Sen. Thomas fumes over underdevelopment in Delta South

Sen. Joel-Onowakpo Thomas has expressed displeasure over the level of underdevelopment in the Delta South Senatorial District despite the volume of crude oil production in the district.

The senator, representing the district, made the remark on Tuesday in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta.

He spoke while delivering a keynote address during a “Strategic Leadership Retreat” organised for his legislative aides.

The lawmaker says his heart bleeds whenever he thinks about what Delta South contributes in terms of crude oil production and the level of deprivation the people are subjected to.

According to him, Delta South is among the largest producers of crude oil in the country yet languishing in underdevelopment.

“Whenever I think about what Delta South is contributing in terms of crude oil production and look at the deprivation that our people are subjected to, my heart bleeds.

“Delta South Senatorial District gives her all for this country, but successive governments have been largely unfair to us.

“There is hardly the presence of government in Delta South, and this is really alarming.

“The pollution we experience, the environmental degradation, the lack of infrastructure and human capital development; the little or no inclusivity in governance are all indicators showing how unfair governments have been to us for contributing so much,” he said.

The lawmaker, however, expressed confidence that the administration of President Bola Tinubu would change the narrative.

Thomas, while inaugurating his over 180 legislative aides, disclosed that a senator’s office was officially entitled to only five aides.

“However, I have gone a step further to make over 180 appointments simply to accommodate all interests and to ensure that the people of Delta South get the best from my representation.

“This is a huge burden on me, but I have no option than to accommodate our people until the government looks our way,” he said

The legislator, therefore, urged the aides to make good use of their offices to change their political fortune by working effectively to serve the people of Delta South.

Responding on behalf of the aides, the Senior Legislative Aide, Raymos Guanah, appreciated Thomas for allowing them to serve.

“We will work assiduously to justify the confidence reposed on us,” Guanah said.