There is a state in Nigeria whose people I find mystifying. That is Delta State in South-South Nigeria. There is something special about the state. One wonders if it is the land that makes the people special or the people that make the land special.
For example, even though there are Ijaw in other states of Nigeria, the Ijaw in Delta are unique. And even though it is only the River Niger that separates the Igbo in Anambra and the Igbo in Delta, the Igbo in Delta are unique. There is a daring spirit that a Deltan possesses that may shock or amaze other people.
The Pidgin English expression “Warri no dey carry last” (Warri never comes last) best describes Delta State. Even though Warri is not the capital of Delta State, it is the major city of Delta. Delta is Warri and Warri is Delta. Indeed Delta never lags behind on any issue – whether positive or negative. Put succinctly, Deltans never do things by halves. It is either they do it fully or they don’t do it at all. When you think of Deltans, you think of Texans.

There is hardly any field of endeavour that one can mention in Nigeria and Delta is not among the top three in it or at least the top five. Delta is among the top three oil-producing states of Nigeria. If one dismisses that as the work of nature, then let us move to education. Annually, Delta is usually among the top three states in terms of the highest number of applicants that apply to institutions of higher learning in Nigeria. In the exams conducted by NECO and WAEC, Delta usually performs well to be among the best.

Delta State has given the world writers like John Pepper Clark, Buchi Emecheta, Ben Okri, Isidore Okpewho; historians like Elizabeth Isichei, artists like Bruce Onobrakpeya, to mention but a few. In sports and entertainment, Delta rules. The first Nigerian that touched a World Cup in football is a Deltan: Nduka Ugbade. In 1985 he captained Nigerian youths to victory in what was then called FIFA Under-16 World Championship, which was later named the FIFA Under-17 World Cup. The second time Nigeria won the cup in 1993, another Deltan (Wilson Oruma) was the captain of the team. The next year when Nigeria’s Super Eagles won the African Cup of Nations, another Deltan (Stephen Keshi) was the captain. Are these feats mere coincidence? Which state
can produce the magical skills of Austin Jay-Jay Okocha, or the sprint skills of Blessing Okagbare? A Deltan (Stephen Keshi) just handed over to another Deltan (Sunday Oliseh) as the coach of Nigeria’s Super Eagles. What about Nduka Odizor of the tennis fame?

In acting, can anyone ever forget the Thespian skills of Richard Mofe-Damijo, Justus Esiri, Enebeli Elebuwa, Stella Damasus, etc? In production and directing, Deltans hold sway too. What can one say about Zeb Ejiro, Chico Ejiro, Jeta Amata,
Fred Amata, Zack Amata, Ruke Amata, Opa Williams, etc?
In music, one remembers Omawumi, Dr. Sid, Kefee, Oritsefemi, and the rest. But the part of entertainment that seems to be tailor-made for the Deltans is comedy. And they have made a killing in it, since Ali Baba turned a field that nobody took seriously into a lucrative profession.

Delta people in real life do not look comic or funny. They look every inch serious. They play hard, love hard, work hard, sleep hard. But they can be cheeky. Because of their demonstrative way of speaking, others easily laugh when they speak. Their Pidgin English rolls like music: you want to always hear them speak it. It seems to have been created by them or for them. But why not?
Delta is perhaps the only state where no local language is dominant. Right inside Warri – which is the heartbeat of Delta – Urhobo, Itsekiri and Ijaw all mingle freely, in addition to other Nigerians and foreigners. If the Urhobo man wants to have fruitful communication with the Itsekiri man, then both of them must speak a neutral language, since none of them would accept that the language of the other is superior. Even though English is Nigeria’s official language, it has many rules that even those with university degrees find to adhere to, which leads to
grammatical errors. So Pidgin English became the lingua franca in Delta. Having spoken it for such a long time, the Deltans have personalised it, continuously adding new words and styles to the language. So when a Deltan handles the microphone and talks without any jokes, the audience find the flow of his words interesting and funny. Because Delta people are very demonstrative, expressive, passionate and daring, their mere use of words, facial expressions and gesticulations makes other Nigerians burst into laughter. The Deltans themselves sometimes don’t even understand what is funny
to have made the people laugh. So comedy comes to them naturally. That is why most jokes in Nigeria today seem to be about Akpos the Warri guy.

