Governor Uduaghan describes Maryam Babangida as an "illustrious daughter of Delta State"

Delta removes manager, honours Maryam Babangida

By Chukwudi Abiandu

January 18, 2010 11:51AM

The Delta State government, at the weekend, announced the removal of the general manager of the state-owned Delta Broadcasting Service, Willy Sowho.

The redeployment was part of the decisions made by the State Executive Council at its first meeting of the year.

The decision to remove Mr. Sowho was informed by the report of a panel established in February, 2009 by the Ministry of Information, and headed by the Director of Information, Austin Mowah, to investigate the incessant conflict between the board and management of the outfit.

The constitution of the panel became necessary after efforts by the information commissioner, Oma Djebah, to resolve the conflict failed.

The executive also decided to reconstitute the board of directors, following the re-assignment of some members, including the chairman, Elizabeth Ogbon-dey.

It also decided to employ qualified accountants for the service, to assist in repositioning and total re-organization of the Accounts and Finance Department. Onoriode Mukoro, the chairman of the staff union, was placed on a month suspension for ‘masterminding the shutting down of the station without following the due process of labour laws, and the principle of collective bargaining.’

“Steps have also been taken to implement these directives, and strict adherence to financial and fiscal discipline by Board and Management of parastatals”, Mr Djebah said.

Hail Maryam

The state government also decided to immortalize Maryam Babangida as an ‘illustrious daughter of Delta State.’ The road from Summit Junction to Anwai-Asaba campus of Delta State University is to be renamed Maryam Babangida way, while the state government is to establish a women development centre in her honour.

“The state government’s decision was to keep her memories aglow, in recognition of her contributions to the development of the country, and the enthronement of the rights of women,” Mr. Djebah said.

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Reader Comments (9)

Posted by koko on Jan 18 2010

maryam been try, Delta na she create am, come put capital for asaba. street no do and house.think of more to do to immortalize her, a yearly event or seasonal thing abeg, Gov. delta take note.

Posted by Buddy on Jan 18 2010

Certainly, Maryam deserves more than a street being named after her...She should be immortalised in Delta State;it is her creation.

Posted by jsp on Jan 18 2010

True, without Mariam, Delta would not have been created at the time it was. Am not talking about Mid-Western Nigeria. Am talking about present day Delta State with its capital in Asaba where Mariam came from. Give honour to whom honour is due! Be fair to her and find something of a regular rememberance to immortalise her. My suggestion - The Uduaghan Government should name the proposed Asaba Airport 'Miriam Babangida Airport'. If the name of the airport has already been decided and cast in stone, Delta State can build a befitting State Conference Centre and name it after her. In God's name, a street named after her is inadequate. Just chose one choice location and name it after the go-getter daughter of Delta State.

Posted by Metanure on Jan 18 2010

It is an irony that a woman who in her bedroom politics prevented the emergence of a true Delta State to create one with the Ibo speaking areas of Benin Province carved out and merged with Delta Province to make a Delta State with HQ in her Asaba home, is now being honoured and immortalised by true Deltans! Where are the memorials for the Deltan patriots who fought endlessly for the creation of our State; the Demas Akpores, Ray Inijes, Daniel Okumagbas, Sam Okudus and many other Ijaw, Isoko, Itsekiri, Urhobo and Ndokwa patriots.

Posted by jsp on Jan 18 2010

Bedroom politics or not, Delta State was created out of Mariam's request to her husband and it was granted. Delta State has come to stay. You may wish to create another State out of this present Delta State, but this very one called Delta State of today, came as a result of Mariam's influence. Bringing sentiments into this will not solve any outstanding issues or remembrances.

Posted by Zuwy on Jan 18 2010

@Metanure the point is those ppl were able to fight bcos they had her as backbone to make Delta come to fruition without her, trust the Benis would have held on and frustrated every move take a time trip check those that were really in high places from the Delta extraction who d same time cared and check the Edo stock you would see that they were outnumbered in every dept especially in the military (Akhigbe, Aikhomu, Ogbemudia etc)!! remeber that those times so long as it was a Bini person (or any Edo)occupyin a post it was Bendel...Her singular position which of course overshadowed anyother position and she got her way..Nigerians always give honour where it is due

Posted by OKEREKE CHIGO. on Feb 05 2010

I AM REALLY DISAPPIONTED IN PEOPLE LIKE METANURE WHO ALWAYS ATTACH TRIBAL SENTIMENT IN EVERY ISSURE. METANURE YOU CAN STILL FIGHT FOR TRUE DELTA STATE IF YOU ARE STRONG ENOUGH. THE FACT IS THAT WE SHOULD LEAN HOW TO GIVE HONOUR TO WHO IS DUE. COME TO THINK OF IT,IS THAT WHY THERE IS SLOW PACE OF DEVELOPMENT IN ASABA? WE NEED TO BE MORE MATURE TO OUR APPROCH ON ISSURES. MARIAM BABANGIDA IS AN ILLUSTRIOUS DAUGHTER OF DELTA STATE AND NIGERIA THAT DERSERVE THE VERY BEST. MAY HER GENTLE SOUL REST IN PERFECT PEACE.

Posted by Eva on Feb 08 2010

Metanure are you for real? I can't believe people still think like you in 2010. Its about Nigeria and even though we may not be proud of the leadership we've had over the years, it's no more about tribes or what language we speak, we need to be patriotic and look out for the good in people and maybe we can become better as a nation. May her soul rest in peace.

Posted by Nike ao. on Mar 03 2010

@Okereke Chigo and Eva and JSP: Metanure has made a very valid point. But I reckon that so long as the progenies of lawbreakers and bedonomics hold sway in Delta State and Nigeria( Look where National bedonomics has landed us now in the YarAdua Saga), the truth will remain bitter and evaded??? Face up to it, even the 'Bendel Ibos' want Anioma State created from the present 'Maryamic'contraption. Would they be demanding another state if they truly felt culturally at home with the Isokos, Itshekiris, the Uhrobos and others? If we applaud injustice because we are at an advantage, how can we ask for justice when the shoe becomes worn on the other foot? MAryam did a nos of good things as First lady but as a NIGERIAN, i cannot deny that her Delta Asaba self-serving combi is not a miscarriage of influence.