The Deputy Governor of Delta State, Sir Monday Onyeme, Ph.D., has said that no Nigerian is a second-class citizen in the country.
He made the statement on Monday when the leadership of the City Boy Movement in Delta State paid him a courtesy call in Asaba.
According to him, some people in the northern part of Nigeria believe that they are “more Nigerian” than Southerners, noting that such a belief is wrong.
Sir Onyeme said, “As a matter of survival, all Nigerians should vote for President Bola Tinubu.
”In Delta State, political offices are rotated and we know the benefits of such an arrangement; the same thing should be applied nationally in Nigeria.
“The North did eight years, so, the South should do eight years.
”I must confess that I did not know that within such a short period after its formation, the City Boy Movement would become so politically enlightened and knowledgeable that you could figure out that some people in the North are using insecurity as a political weapon.
”From what I have heard this afternoon, it is clear that you understand the realities of our political environment, that insecurity is being weaponised politically.
“Some people have always believed that they own this country and that every other person is a second-class citizen.
”That mindset is wrong, and we should collectively condemn such a notion as a people; we should make it clear that Nigeria belongs to all of us.
“It is unfortunate that whenever leadership shifts away from their region to the South, we often see all kinds of political manoeuvres.
”For eight years, former President Muhammadu Buhari was leading us and insecurity was rampant, yet many people, especially those in the North, remained silent; but today, after less than three years, some people are calling for the removal of a President who has brought significant reforms and positive changes to the country.
”President Bola Ahmed Tinubu introduced reforms that previous administrations were afraid to implement, and today, those reforms are beginning to yield results. Local governments now have greater capacity to execute projects.
”Local Government Councils can build markets, roads, and execute major infrastructure projects, these developments are possible because of the vision and courage of President Tinubu.
”Yet, some people want to remove him and return the country to an era of uncertainty and hopelessness.
“Our Governor boldly says everywhere he goes that contractors can complete projects and receive payment without unnecessary delays because of the reforms introduced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
”Many of us are praying that these reforms continue because we believe that if President Tinubu secures a second term, there are many more transformative policies he intends to implement for the benefit of this country.
”Some of these policies may be difficult in the short term, but they are necessary for the long-term survival and progress of Nigeria.
”As a matter of political survival and fairness, we must support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second term.
”Between 1999 and 2007, Delta Central produced the Governor; from 2007 to 2015, Delta South produced the Governor. Naturally, many of us believed it was the turn of Delta North, unfortunately, some people who were not committed to the collective interest of Delta State wanted to stop that arrangement and take power back; that was what brought some of us into active politics.
”At the time, I was living in Lagos and was not deeply involved in politics, however, because of my sense of patriotism and fairness, I began coming home regularly to educate people and mobilize support for the principle of rotation.
”Today, that principle has worked and brought peace to our state; we have collectively agreed that power rotation promotes unity, fairness, and stability.
”The same principle should apply at the national level; the North had its turn; the South should complete its own turn; we must not allow anyone to truncate that arrangement.
”I thank you once again for your commitment, we will work with you so that together we can achieve our objectives.
”What you are doing in Delta State can become a model for other states across the federation.
”Thank you for recognizing me as an Ambassador of your movement; I deeply appreciate the honour.”
Hon. Innocent Ezewezie, Delta State Coordinator of the City Boy Movement, had told the Deputy Governor and members of the state Executive Council who witnessed the courtesy call that the socio-political organization was formed to drum up support for the re-election of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and President Bola Tinubu.
He decried the situation where Northerners are using insecurity to campaign against the re-election of President Tinubu, noting that such a gimmick was used against former President Goodluck Jonathan and would not be acceptable against President Bola Tinubu.
He emphasized that, “the Northerners believe that Nigeria belongs to them and they decide who will be President and how long the person should serve as President, which is not acceptable to us.
”We are carrying out an enlightenment campaign in all the communities in our state, the wards, and local government areas.”
Highpoint of the visit was the decoration of Deputy Governor Monday Onyeme as the number one Ambassador of City Boy Movement in Delta State.