If you go into banking and finance, they hold the aces. From Mr. Tony Elemelu of the UBA, to Mr. Jim Ovia of Zenith Bank, to Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala of the World Bank, to Mr. Godwin Emefiele of the Central Bank of Nigeria, to Mrs. Cecilia Ibruand to Olorogun O’Tega Emerhor, they stand out.

In business, they are too numerous to name: the Ibru business dynasty (Olorogun Michael Ibru, Sir Alex Ibru, Mr Goodie Ibru), Chief Sonny Odogwu, Deacon Gamaliel Onosode, Senator David Dafinone, Chief Peter Okocha, Chief Newton Jibunoh, etc.
In the media business, they are strong: The Guardian by Ibru, Vanguard by Mr Sam Amuka-Pemu, etc.

In pastoring, the Deltans are not missing: from the Most Rev Nicholas Okoh, Primate of Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion); to Pastor Ayo Joseph Oritsejafor, founder/Senior Pastor of Word of Life Bible Church; to Archbishop Emmanuel Chukwuma of the Enugu Diocese; etc

In politics and national prominence, they are visible: Chief Dennis Osadebay, Chief Edwin Clark, Obi (Prof.) Chike Edozien, Prof Sam Oyovbaire, Mrs. Mariam Babangida, Mr. Felix Ibru, Dr Abel Ubeku, Prof. Pat Utomi, Chief Philip Asiodu, etc.

In the military, they hold sway: Maj.-Gen. David Ejoor, former Chief of Army Staff; Lt. Gen. Alexander Ogomudia, former Chief of Army Staff; Air Marshal Paul Dike, former Chief of Defence Staff; Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba, former Chief of Naval Staff, etc.

In law, medicine and engineering, like any other field, they shine. The Deltans never lag behind, among Nigerians. Even though I have no kinship with Delta State, some two decades ago, I noticed the spirit of excellence of the Deltans and took an interest in them. Following them closely revealed that there is something striking about the Deltans. Deltans never get anything on a silver platter, yet they excel wherever they are. No matter how few they are in a group, their impact is easily felt. They are neither timid nor shy.
You cannot intimidate them. You cannot easily take them for a ride. Nigerians need to pay more attention to the Deltans to find out what makes them tick. Is it in their genes? Is it in their land? Is it in the air they breathe or in the water they drink or in the food they eat? Do they grow up in a difficult environment
that gives them no other option except to excel or suffer?

Nigerians need to copy the Delta spirit, so that like Warri (Delta), people would start to say positively about Nigeria: “Naija no dey carry last!”
www.punchng.com/opinion/what-makes-delta-people-tick/

Proudly delta... ...

i rep warri

We love you... Biafra

Proudly Deltan. cc lalasticlala

Delta is the only real state in Nigeria, Delta is like a country, am staying at Ughelli, served at Isoko North, have being to Agbor, sapele, abraka, warri, kwale and Asaba et al Delta is the biggest state in Nigeria with both sizeable population, nice vegetation and wonderful mineral and human resources.

Delta is very nice with their tableland and rush grassland, streams, rivers, lakes and et al. I love Delta state

We no dey carry last o. Instead we go carry second to last.

and u missed one vital part. . . . . Their women!

Most of the names are igbos, even the writer is igbo. it doesnt matter which side of the niger u are, Igbos are achievers

Feranchek:
and u missed one vital part. . . . . Their women!

Cc: lalasticlala, urhoboman, kikilove, Herzumpther, Ishilove, Godmother

Ok

Ehm

the big heart state/ the finger of God. "When you think of Deltans, you think of Texans".

Waffi Texas, was a common phrase in the 80s/90s

uhn

J

In other news can you wear this > https://www.nairaland.com/2601736/wear-weird-looking-slippers

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basilo101:
Most of the names are igbos, even the writer is igbo. it doesnt matter which side of the niger u are, Igbos are achievers

Don't bring in dirts into this post

area

Typing...

