26052018 - Buhari battles the challenge of CHANGE

36—SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 26, 2018
Democracy Day:
Okowa in the
eyes of Deltans
By Julius Oweh
•Gov. Okowa
In three days time, the country will mark
yet another democracy day and the
achievements of the federal and state
governments will be assessed. There would be
knocks and cheers here and there. On May
29th, 2015, Senator Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa was
sworn in as the governor of Delta State. In his
inaugural speech, Okowa promised prosperity
for all Deltans and harped on the theme that
his administration will be driven by a Pan
Deltan agenda. Three years down the line, this
reporter spoke to some prominent Deltans and
they passed verdict on the
government. The Speaker of the
State House of Assembly,
Honourable Sheriff Oborievwri,
Chief Clement Ofuani, Director
General of the Delta State Capital
Territory Development Agency,
Mr Godwin Animam, retired civil
servant, Mr Uche Okafor, Keke
rider, Mr Sunday Omolu were
among those who spoke. There
were also a business
man,Comrade Lawson Efenudu,
the Delta State chairman of
Association of Senior Civil
Servants of Nigeria and Barrister
Sam Chukwuji, former chairman
of Ndokwa East Local
Government Area.
Honourable Sheriff
Oborievwri observed that the
rating of the governor in terms of
delivery of democratic dividends
is very high and that he was a
blessing to the state. Said the
Speaker :‘ My rating of the
administration of Senator (Dr)
Ifeanyi Okowa is very high. High
in the sense that, he has done a lot
for the state in the past three years.
The impact of the governor is being felt in all
parts of the State. He came into office at a
time when there was a serious economic
recession in the country and this affected the
revenue of the state. But as a governor with a
vision and on a mission, he has carried on
efficiently and Deltans are seeing things for
themselves that they have a capable and
experienced governor. I will rate this
government very high because we have a
prudent governor at the helm of affairs who
has been able to manage the funds coming
into the state to the satisfaction of the people‘.
Prodded further whether the governor was
faithful to the promise of a Pan
Deltan agenda and the catch
phrase ‘prosperity for all Deltans‘,
the speaker argued that the
dividends of democracy are
visible in all parts of the state,
adding that Okowa as a
consummate politician and
statesman has been able to carry
everybody along despite their
politician affiliations. This is the
argument of the speaker :‘ It is not
true that Ifeanyi Okowa, the
Governor of Delta State failed to
In the
area of
Infrastructure,
the
government
has done
very well
also
deliver on his campaign promises
to Deltans. The governor has
fulfilled his campaign promises.
The governor has kept his
covenant with Deltans. I have
known the governor for a very
long time; he is a man you can
trust. The governor has been able
to spread infrastructural
development to the three
senatorial districts and today, cries
of marginalization have died
down naturally. He has restored
peace to all parts of the state and
today Deltans are enjoying ethnic
harmony. Apart from the menace
of herdsmen in some parts of the
state, there is no threat to peace in the state.
The menace of the herdsmen has been curtailed
to a very large extent by this administration.
Attacks on oil facilities have stopped. The
summary to your question is that, the governor
has delivered on his electoral promises to
Deltans and he should be given a pat on the
back.‘
As for Chief Clement Ofuani, Deltans could
not have asked for a better governor. He says
aside biases and political coloration, Okowa
has demonstrated unusual streak of leadership.
Ofuani explains further: ‘I am part of the
Okowa government and it is also our party
that is in power. There is therefore the tendency
that anything I say is bound to be understood
as speaking from a partisan perspective. I
cannot shy away from saying that in all honesty,
the Okowa government has done very well.
Every government sets out to deal with the
circumstances of its time. And so, the
government can be best assessed by how these
circumstances have been dealt with. In the area
of ensuring peace and harmony in the oil
producing riverine areas that has boosted
Delta State oil production and hence the
nation’s oil production for instance, the
government has performed excellently well and
the nation has benefitted from the
administrative astuteness of the Okowa
administration.
