The Igba of Warri, Chief Rita Lori-Ogbebor, returned a Christmas cow and other sundry gifts sent to her by Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan.
She explained in an open letter to Uduaghan that she could not accept the gifts due to the shoddy administrative efforts of the Uduaghan government in bringing the dividends of democracy to all the indigenes of Delta State.
The letter reads, “By now, you already know my stand on the way you run the administration of Delta State. I feel unhappy and depressed to see the state and Itsekiri land declining from the time you assumed office.
“I have spoken to you as a mother to a son. Itsekiri riverine areas are declining educationally and economically. The way our land is today shows no planning or foresight. There is no creation of jobs, neither is there adequate security of lives and property. For many years, there has been fighting and bloodletting in Escravos. In fact, things have got worse since you became governor.”
She added, “Yet, you have not used your position to bring peace to this very important Itsekiri town. Indeed, what we have are cases of Itsekiri sons killing one another. And you are also an Itsekiri. “Also, it is sad to know that when people are saying we have a governor as a son, a place like Ugborodo, which people know as the terminal for Nigerian oil, can boast of nothing but mud and water.
“There is no infrastructure, no houses, no roads, schools or hospitals.”
Rita Lori also lambasted the governor for taking over Okere land and beginning construction without any consultation or due process.
She said the Okere people had appealed to the governor to leave the place for them because they had no other land and they needed the land to build a cultural centre. “You caused the matter to be brought to my house in Lagos, where you discussed with Okere people and promised to leave the land for them. We all thanked you and even feasted.
“You left my house, but did exactly the opposite of what you had promised. Today, the Okere people have gone to court against your government. Where then lies the trust between you and the people who voted you into power?
“I was astonished to see you depositing a cow and other gifts in my compound in Warri, when your word to Itsekiri people has not been your bond. I, therefore, reject with all that is in me your gifts,” Rita Lori said.