By Paul Deeyah
Industrialization remains the only panacea for meaningful development of any society. Lack of it breeds joblessness which inturn is responsible for idleness. Idleness incidentally is responsible for the commission of all kinds of atrocious and criminal acts, such as kidnappings, armed robbery, cultism , gangsterism, among other criminal tendencies which is rampant in our society today.
This aptly explains why the saying that an idle mind is a devil’s workshop can never be far from the simple truth. Without providing the right environment for youths and other groups to engage in productive activities, crime and criminality would continue to be on the rise. In view of the foregoing, it is pertinent for every right thinking government to include industrialization in its policy focus and direction.
An unindustrialized society is an undeveloped society. Hence, purposeful and forward looking nations and sub nations have always taken steps to engender economic prosperity through the promotion of the right environment for the growth of industries. For example, time was in Rivers State when the Trans Amadi area of Port Harcourt used to be a beehive of industrial activities, so much so that the area was tagged an industrial zone.
The multiplier effect was very well felt in the standard of living of the people as employment opportunities were in abundance in the state. Rivers economy witnessed a boom and criminality was near absence. Rivers State was host to foreign nationals who established various kinds of industries here. There was nothing like unemployment because industries were ready to provide employment for young school leavers in their establishments.
There was development boom in the state because most people were able to build good houses, drive good cars, feed and train their children and wards without stress as against what the case is today in the country.Industries such as Risonpalm, West African Glass industry, Michelin, Pabod industry, Schlumberger, West African Oil Services, Rivers Vegetables oil company, to name but a few of them were everywhere in Trans Amadi.
Today many of such industries have either folded up or have become moribund due to the current economic realities.This is why we salute the wisdom exhibited by the PDP Governorship candidate, Siminialayi Fubara when he promised to make Ogoni an industrial hub in his development Blueprint.
Recall that Sim Fubara had during his campaign in Gokana in the Ogoni area of Rivers State while reeling out his Manifesto for the people of Gokana, promised to industrialize Ogoni land if voted into office as Governor of the State in the March 11 Gubernatorial election.
This promise which is far devoid of political rhetorics speaks volumes of his uncommon commitment and interest in the development of Ogoniland. Sim knows too well that the Ogonis and the Ibanis are good neighbors and brothers, hence his desires to bring development to Ogoniland. He knows that such gesture would ultimately benefit his kinsmen who shares a lot in common with the Ogonis.Sim Fubara desires to end the era of lack of industry in Ogoni.
He seeks to end joblessness which is responsible for idleness. Sim Fubara is determined to end the era of crimes and criminality, including kidnappings, armed robbery, cultism, among others which the Ogonis desperately want to see an end to it in their land. Ogoniland is indeed blessed with natural resources including land and rivers, thus making it suitable for both land and marine industries.
We need to support this friend of the Ogonis with our votes for the realization of this promise.It is on this premise that it behoves on all positive and forward thinking Ogoni people to vote massively for Siminialayi Fubara to become the next Governor of Rivers State so as to benefit from his industrialization agenda which will consequently end insecurity and underdevelopment in the land .
Paul Deeyah, a member of Rivers Sim Movement, writes from Port Harcourt.