I expected you to outline the corruption characteristics of deltans.

1. Ex Governor of Delta state (Uduaghan) Budgeted 7.4Billion Naira for clearing grasses , shrubs , sands and trees around Asaba Airport.

2. Ex Delta Governor James Ibori has a high breaking corruption record. He stole a large amount.

3. Delta is the only state where 9 out of every 10 persons are billionaires yet there is nothing to show for it.


Finally its not about just calling big names. What have they achieved? How have the impacted on the masses.

With the high number of so called millionaires and famous names in the likes of

Francis Atuche ( Nigeria renowned Fraudstar )
Pat Utomi ( who was labelled a fake igbo when he wanted to contest the 2007 election by same igbo who want to call deltans theirs )
Pat. okorocha ( Current governor is a mouth maker )
Prof. Joseph Chike Edozien, CFR, JP, the Asagba
(traditional ruler) of Asaba - the oldest professor in Nigeria alive ( And what did he contribute? )
* Chief. Sonny Iwedike Odogwu, A Great Business Mogul ( Been a business man with no impact of his business on the people of Delta state )
* Dr. Andrew Azukaego Moemeka ( just a space blocker )
* Dr. Cyril Uchenna Gwam, Diplomat, international civil servant and international environmentalist ( environmentalist? Can't stop laughing where was he during the oil spilling and the Ken sawo wiwa case )
* Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the current Managing Director of World Bank ( this one ruined our economy to shambles )
* Dr Elizabeth Isichei, prominent historian ( historian who don't want to tell you the real history of deltans )
* Dr. Isaac Nwaise, Epidemiologist and health economist
* Air-Marshal Paul Dike, former Chief of Defence Staff of Nigeria ( This is the same man igbos shouted is not a real igbo. After he was appointed and Mike okiro was to be made IGP igbos recounted their mistakes )
* Professor Augustine Onwuyali Esogbue, The only African included in NASA and Scientist ( Stop claiming he is an African he has no impact on deltans. Him been a Nasan adds nothing to Delta state. Or when last have your government spent money on space research? )
* Professor Buchi Emecheta, London Based Author ( So what is his article )
* Chukwurah Joseph Udeh OFR, Former Comptroller-General Nigerian Immigration Service ( you mean the man who hiked and changed several legal happenings in the custom services?)
* Prof Eric Opia, Former Governorship candidate of Delta State ( No impact )
* Mr Jim Ovia, M/D Zenith Bank ( MD my foot. Go to Ibusa the only bank there is that brought in by former MD of PHB bank who was sacked for fraud by the erudite scholar sanusi lamido sanusi. Seasoned economist
* Prof. Joy Ogwu, Former Mangaging Director of Nigeria Institute of International Affairs
* Professor Pat Utomi, Presidential Candidate and Founder of Lagos Business School ( he is the only deltan with a for sight who has made it. But igbos rejected him even after been married to an eastern wife )
* Tony Elumelu, MD of United Bank for AfricaAfrica ( Bank know for high rates and low ccare service is this an achievement? )
*

* Austine "Jay-Jay Okocha, Former Captain of Super Eagles of Nigeria ( how did is carrier ended with the super eagles? Because of 10million with defunct Savannah bank )
* Sunday Oliseh, Former Captain of super Eagles of Nigeria ( who is this one self. Nigerian present coach? What's are his achievement ? )
*



Nothing absolutely nothing to show for. Go to the south west and pick examples. Learn from seasoned activist , politicians, business men and technocrats etc.

Nicely written.

Our diversity is our strength.




Proudly Deltan!

I know Delta people are great but Warri should be in better shape for the level of economic activity in that town.

As for Asaba...

proudly Delta pikin

What makes them tick are the attributes mostly predominant in people of the ancient "Bight of Biafra" changed to Bight of Bonny

I only know asaba

delta...PRIDE OF NIGERIA