performance of  incumbent  Governor Ifeanyi Okowa. He also speaks on  DESOPADEC, developmental projects in Delta  since the creation of the state in 1991, militancy and ethnic issues in the Niger Delta  among  other  issues.

Former Governor James Ibori has continued to be relevant in Delta  politics nine years after his tenure. What do you think is responsible for this?

There is no way the name  can be written off in Delta  politics. He made positive impact on the development of state  while his tenure lasted. He left his footprints in the sands of time.

Naturally, any leader that made indelible marks and achieved greatness  while in the service of the people will remain constant and unforgettable in the minds of the people. In this instance, Ibori is ranked high by the people of Delta and will continue to be recognized for his giant strides in the political development of the

state. For this reason, his political relevance will remain in the front burner at all times among his people and Nigerian politics generally. In the civil service, he employed half the civil servants serving today in Delta.

Still on Chief James Ibori, what is your take on the controversy  surrounding his trial in the United Kingdom?

In the nation today, it is my belief that there is no one  that has served as governor or  in any political position that has 100%  clean record. James Ibori may have his own miscalculations as a mortal being, but it must be stated here that some of the allegations that  put the former governor in this judicial crisis are as a result of the  failure or deliberate act of some persons who served under him to keep  proper records of projects executed and other day-to-day running of  the state for selfish reasons. Generally, I don’t believe he embezzled money as claimed by the court following, fake evidence presented by  security agents over there.

Though, Ibori cannot be said to be  a  saint like any other human being, the allegations against him, in my estimation, were blown out of proportion to score cheap political goals  against him, but I know that, in no distant time, he will be released  to take his rightful position in Delta.

Comrade Monday Agbeyi

What role do you envisage for his  in Delta when he returns?

Ibori will definitely assume the role of a political father  figure to his political apostles on the way forward for the  betterment of the state and Nigeria at large. He will surely join  other prominent politicians nationally to bring about  the desirable  progress to the political landscape of the country. As a matter of fact, the history of Delta will not be complete without Ibori’s  name in view of his contributions to the development of the state.

The immediate past governor of  the state, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan,  succeeded Ibori. How  did  Uduaghan build  on Ibori legacies?

First and foremost, former Governor Uduaghan built on one of the  greatest legacies of Ibori by his building of bridges of unity among the people. During the administrations of the both of them, there was relative peace in the  state, especially among the various communities and ethnic divides.

The issue of ethnic mistrust became history and all ethnic issues were handled without sentiment.

In the state today, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa is on seat. What do you  think are his achievements since his assumption of office?

Governor Okowa is not new in Delta politics.

He has been part and parcel of the administration of the state since 1999. He is not new to Ex-Governors Ibori and Uduaghan and vice-versa. It could be said that Okowa is building on the

legacies of his predecessors. For this, Okowa has been performing as  expected in all areas, just like a winning team in the game of football. This is continuity of progress and socio-economic development in the state. This could be likened to what is happening  in Lagos  since the era of Governor Bola Tinubu in 1999 to that of Governor Raji Fashola and down to Governor Akinwumi Ambode today.

Lagos has continued to wax stronger due to the simple fact that the leadership of the state has remained on the same page of  development without  distortion, In Delta, this is paying off too.

But some members of the opposition are of the view that Governor  Okowa is not performing.

Criticism is not new in politics. Even Ibori was  criticized while in office but when he left office, the same  critics started singing his praise. Same was done to  Uduaghan and his praise was later sang by the same group of people, so  I believe that the same people who are criticizing Okowa  today will sing his praise tomorrow. Infact, criticism to me is a  tonic for any leader to achieve more for his people. The governor is  not expecting praises now as this will distract him from his mission.

Praises will surely come after work.

Can you say that Delta has developed in line with the vision of its founding fathers?

Yes, to a reasonable extent.   Naturally, everybody wants the best but  when the best is not fully seen, people will complain, but I am sure  that the state has moved forward. For example, before 1999, Ubeji was not as developed as it is today in terms of roads and other infrastructure. Before 1999, Omadino, Bomadi, Abigborodo and Ase  cannot be assessed but bridges have been built by successive  governments and, as such, these place can now be assessed by road.

In the areas of education, health, security etc., things have looked  up beyond what they used to be before the creation of the state. There  is still room for development, and the leaders in the state are not  resting on their oars to achieve more.

As a word of advice, how should the different ethnic groups in state  collaborate to sustain peace?

We must see ourselves as one, no discrimination, no sentiment. Anyone  who is leading should be righteous and truthful. Development should be  spread to all the 25 local government areas evenly. We should not be biased in our judgments on issues concerning the overall interest of the  people and state. The ethnic leaders must be mindful of their  utterances so as to avoid confrontations and seek peaceful and legal  means to settle disputes. These are panacea for peaceful co-existence  anywhere   and Delta should not be an exception.

Do you think that DESOPADEC has met the purpose for which it was established?

It is not by establishing DESOPADEC and other interventionist bodies  or ministries that will bring about solution to the Niger Delta  problems, but the will-power of those in charge of the body to  actualize the expectations of the people. When NDDC for example was  established, the people thought we had arrived but, today, th commission has done very little. The recurrent expenditure is even  higher than the capital expenditure. Too much of recurrent  expenditure in NDDC outweigh capital projects and that stunts the growth   of the Niger Delta. DESOPADEC is not different in this regard.

To me, the body is not meeting its purpose as it were.

You recently marked your birthday. Looking back into your life and your position as a politician and youth mobiliser, what are your plans for the future?

First and foremost: I thank God for sparing my life, up to this moment. Many of my mates are dead while many others are in unpleasant situations today. It is by luck that I am around in good health and the blessings of God. Coming to your question, only God knows what the future has in stock. But, as humans, we have certain things we propose for ourselves.

As a matter of fact, service to my people has been one of my top priorities for the nearest future. It is my aspiration to make a positive impact in the socio-economic lives of the people of Delta someday.

What do you suggest as the way forward for the growth of the region as a whole?

I want to suggest that we need roads to connect oil producing  communities for the progress of trade and other economic benefits. Provision of electricity that is lacking in most of the communities is  imperative too. If the government can lay pipelines from Excravos to  Warri, they can equally construct roads from there. All they are doing is just to siphon Niger Delta wealth and leave them underdeveloped.

This is not right. Youths should be empowered to be self-reliant as  well.

What is your advice on renewed militancy in the Niger Delta?

Peace  comes with the absence of injustice. You cannot get peace when there is  injustice. We should stop deceiving ourselves. What we need is  development; roads should be tarred to all oil producing communities.

When all these are done, hostility will come down. In all these, my  appeal goes to the youths of the region to allow peace to reign and  allow the leaders to resolve issues amicably with government. No development can be achieved in the atmosphere of crisis and militancy.

The Federal Government too should be sincere in their dealings and  agreements with the leaders of the region so as to put injustice and  mistrust away. With this, the region and nation will enjoy economic and political peace required for development.

Generally, how do you see the state of the nation today?

Nigeria as a country is not working the way it supposed to be. Nigeria needs to be restructured; there should be devolution of power to the states and local government areas. The current federal allocation should be reviewed so that more funds can be allocated to  states and local government areas for  commensurate development in those areas. If the present structure is allowed to continue, the nation will just be moving round in a circle as far as development and  growth is concerned.