Director General, Team SMART for Okowa, Hon. Sunny Oreshedere (middle), the Grand Patron of Team SMART for Okowa and former Minister of Defence (state) Chief (Dr.) Roland Oritsejafor (on his right) and other patrons after they were ddecorated.

…As Oritsejafor, others decorated as Patrons of Team SMART

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State has once again called on Niger Delta Youths to take advantage of ongoing peace dialogue put in place by the Federal Government and put an end to all forms of pipeline vandalism and join hands with the state government to develop the state.

The Governor who spoke through the Director General, Team SMART for Okowa, Hon. Sunny Oreshedere in Warri during the decoration of Team SMART patrons from Warri South, noted that the state was suffering today because of the activities of pipeline vandals, adding that their activities have brought down revenue accruing to the state.

He said, “I want to appeal for the understanding of Deltans, that for now things are not the way they used to be, due to drop of oil prices at the international market, and coupled with the incessant pipeline bombings and vandalism in Delta State that has put us behind Akwa-Ibom,  Cross Rivers, and Bayelsa State in 13% derivation.”

He explained that Team SMART for Okowa is a platform through which the electorate could express their views and opinion on how they feel about government activities and programmes.

Oreshedere added that the team was determined to bridge the gaps that have been overlooked by previous government and make people see themselves as not only consumers and users of government programmes, but contributors and participants in government programmes.

He urged the patrons to take the good news of Governor Okowas SMART agenda to all nook and cranny of the state, saying that the team has the power and capacity to position the state on the path of socio-economic  development and in the comity of developed states in Nigeria.

“This administration came on board with the promise of prosperity for all Deltans, in achieving this, it developed the SMART Agenda which is a working strategy comprising of priority needs of the people as encapsulated in the Delta state Medium Term Development Plan (2015-2019) in the first instance.”

He lamented that at a time when Nigeria was facing serious economic challenges which has left the state which was once second in 13% derivation to fourth, the state was spending 80% of the revenue on recurrent expenditure due to wage bills of workers and 20% on capital projects.

The Director General also revealed that in the last 18 months over 17, 000 private and indirect jobs have been created under the YAGEP, STEP, PPSP, GEEP, MICRO CREDIT and the state Trade Finance programs, adding that in the area of infrastructural development, 70 roads were initiated out of which 52 were completed while others are nearing completion.

On his part, the grand patron of Team SMART for Okowa and former Defence Minister, Dr. Roland Oritsejafor thanked the team for giving him such honour, adding that the honour will spur him to do more for the state.

Dr Oritsejafor described Governor Okowa as a passionate grass root mobilizer who has the interest of the people at heart, pointing that he was delighted that team SMART for Okowa is made up of dedicated characters from all parts of the state.

He also called on Deltans to join the Team SMART for Okowa, saying that the team needs the support of all Deltans to succeed in its mandate.

He noted that it was only when Deltans joined the team that they will be able to keep the government on their toes, adding that government must be kept on its toes for real development to spread across the state.

According to him, as PDP members from Warri South Local Government Area of the state, they should set the pace for others to follow by preaching the SMART agenda to everybody that cares to listen, noting that the council area was ready to work for the development of the state.

He said, “I want to say that I am with you to share your vision and commitment for conscientious building which serves as a platform for mobilization and dissemination of information for full awareness of the activities of our amiable governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa.”

Also, speaking on behalf of the patrons, former Warri South PDP Chairman, Hon. Ama Agbajoh commended Governor Okowa for giving them the opportunity to serve the state, promising that they will put in their best to ensure that the administration of Governor Okowa succeeds.

Chief (Dr.) Roland Oritsejafor from Delta South was decorated as the Grand patron.

Those decorated as Patrons were; Chief (Dr.) Israel Abido, Chief Isaac Emifoniye, Pa John Gbegi, Mr. Victor Agbateyiniro, Dr.George Boyo, Hon.Glory Ayiwe, Austin Ojakovo, Toyin Agbolayah, Ama Agbajoh, Emmanuel Eminokanju, Augustine Uroye, Michael Tidi and Hon. Alex Edah.