Eshanakpe Israel, a.k.a Akpodoro, is a former Niger Delta militant and now an influential leader within the Urhobo nation. Akpodoro, who holds the honorary title of the mayor of Urhoboland, has been in the forefront of the campaign for peace and disarmament in Niger Delta. In this interview, he speaks on the politics of Delta State, the Federal Governments Amnesty Programme, and performance of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
How do you rate the present administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu?
He’s doing exceedingly well and he’s the one Nigeria needs at this time of our national life. We can see through his ministerial list his love for the government of national unity and competence. His appointment runs through the entire broad spectrum of Nigeria. You can see that no section is complaining about his appointment due to all-inclusiveness. He is our president and we owe him our support just like owe Governor Oborevwori of Delta State.
His decision to remove petroleum subsidy without proper planning has been criticized. What is your comment on this?
The removal of petroleum subsidy is the best to happen to our nation since its creation. Floating the naira was also a good thing this government has embarked upon and we visibly can see that those who fleece the nation to her bone marrow are lamenting and inciting the public. You complain about the dollar as if you need it to buy garri. What I know is that President Tinubu won’t fund corruption like what we witnessed under the eight years of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
First and foremost, the Federal Government should bring back the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to its old self and it should be strictly under the supervision of the president to forestall corruption and to build a formidable institution; its entire old staff should be redeployed to other ministries. President Tinubu should also appoint a chief executive; the idea of appointing interim managers is not the best. The previous administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari turned the regional agency into a mere cash cow for politicians and their allies to feast on. Former President Buhari deliberately killed that commission. He appointed fainting executives who fleeced the commission to its bone marrow; we don’t need that again.
President Tinubu is the first progressive to rule our country and he knows best what is good for us as a people. He is knowledgeable and he understands the problems bedevilling the country and the solutions to such problems. He also needs to engender an agricultural revolution, increase funding for education, initiate capacity building for the youths, create jobs and build a nation we all can be proud to call our own. It behoves the citizens to support him to move the country forward. This government should build more seaports in the Southeast and the Niger Delta region to widen our maritime industry. Security is the ultimate; he should crush criminals to protect law-abiding citizens.
Without prejudice to the cases at the tribunal, how do rate his performance during the just concluded election?
Former Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar and others are just wasting their time. President Tinubu defeated them at the polls and there’s no amount of campaign of calumny against the winner of the February 25, 2023 presidential election will succeed. They are jokers and bad losers. Nigerians have rejected them at the polls and if they run that election a million times, President Tinubu will defeat them with a wider margin.
I expect him to provide service to humanity; serve the people of Delta State with honesty and develop the state. I also expect him to return Warri to the commercial hub of the Niger Delta region, which it used to be. There are also expectations that his administration will engender massive human and material development and generate light for Delta’s economy to buoy, as well as create jobs for the productive population and put social security in place for senior citizens. Oborevwori can open up Delta State to the world. He should also remove idle youths from the streets through job creation, which will also stem insecurity. Deltans will remember former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for giving us Governor Oborevwori.
What is your assessment of the performance of Oborevwori in the office so far?
In terms of service delivery to the people, I think Governor Sheriff Oborevwhori is doing well so far. The consensus is that he is leading well and that he is the best among those who contested the last governorship election.
But, his electoral victory is still being challenged at the tribunal by the opposition parties…
They are only engaging in frivolities; nobody can sack Governor Oborevwori because he won the election, fairly and credibly. What the opposition elements are doing is just playing to the gallery. Governor Oborevwori is the man we voted for. Members of the opposition are only trying but they will fail woefully; evidence points to this direction. They should sheath their sword and join hands with the governor to work for the progress of the state.
You appear to be supporting candidates across party lines. Why is this so?
My support is for personalities and not political parties. I identify my candidates with track records of achievements, their capacity, competence, and statesmanship ability to foster peace in their respective constituencies. Governor Oborevwori is tested and trusted; he has the large heart to lead Delta State to greater heights and he has started doing. We don’t need clannish leaders in our state; we don’t need kleptomaniacs and those with damaged integrity to rule us.
As a beneficiary of the Presidential Amnesty, how do you rate the current management of that office?
The management of the Amnesty Programme is doing its best but Col. Barry Ndiomu has to up his game. We are not feeling the impact as we ought to. If the government deems it fit to appoint any other person it should be from the ranks of ex-militant leaders and it should be most preferably from the Urhobo nation. Appointing a substantive Senior Adviser to the President and Coordinator of the Amnesty Programme should be from Urhobo nation.
To what extent has the Amnesty Programme ushered in peace in the Niger Delta?
There’s fragile peace for now and we want the government to do more to entrench peace to make it sustainable. There are no more agitations for now but we want the government to take our people more seriously in its development drive. Stakeholders should be carried along in youth development. Those factors that necessitated armed strife are still there in the region. Gas flaring, pollution, gross underdevelopment, and marginalisation are still major issues.
As a stakeholder in the Niger Delta region, how do you rate the oil surveillance contract awarded to a former militant, particularly as it concerns its role in taming oil theft?
The best decision taken by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is to cede the security of the pipelines to a private firm. We all are witnesses to the humongous achievements of the company since taking over the security of our national assists. Oil thieves are receiving the heat in no small measure. If you ask me to advise this government, I will suggest the widening of the scope of the contract awarded to Chief Government Ekpemukpolo a.k.a Tomopolo to cover up to Rivers State and other states yet uncovered.
What is your role as a Mayor within the Urhobo nation?
My role includes but is not limited to interfacing with the government on behalf of my people, fostering enduring peace and unity among my Urhobo nation, being a gadfly to the youth population and attracting goodwill to my people.
How did acquire the title of the Mayor of Urhoboland?
I got it by dint of hard work, sincerity and service to my people; coupled with excellent representation of my Urhobo nation, my constituency, the ex-militants and the entire people of Delta State. The title was conferred on me last year by the Federated Union of Gbaregolor Autonomous Community in Ughelli South Local Government Area, led by the Okapko Orere Efemeni on behalf of the entire Urhobo nation in recognition of my leadership role.
But, your stool is yet to be recognised by the state…
That is left for those who elected me their Mayor. But, in all honesty, they are trying their best to get the stamp of approval of the government for it. It’s not a stool in contention so, at the right time Governor Oborevwori will throw his weight behind it.
