Governance: Group Scores Delta State Governor High
The Mid-Westerners, a Political Pressure Group, has scored the Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa led administration high in governance and effective delivers of dividends of democracy to the people of Delta in the last eight years
The group, representing Edo and Delta States in Southern Nigeria, gave the commendation at a news conference on Thursday in Asaba, while setting the agenda for the Governor-Elect, Sheriff Oborevwori, as he steps in on May 29.
The Mid-Westerners in an address signed by its Chairman, Mr Iwendi Nwaham; Executive Vice Chairman, Prof. David Ejenobo; Secretary, Fidelis Chimokwu and Mr Kenneth Okwuenu, was read by Prof. Ejenobo.
According to them, “the Okowa’s achievement in the state was rather underreported by the media.”
They commended Okowa’s achievement in infrastructure, education, health, human capital development, airport transport infrastructure, and flood control measures, among others
The Mid-Westerners said that “the achievements were massive and worth sustaining by the incoming administration.
“On assumption of office in 2015, Governor Okowa met a state battling with multifarious economic challenges, least of which was the drastic drop in revenue accruing from crude oil export at the national level.”
“To take the state out of its dilemma, he came up with his SMART Agenda and for eight years, Okowa pursued and delivered a “Stronger Delta” agenda.
“In the field of education, he stands tall, he touched the whole gamut of the educational sphere from basic and primary education to tertiary institutions.
“He ensured the welfare of teachers, established model technical colleges in all the senatorial districts and has topped it with the establishment of three new/state universities,” they said.
The Mid-Westerners explained that “Okowa was nicknamed “the Road Master” by the people for connecting the rural communities to the urban by constructing over 2,000km of roads and 1,400km of drainage channels across the state.
“Okowa’s achievements in terms of infrastructural development are simply amazing.
”He built the state-of-the-art N18 billion state secretariat, blocked financial leakages, flushed out ghost workers, and repositioned the civil service for effective service delivery.”
They noted that Okowa’s administration tackled the erosion and massive flooding which before now had wreaked havoc in Asaba and its environs by investing billion of naira in stormwater drains and underground tunnels to empty into the River Niger.
The Group said; “As we bid farewell to a worthy achiever, we take this opportunity to congratulate the Governor-Elect, Sheriff Oborevwori on his success at the 2023 governorship elections on March 18.
“Gov. Okowa has set the standard, we encourage you to follow. Your M.O.R.E Agenda which has been properly documented and articulated during your campaigns should be your covenant with the people of Delta.”
“We encourage our incoming governor to sustain the roads infrastructure, and human capital development and to extend the retirement age to 65 years and 40 years in service to all civil servants in the state as effected for the teachers by the Nigerian and Delta government,” the Mid-Westerners added.
NAN/ Mercy Chukwudiebere
