States not aligned with ruling party miss out on key appointments, federal benefits, says Delta commissioner

Charles Aniagwu, the commissioner for information in Delta, says states that are not aligned with the ruling party at the federal level are often excluded from key appointments and benefits.

Aniagwu spoke on Tuesday during an interview on News Central, following the defection of Sheriff Oborevwori, governor of Delta, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The commissioner noted that being in the same political party as the president by any state government enhances access to the presidency and federal influence.

“The moment you are on the same platform with the president everywhere in the world, even in the United States, there is a tendency that you are going to have more opportunity to meet with the president and meet with the presidency, connect with those at the centre,” he said.

He noted that federal ministers and board members are typically appointed from the ruling party, limiting opportunities for states governed by the opposition.

“When ministers were being appointed, of course, you know how they were appointed,” he said.

“They are largely from members of the same political party.

“When different boards are being constituted, they are usually constituted from members of the same political party.”

Aniagwu said states not at the “table” where federal resources are shared are not likely to benefit as much as those in the ruling party.

“So when you are not in that environment, that table where some of those federal resources are being distributed, whether you like it or not, there is the tendency that you are not going to benefit as much as those who are on the same platform, more or less seen as brothers, politically speaking,” he said.

“And so, I don’t want to believe that that is something of contest, that if you are on the same platform with the federal authorities, you are likely going to benefit more.”

He said Delta is interested in such alignment because of its contribution to the national economy.

“We are interested in that. Because today, Delta contributes much more than any other state to the federal purse,” he said.

“And I know you understand why that is so, being the number one oil-producing state in our country.”

Aniagwu also warned against judicial upsets similar to the 2020 Bayelsa incident, when the supreme court overturned the election of David Lyon.

“You also recall what happened even in Bayelsa, sometimes about six years ago, when David Lyon won the election, but because of what was seen as a comma in the names of the deputy, just less than few hours to the inauguration, the supreme court made his pronouncement and that was what paved way for Governor Duoye Diri to become the governor of Bayelsa,” he said.

“You do know that today he’s described as the miracle governor. We don’t want such kind of miracle to happen in Delta.”

He said the objective is not just to win elections, but to remain in power and continue delivering on promises.

“We want to win and also to be able to be in power and continue to deliver on the dividends and the promises we have made to our people,” he said.

“We’re talking politics here. And that is what we’re playing.”

On April 23, Oborevwori and other PDP bigwigs in Delta state, defected to the APC.

On Sunday, Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation and aerospace development, announced that the APC structure in Delta is now fully under Oborevwori’s control.