As the race towards the 2019 governorship election is beginning to gather momentum, the Campaign for Good Governance CGG, has said governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State has been able to stun political pundits with deft handling of the lean resources in its disposal.
The National Coordinator of the group, Prince Obaro Unuafe in a statement titled: “The 2019 Governorship Election in Delta State — The Imperatives of Choice” a copy made available to our Correspondent in Asaba, said the governor has baffled critics with deployment of inadequate resources in the state into numerous roads interventions cutting across the three senatorial districts of the state.
He observed that Senator Okowa became governor at a critical time when the world oil prices had dipped from a record USD150 per barrel to as low as USD39 – 40 per barrel, but his knack for hardwork and dedication, the governor within two and half years, was able to implement his SMART programme which today has helped to refocused the state economy towards diversification and less dependence on fossil oil driven economy.
He equally explained that Governor Okowa has successfully established some schemes like the Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurs Programme (YAGEP), the Skills Training Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP), which are geared towards empowerment of the youths in form of self employment.
“The upgrading and establishment of three Technical Institutions in the three senatorial districts in the state is aim at making the Delta an entrepreneurial hub in the country. The governor has domesticated the health insurance scheme in Delta State, a scheme which he pioneered at the national level when he was a senator.”
In the area of security, Prince Obaro said the governor has de – escalated tension in several communities that nearly threatened the peace in Delta State, saying that the governor played a pivotal role in collaboration with the Federal Government in ensuring cessation of hostilities in the Niger Delta by militants the result which has increased oil production from 1.5million barrels to 2.2million barrels daily as at today.
Peeping into the personality traits of governor Okowa which has earned him the nickname “Ekwueme” which literally means a man whose words are his bond, Obaru said Okowa had exhibited this character traits since he was a local government chairman and rising through various political positions and now a model to many.
According to him; the governor has invited so many politicians hitherto worked against his aspiration to join hands with him in the task of building a new Delta State, noting that he exhibits genuine character in such a way as to have political admirers all over the country.
“It was this dependable character stream that made the National Chairman of PDP to appoint him the party’s national convention planning committee Chairman, assignment he performed satisfactorily.” He added.
