Let me begin by making one thing absolutely clear: Senator Ned Nwoko’s criticism of the Delta State Government is not rooted in selfish ambition, ethnic bias, or regional rivalry. It is born from a place of responsibility, integrity, and an unshakable commitment to the welfare of the Anioma people and the progress of Delta State at large. In properly governed societies, checks and balances are not acts of rebellion—they are the soul of democracy.
To quote Thomas Jefferson: “When the people fear the government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.”
The role of Senator Ned Nwoko and his supporters has been consistent: to ask the hard questions, to demand transparency, and to ensure that public funds are directed towards projects that benefit the greatest number of people, not the loudest voices of political patronage.
1. On the False Equivalence Between the Flyover and Power Plant – Chief Idenuwa compares the Urhomi flyover and a federal electricity project, dismissing any form of comparison as “chalk and cheese.”
What he fails to grasp is that the call for critical infrastructure, like the power plant, is not about similarity—but about prioritization and equity.Electricity is not a luxury—it is a necessity. As of today, many communities in Delta North still live in darkness, businesses are shutting down due to poor power supply, and hospitals operate on generators. These are not abstract complaints; they are lived realities.
So, while no one opposes road safety or the construction of a flyover, it is not intellectual dishonesty to ask why certain zones perpetually benefit more from state resources while others are treated as an afterthought.
2. On Geography and Identity Confusion – Chief Idenuwa descends into a predictable and tired argument—dragging in geopolitical zones and accusing others of trying to “run to the South-East.” Let it be known: Anioma is in Delta North, and Delta North is in Nigeria. The struggle for Anioma State is not an ethnic flight—it is a constitutional right.Our identity is not negotiable. We are Igbo-speaking people with a shared cultural heritage, and we do not need anyone’s permission to embrace it. If the South-East has five states and creating Anioma makes it six, then that’s not conspiracy—it is equity. The River Niger does not divide our loyalty to Nigeria; it merely defines our geography.
3. On Project Urgency and Public Good – Chief Idenuwa asks whether the flyover or power project is more urgent. The answer is simple: both are urgent, but urgency must be balanced with inclusivity. The Urhomi junction affects many; true. But what about the thousands of children studying by candlelight in Onicha-Ugbo, Issele-Uku, Igbodo, and Idumuje-Ugboko?
What about the lives lost due to power outages in rural clinics?Governance is not about political proximity. It is about even development, not development for the favored few. Senator Ned Nwoko is not against flyovers—he is against favoritism masked as strategy.
4. On Accusations of Political Motive and Division – Chief Idenuwa labels Senator Nwoko’s supporters as “campaigners of calumny.” This is not only wrong—it is laughable. Most of these individuals are professionals, youth leaders, business owners, and community advocates who are tired of silence in the face of mismanagement. They are watchdogs, not political jobbers.The real political jobbers are those who treat contracts, appointments, and praise-singing as economic survival tools.
As Martin Luther King Jr. wisely said: “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”
Senator Ned Nwoko and those who support his voice of reason have refused to remain silent—and that courage is what Delta State needs more of, not less.
5. On the Alleged “Tension” and Electricity Supply in Asaba – Chief Idenuwa subtly alludes to some individuals allegedly benefiting from electricity supply in Asaba, as if that invalidates the broader criticism of uneven development. This is a misdirection. The real issue is the state’s selective development culture, where areas aligned politically get accelerated attention while others are ignored or placated with words.
Conclusion: Criticism Is Not Hatred—It Is Patriotism
Let it be recorded that Senator Ned Nwoko’s voice is not one of hatred, but of hope—hope for a Delta State where no community feels like a second-class citizen, and no criticism is dismissed as rebellion.Chief Idenuwa, your call for peace is welcome. But peace without truth is oppression. Unity without justice is hypocrisy. If your loyalty to Delta State means attacking those who speak out against injustice, then your loyalty is misplaced.
We stand for Anioma. We stand for fairness. We stand with Senator Ned Nwoko—not because of who he is, but because of what he stands for: equity, accountability, and a future that includes all of us.
By Justus Okoh Esq.
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