GOV OKOWA: CHANGING THE POLITICAL NARRATIVES IN DELTA STATE.

BY OLOMU ONYIYE.

Politics is a game. And like other games, most of us will agree it should be played by rules and principles.

Unfortunately, the average Nigerian politician does not consciously adhere to any rules. In politics ,he is arrogantly lord to himself - umpire and player at same time.

I can however understand why it's always a do- or - die affair for the average Nigerian politician. When he fails to attain or obtain politically, what else has he to fall back on?

Any skills? Any mental excellence to deploy into other ventures? Any other career to pursue outside that chequered history of sycophancy, thuggery and political flirtation?

From the foregoing therefore, why so many crookedly experienced political masters but so few selfless or altruistic servants among us? Well, Politics is both the MEANS and the END in Nigeria!

Gov Okowa is however labouring tactfully to change this undesirable narrative in Delta State.

Whatever misgivings any critic might claim to have against Gov Okowa, one thing is sure : the Governor is unarguably among the few Chief Executives with whom the power of the masses was/is still potent or effective till date.

A check will definitely reveal that most notable achievements of the State Government came by the will and decision of the people themselves.

From the crafting of the SMART Agenda to its eventual execution till date,the people have been actively carried along throughout.

Even when recently there was a little interruption occasioned by a justified agitation by the Isoko Nation, the Governor went to them himself and this rare feat of humility and prompt responsiveness from a sitting Governor was well acknowledged and applauded by the Isoko Nation.

Furthermore, there is a twist to the recently held Town Hall Meetings which most persons might not have taken note of.

Apart from being acclaimed as a leader who personally takes notes for further reference or usage, Gov Okowa utilizes his Town Hall Meetings to serve a dual purpose.

As earlier stated, first,Town Hall Meetings afford Gov Okowa the opportunity to present his scorecard to the people whom he always acknowledges, gave him the mandate he enjoys today.

Second and more applicable in this discourse, Gov Okowa always looks forward to using information from Town Hall Meetings as basis to effect conception and execution of another tranche of developmental infrastructure or policies for the electorate. This is perhaps nothing but the pursuit of responsive and participatory democracy at its very best.

Lastly, as one earnestly desirous of raising a generation of reliable and commendable political leaders, Gov Okowa is already introducing a culture of accountability, sensitivity and altruism for the electorate among his appointees.

To him, Government appointees should no longer presume that empowering the electorate is only within the purview of the Governor and legislators.

By virtue of his insistence and encouragement, many of his aides have become philanthropic in their communities and surroundings.

They now give scholarships to indigent but intelligent students; they organise Empowerment Schemes to alleviate the level of economic deprivation among community and Constituency folks and some of them even embark on building Skill Acquisition Centres in order to equip youths with economic and coping skills in the midst of today's economic crunch.

It's obviously not yet Eldorado in Delta State. However, one encouraging thing to observe is that not only will the legacies of Gov Okowa set Delta State on an irreversible pathway of human,capital and infrastructural development, the Governor is gradually entrenching a political culture which is returning power to the electorate who are actually the true owners.

God bless Delta State.

You are a disgrace to Delta State and a cheap earth quaking liar from the pit of hell. How could you have fabricated this well scripted piece of lies just for the brown envelop you will receive? Do you have conscience at all? It is on record that the governor you poured accolade on is unarguably the worst performing governor in Nigeria. Poor you! This publicity stunt of yours is dead on arrival. Try something else.