Why The Delta Capital Should Be Moved To Warri

THE MOVEMENT OF TRUTH – ON THE RELOCATION OF THE STATE CAPITAL  FROM ASABA TO WARRI
June 19, 2019

President Muhammadu Buhari,
Office of the President of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria,
Aso Rock Villa,
Asokoro District
Abuja.

Dear Sir,
THE MOVEMENT OF TRUTH – ON THE RELOCATION OF THE STATE CAPITAL FROM 
ASABA TO WARRI

Few days ago, I wrote a piece on the justification for the relocation of 
the Delta State capital from Asaba to Warri, which is the rightful place 
for the State’s capital. And since then, some of my friends have been 
saying that it is a difficult and impossible mission because it has been 
a long time the State was created with that capital. While others are of 
the view that events have overtaken the said relocation, and that it is 
a sensitive issue that can be likened to flogging a dead horse.

Well, I beg to differ. And I totally disagree with all of the above 
statements and responses on this issue. This is hinged on the fact that 
we cannot shy away from the Truth about this issue that is staring at us 
in the face. That truth, is the undeniable fact that the Two Provinces 
in Nigeria’s pre-independence days, which were in the Midwest region and were created from Western region, were the Benin and Warri Provinces. 
Then Midwest became Edo and Delta. And the entire Delta Province of 
today, was named after Warri Province with its colonial headquarters in 
Warri. But with the creation of Delta State, the Warri Province was 
short-changed with Asaba, which was not part of the Warri Province, was now made the capital of Delta State.

But that does not deny the fact that Delta is the new name of Warri Province.
That being said, Lagos main land was once adopted as the official 
capital of Nigeria in 1914, after the amalgamation of the Northern and 
Southern Protectorates. But it was until 1991 that the nation’s capital 
was moved to Abuja. That is how many years in-between? Did events 
overtake that from happening? What then makes some people think that events have overtaken the said justification for the relocation of Delta State capital from Asaba to Warri, which is just some years now?

It is also the same way the June 12 imbroglio lasted for years until the 
current administration did the needful by honouring that memory and 
reclaiming that lost glory to now become the nation’s official Democracy 
day. The same process that was used to reclaim the lost June 12, is all 
that is required now to carry out the relocation of the Delta State 
capital from Asaba to Warri. It is not like we are asking for a new 
State to be created here. We are simply stating the truth of what needs 
to be done, based on prevailing historical evidence.

The fight for Social Justice, peace and freedom is never an easy one, 
and a difficult task. But it is always achievable. It is a peaceful and 
genuine movement that often times, seeks to address societal anomalies which many may be too frightened to delve into. When the Apartheid in South Africa was an issue, many thought back then that it was not going to be possible to address.

But today that is history, and we have the likes of Nelson Mandela and others to make reference to, as some of those whose sacrifices made it happen. But when they were agitating for it back then, many thought they were mad, or that it was impossible to achieve. The same way it is with this relocation of Delta State capital issue bothering on social justice and freedom. It is only cowards and people who shy away from the truth, that are usually antagonistic on such issues of social change. Everybody wants freedom, peace and social justice, but not many are ready to stand for the Truth and pay the price to fight for it. And it cannot be gotten on a platter of gold.

On this  relocation issue, the Isoko, Urohobo, Itsekiri and Ijaw asking  for the relocation of Delta State’s capital from Asaba to Warri, and the 
Anioma people are not comfortable with it, then they should simply 
intensify their demands for the creation of their own separate State, 
which they have been doing for decades now.

Besides, the Aniomas were  never part of the Warri Province from time past like we have noted.
So, I really do not see what is so sensitive about this issue that would 
ake it seems as if it is not possible. It is very possible because man, 
as a social being, is the one that determines the state of his society 
and the laws to govern it as he sees necessary. Not the other way 
around!
I am therefore calling on Deltans who are not afraid to stand for the 
truth, to join “THE MOVEMENT OF THE TRUTH” and take this demand to the relevant National Assembly Authorities to legislate and make a 
proclamation for the relocation of the capital of Delta State from Asaba 
to Warri. All the friends and acquaintances that have been sending me 
words that Asaba is already the State capital and we should not correct 
the past mistakes made, should have a rethink and realize the need for 
us to correct this ‘mistake’ for posterity sake. It is not too late to 
correct this injustice. If the Federal Capital of Nigeria was moved from 
Lagos mainland to Abuja, then we do not see why can’t the NATIONAL 
LEGISLATURE correct this injustice. We cannot enjoy peace and freedom if 
people are not willing to fight for such freedom and peace on the 
platform of truth. It is only truth that will bring sustainable freedom 
and peace.

Zik Ebereme

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