IT is very easy to be a critic. Also, not difficult to find a band of followers when you are a critic. When you crave relevance, simply pitch tent with the opposition as a critic and you can be assured of being treated as a celebrity. 'What is the government doing'', 'Does this governor know what he is doing'', 'Who are the advisers'' and 'Are they expecting us to endure this rubbish'' are some of the catch phrases you must learn how to deploy once you set out to be a critic.And at a time like this, a time when family, friends and well-wishers of the Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, are likely to roll out the drums, probably seek to out do themselves in celebration of his birthday, it is to be expected that critics and the so- called opposition would be poised to play the spoiler. Of interest to them would be the role of perceived sycophants, likely amount spent on the celebration(s), and at what cost. The most important question that would be asked is rather predictable: 'What has the governor done to deserve this jamboree''Of course, there is no doubt that talk is cheap. And for the critic and the so-called opposition, the swan song has predictably resulted almost in a cracked record. I don't see them changing strategy at this stage. Perhaps, they don't need to, given the fact that without an alternative voice, governments tend to relapse into avoidable inertia.Unfortunately, the impression would be created that government funded the celebrations. Either so or those celebrating are direct beneficiaries of government's largesse. 'So what about the huge crowd that would turn out'' one may ask and the quick reply is that they were definitely hired to give a semblance of acceptance. It is a predictable refrain.For critics in Delta State, the measure of achievement is confined to a discourse on physical structures and public infrastructure. How many roads have been built by the Uduaghan administration' How many new schools built and old ones renovated' Are there massive bridges being constructed' How many transformers have been procured and distributed to communities' What of industries' A tragic reflection of our limited perception of what development is all about in this part of the world.It is no wonder that so much money and funfair accompany the commissioning of projects by our chief executives. And some of them have indeed elevated the weird practice to the level of the obscene, such that they are on live television to celebrate so- called 'Festival of Projects' every other week. A clear descent into the mundane.But it is to the seeming 'intangibles' of the Uduaghan administration that I avert my mind to as Deltans devote tomorrow to celebrate the governor's birthday. I am talking of the innocuous, easily forgotten initiatives and temperament of a man whose tenure has made the state more united, peaceful and irrevocably hoisted on a path of identifiable progress and development. I do so conscious of the fact that this is the best way to explain the relentless love and commitment of majority of the people to the three-point agenda of the administration. It is the same reason for which Uduaghan seems to have triumphed above his traducers.Indeed, one must ask why the governor has consistently won elections, even when all odds are staked against him' Is it a case of a cat with nine lives, or simply because the man has mastered how to win elections' Why is the opposition unable to displace him even after enlisting conspiracies at the highest level' Why has he become an enigma even to his accusers'Given the fact that there is no controversy as to the circumstance of his taking over the helm of affairs, it is appropriate at this stage to recall that Uduaghan took over the reins of administration against the backdrop of insecurity and threat to lives and properties, particularly in Asaba, the state capital and Warri the oil city. Armed robbery, hostage taking, assassinations and unbridled ethnic rivalry were the order of the day. Life could be said to be worthless than a farthing as one could get killed for the flimsiest of reasons. This was compounded by the larger than life role of so-called militants, with the largest militant camp located in Delta State.Conscious of people's expectations, the governor within hours of being sworn-in, promptly inaugurated the Delta Waterways Security and Monitoring Committee, resulting in the release of 23 Philipinos abducted and kept in militant camps before he took over. He thereafter unleashed a regime of political engagement that also saw a drastic reduction in militancy to the barest minimum, following this up by advocating that the Federal Government should offer amnesty to the aggrieved youths in the creeks as a way of restoring total peace to the Niger Delta.The initiative of the government in providing street lights in major towns and cities has further cut down crime, such that other states contiguous to Delta record higher rate of crime. Whereas kidnapping, robbery, car snatching and political assassinations are rampant in neighbouring states, the reverse is the case since the advent of the street lights, apart from serving to beautify the towns and cities. Asaba and Warri in particular, have witnessed an unusual influx of migrants as direct consequence.Tomorrow, as the drums beat and horns blare, the most noise would not come from the contractors seeking to arm twist government to return to the old order of doing business as usual,' neither will it come from those expecting the governor to outrightly 'share the money', which he has bluntly turned down. It may well be that some government officials may be at the forefront of the celebrations. But Dr.Uduaghan would wish that those who have benefited from the so-called intangibles or seeming inanities are those who walk the streets and shout for joy in appreciation of what he has done for them. And why not' After all, they belong to the majority that voted him into office.As for the critics and the opposition, I dare them to deny these 'intangibles'. Definitely, the creeks affirm, the urban centres resonate and our mothers, wives and children attest to the reality of these inanities. No birthday gift can be most apt.Ofou is Press Secretary to the Delta State governor.
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