By Michael Tidi
Having gotten to power on what is arguably most all-embracing pan-Deltan platform ever built in the state, Delta State Governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, the verdict from objective observers is that His Excellency, has successfully justified his political credibility with enviable achievements to be reckoned with in his first 100days in office. The consensus amongst this group of unbiased stakeholders is to the effect that Okowa has kick started his administration in a manner that is already bringing succor to the majority of Deltans, much to his credit as an unparalleled and dutiful servant leader.
Quite contrary to the insinuations by naysayers that there is little on ground to showcase His Excellency’s achievement within his first 100days, the truth is that the Okowa administration is stretching itself through fiscal prudence in meeting the aspirations of the people of Delta and against this background, he must be recognized and commended for recording outstanding strides against all odds. The common notion about political office holders in developing countries is that they are not to be trusted as regards their electioneering promises. This surely cannot be the case in Delta State where trust is gradually being restored in governance thanks to the sincerity with which the Senator Okowa administration is approaching governance.
It is gratifying to note that the state’s Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurship Program and Skills Training Entrepreneurship Programs have kicked off in earnest with discerning observers alluding to the transparent nature of the selection process. Through these twin initiatives, which are just two facets of a wider economic empowerment strategic vision of the Governor, our state will now have the requisite capacity and positioning necessary to achieve local economic sufficiency while government additionally attracts Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to further increase employment.
The comprehensive approach of the Okowa administration in meeting educational challenges in the State has leapfrogged the rating of the state by way of key indices of educational development. Noteworthy is the fact that Delta State has the highest pupils’ enrolment relative to its population size with the least percentage of out-of-school children (less than 2%) in Nigeria. With the new technical schools spread across the three Senatorial District of the state, the ground is already being prepared in earnest for a more technically oriented and technologically driven state in the near future.
The advent of the Asaba Capital Territory Development Agency which is poised to lead to the reconstruction of all township roads with walkways, beautification of the city and erection of streetlights, when completed will give the town a new look befitting of a state capital while similar renewal of other towns, such as Warri, Sapele, Ughelli, Oleh, Kwale, etc will equally be attended to.
To bring development to the rural areas, Governor Okowa specifically created the “Peace Building and Rural Development” office which is being superintended by a Special Adviser. The office is maximally utilizing the advantages of the state government’s partnership with our traditional rulers which has gone a long way in providing the enabling environment for development to thrive. It is also important to note that the governor has been able to restore peace to the state through tremendous support to security agencies thereby enhancing their operations with the aim of reducing crime to the barest minimum.
Governor Okowa has paid equally the due attention to the plight of traders with the State Executive Council approval for the construction of a modern market at Oreorokpe in Okpe local government area of the state. The market when completed will have 196 open shops, 28 lock-up shops, 4 offices, 16 toilets, 1-cold room and 1-storage room. Even the health sector is not left out as this administration is ensuring that the ongoing rehabilitation and upgrading of a twenty bed cottage hospital at Azuowa, Abavo in Ika South local government area comes to fruition by September this year.
It is our hope that our Governor is allowed to continue to develop every facet of the state’s economy, and not be stampeded by those whose stock in trade is the stigmatization of a legitimate government determined to deliver on its mandate. As we decry this fly in the ointment posture, it is also our hope that Team Okowa will not be distracted by an opposition which should be hiding its face in shame, having been thoroughly rejected by the electorate at the poll. In the next three years and nine months of his first tenure, we look forward to Okowa sustaining his vision and successfully delivering on his S.M.A.R.T. Agenda in line with the Prosperity for all Deltans mantra of his administration.
––TIDI, Special Assistant on News Media to Governor Okowa, wrote from Asaba.