In the area of Infrastructure, the
government has done very well also. An
area that usually causes problem is the
perception of lopsidedness in the
distribution of infrastructure generally
referred to as the dividends of democracy
and in this area, the governor has
performed brilliantly. For a state with
diverse ethnic groups like ours, perception
of lack of equity is bound to breed a lot of
problems but the governor has
demonstrated incredible administrative
astuteness and even handedness in this
area which has reduced the muttering that
would have been expected in these areas
to an inconsequential opposition and not
from the people who are benefiting from
the strides of the administration. So, my
overall rating of the government is
excellent.‘
However, Godwin Animam, a retired
civil servant argued that while the
governor could be given kudos for the
building of infrastructure, he maintained
that only the living enjoy such amenities
lamenting the non-payment of pensions
to retirees. He puts it this way: ‘There is
no doubt that governor Okowa is trying
in the area of infrastructure particularly
roads. One area he is lagging behind is in
the payment of retirement benefits to
contributory retirees. It is only the living
who will use the infrastructure provided
and also vote for him. As of date, the state
government is in arrears of payment for
four years. Even so, it is quarter payment
that is being paid to retirees. What
contributory retirees are calling for is a
harmonized pension which the former
governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan
approved on the eve of his departure and
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa promised to pay.
It is three years since Okowa came in and
no hope in that direction`.
But Comrade Lawson Efenudu, a labour
leader and chairman of Delta state,
Association of Senior Civil Servants of
Nigeria stated that Okowa administration
has been fair to workers and labour
related matters. Said Efenudu: :‘From labour
perspective, and as one privileged to have
negotiated one on one with the governor, it is
crystal clear that the government of Senator
Okowa has focus. All labour related issues
were addressed in favour of workers. The
governor promised regular payment of
salaries, he promised providing office
accommodation for workers, as well as
enhanced welfare. These he did. The middle
management staff quarters in Asaba was given
to the occupiers on a subsidised rate (owner/
occupier basis). Okowa is truly
compassionate. Just pick issue of Asaba
Capital flooding. Look at road network.
The mandatory biometric exercise for
employees across the country as
prerequisite for bailout was done with
human face in Delta State. What else
would labour want from your governor or
government?‘
Uche Okafor, a Keke rider in Asaba was
full of praise for the governor for the efforts
in controlling the flood situation in Asaba
but picked holes with the slow pace of work.
He called on the governor to give the
contractors marching orders to complete the
job as Asaba would be a river with the onset
of the raining season. He also asked the
governor to call his road traffic marshals to
order for, instead of them to ease the flow of
traffic in Asaba, they are more involved in
the extortion of money from motorists
especially the keke riders in the capital
territory.
Mr Sunday Omolu said that despite the
challenges facing the governor, he should
be singled out for the achievements recorded
in the areas of conflict resolutions. Listen to
Ormolu’s sentiments :‘ There was a time
almost the entire landscape of Delta State
was embroiled in one form of upheaval
or the other – from very bloody land feuds
between communities to inter tribal wars.
Delta State was then on an unstoppable descent
to the abyss. Yes, there are still pockets of
conflicts but nothing to compare with our
sordid past as far as violence is concerned. I
was elated to no end the other day to read of
the solidarity the Ijaws and Itsekiris are
forging. They now sing from the same song
sheet. Bellicose propensity, apologies to Andy
Akporugo, is now anathema to these great
people of Delta State. But for the intractable
menace of the rampaging herders and their
cattle which are Nigeria’s heel of Achilles, Delta
State by now, would have been a haven of
peace. What is more, Governor Okowa has
taken the interests of the diverse people of Delta
into consideration in appointing those working
with him. This is equally commendable and
it is no surprise that the cries of marginalization
have been drowned.‘
Barrister Sam Chukwuji said that Okowa
has kept faith with the people in appointments
and distribution of social amenities in the
state. He couched the governor’s achievements
in these terms: ‘True to the pedigree of Okowa
despite the financial challenges, he has
remained focused and result oriented these
past three years. The governor has kept to his
electoral promises; across the state you will
see life changing projects. I am very happy
with his sterling performance so far and I am
looking forward to more in the remaining year
and beyond`. The diverse views of these Deltans
paint the picture of the Okowa administration.