2019 elections are upon us, how time flies. If we allow ourselves the luxury of reflecting on the state of affairs in the state when Governor Okowa took over the reigns of office we will surmise that so much developments have taken place.
It will not be out of place to posit that Governor Okowa started rather slowly which was alluded to paucity of funds, which In his first budget presentation to the state house of assembly he gave a hint as to the inherited debt profile. But not wanting to appear like a cry baby or embrace that as an excuse like the current federal government, blaming their seeming non performance on past government, Okowa pulled up his boots straps, rolled up his sleeves and went to work.
Against the backdrop of the lean funds at his disposal for the first few months of his administration, he embarked on human capital development projects such that young entrepreneurs have sprung up in fish farming, hair dressing and allied beauty services, and other artisans, creating the much needed young employment, but the critics were unrelenting in their attack of him as a slow Governor who probably didn’t have the capacity to govern. As they were expecting the usual “round about” road development projects.
Undeterred, he quietly was putting together the blue print of his governorship whilst keeping an eagle eye on the state financial base with the attendant efforts at bringing down the debt profile to a manageable level. At the appointed time he unveiled his mastery of governance by bringing to the table, experiences garnered from been a secretary of a local government, chairman of a local government, state commissioner in various ministries, secretary to the state government (SSG), Senator and a medical practitioner. The results are that the abandoned Asaba stadium was completed with modern sporting infrastructures paving way for international athletic competition and national and international soccer events, it was against this backdrop that FIFA approved Asaba stadium for FIFA approved soccer competitions. This monumental feat put Asaba in the sporting world map. Whilst the stadium project was in progress, he took on the reconstruction of the downgraded Asaba Airport runway. Both projects were landmark developments that repositioned the state capital with the embedded boost to tourism and socio-economic growth of the state.
Okowa has without being patronizing surpassed expectations and has made Asaba for the first time wear the look of a state capital. The governor has embarked on arresting the flood menace within the state capital with the construction of comprehensive storm drainage network. All the aforementioned humongous projects seemingly overwhelmed previous administrations.
Whilst working assiduously to give the capital a facelift with the construction of artery roads, he did not lose sight of other parts of the state culminating in the construction of over 300 new roads, health care centers and the completion of abandoned Asaba General Hospital .
So, aside from the philosophy of zoning, he definitely deserves another tenure, to not only complete his on going projects but also initiate new populous projects that are germane to wellbeing of Deltans! When his Developmental projects and human capital development schemes within three and half years are juxtaposed to that of past governments within the same period , one will without doubt testify that he has performed most remarkably well.
® Hon. Uche Uraih
Public Affairs Analyst.
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