WHY OKOWA DESERVES A SECOND TERM

By Okolo Hessington Chimennma

As the race for Government House Asaba hots up as the general elections draw near, Deltans are in strategic position to choose between going forwards or handing over power to desperate power seekers with empty promises.

There are some who argue for Okowa's second term on the basis of where he comes from particularly because there appears to be a rotational agreement between the three (3) senatorial zones of the state. The argument in support of this position is actually simple: since Delta Central and South senatorial districts through HE Chief James Onanefe Ibori (1999-2007) and HE Chief Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan (2007-2015) had enjoyed two terms each respectively, Delta North through Okowa should be allowed to enjoy two terms also.

The above argument is very compelling but I am basing my call for a second term for Okowa on the basis of something more egalitarian and even much more important: his scorecard!

I urge Deltans today to take a look at the giant strides of Governor Okowa and return him for a second term.

Despite the fact that he took over the reins of governance at a time there was recession and minimal revenue to the state, Governor Okowa had undertaken bold projects which would frighten the faint hearted!

Take for instance the Asaba storm water drains projects. This multi billion naira project which has reached advanced stages when completed would hopefully rid Asaba of flooding.

Also Governor Okowa has seriously focused on road infrastructure across the state such that it has earned him the sobriquet "the road master", the good thing about his projects is that they are evenly spread across the state. Bridges are being built across Rivers linking the riverine areas with the upland e.g the Ayakromo bridge etc.
The Okowa administration has awarded about 200 roads including internal roads of which about half had been completed.

In education, Dr. Okowa has focused on technical education and has undertaken complete renovation of three of the states technical schools to wit; Agbor, Sapele and Ofagbe and has further extended his hands to the ones located in Kwale, Issele-Uku, and Warri. This is a worthy venture which is geared towards preparing our children for the future.

The Okowa administration has completed the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba which before now has remained a scare on the Asaba landscape. The Stadium has had a chequered history from the 1960s when it was proposed as a community project by the Asaba people through 1974 when it was taken over by the Bendel State Government to when it was inherited by the Delta State Government on the split of Bendel State into two states of Edo and Delta in 1991 passing through several Governments both military and civilian. The stadium built as a multi-purpose edifice had in the short time since it's completion hosted the Senior African Athletics Federation meet bringing Africa to Asaba, the Aiteo football cup finals, the Super Eagles training before their match against South Africa and the Eagles of Nigeria and the Cranes of Uganda international friendly match thereby promoting Sports tourism to the city of Asaba.

The Asaba airport has also received attention by the Okowa administration. The runway is now fully completed and operational with Airfield lighting system; Runway lights, Approach lights and Instrument Landing System being installed to enable aircrafts land even at night. The Airport with the upgrade, is expected to be used as operational hub by Airlines to pave way for early morning flights from Asaba and late flights into Asaba. Tank farm for refueling of aircrafts has been built in the airport. To underscore it's upgraded facilities and status the Super Eagles were airlifted directed from the Asaba Airport to South Africa for their African Nations Cup qualifier against South Africa. Hopefully soon, the Airport will be approved for more direct international flights which will strategically serve the entire South East and South South business people.

The Okowa administration has also undertaken the building of the New Delta State Secretariat. This ambitious project aims to house the Delta State MDAs under one roof thereby saving for Delta State the huge amounts expended annually on rents. The project which is ongoing at a rapid pace is expected to have it's own independent power source which obviously will enhance efficiency of government business.

And here is the clincher for me; the Okowa administration through the YAGEP/STEP program has trained and equipped over 4000 young persons to set up their own busineses and become employers of labour in various fields. Success stories from the program abound.

While it's obviously impossible to state all the Okowa administration has achieved in one sitting, the above is a glimpse of the massive strides Delta State has been fortunate to take under the pragmatic and visionary leadership of Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa and why I urge all Deltans to shuns those with no visible achievements for the people.
Deltans should support Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa and re-elect him as Governor come 2019 because of he has done well..

Okowa is moving Delta forwards: let's all join him.

Hessington Okolo is a lawyer, Deputy Legal Adviser to the Delta State PDP, equal Rights campaigner, environmental rights activist, political commentator and the self styled Rt. Hon. Speaker of the Masses Assembly

The argument of Delta North doing two terms like other senatorial districts holds water due to our culture of encouraging mediocrity masquerading as rotation,but in terms of performance Okowa should go and sit down.

Sai Buhari till 2023.