WE'LL BE EQUITABLE IN THE DISTRIBUTION OF PROJECTS – GOVERNOR OKOWA

[***Says 2016 budget will be tight but realistic

The Governor of Delta State, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa has assured communities in Delta State that government will be equitable in the distribution of projects across the State. 

Governor Okowa stated this on Wednesday in Asaba when he played host to the Udu Traditional Council, Political Class, Women leaders and Youths of Udu Kingdom led by the Ovie of Udu Kingdom, HRM Barr. E.B.O. Delekpe, Owhorhu l.

According to the Governor, based on the economic situation of the country, the budget of 2016 would be very tight and realistic, assuring that it was designed to achieve a greater percentage of implementation and build the people’s trust in government.

“The budget is very tight and contracted far beyond the budgets of previous years because we are trying to be realistic, so that we do not give false hope to our people and at the end of the day we are doing less than they expect,” Governor Okowa said, adding, “we want to do projections in such a manner that we are able to achieve some reasonable part of the budget so that people can learn to trust government when they give their word because, we do not want to deceive people, we want to be on the right course.”
He reiterated that there will be equitable distribution of projects stating that nobody will smuggle any fictitious project into the budget as such would not be implemented.

The Governor lauded the people of Udu Kingdom for their peaceful disposition despite their perceived marginalization in terms of projects and appointments in the past while assuring the people that his government will not encourage the marginalization of any community as government will be guided by equity in the distribution of projects.

"I have been elected Governor of Delta State and as such I will not marginalize any community. I am governor for the old and for the young, I am governor for all. He said."

Speaking on the Oleri Leisure Resort, Governor Okowa said government is carrying out an audit of the project to ascertain the true state of the project.

"From the information at our disposal, the State government was just to facilitate the process while investors were supposed to fund the development of the project.

"As it stands today, no investor has put down a kobo and the State government has spent well over N5 billion on the project, if it is a PPP and the investors are supposed to spend the bulk of the money then there is a problem because the reverse is the case. "We are doing an audit of the project, we need to find out if truly it's a PPP or a government project. The project as implemented thus far is way out of the initial plan."

On the issue of Enerhen town, the Governor said, “I think that the true option that leads to real peace is for people to come together, talk together and to agree on what is best and I think we will be opting for this solution because if one goes to court, the issue may be resolved but there will be no lasting peace; so, I assure you that we are going to look into it very critically and we are going to use our Advisory and Peace Building Council as a co-coordinating team to look into the situation because I believe that it is important to look into the issue and in any other place in the state that has similar issues so that we can truly find ways of creating lasting peace in our state,” Governor Okowa said.

“We must learn to live peacefully, because, the more we continue to ensure that issues are raised over little things we can never achieve true peace and we end up destroying normal warm relationships that would have existed. We need to begin to look at peace building solutions because there is nothing that is impossible and there is no level of misunderstanding that cannot be resolved,” the Governor stated.

Earlier in an address presented by the Otota of Udu Kingdom Chief Sam Odibo, the Udu Kingdom frowned at the gross marginalization of the Udu people by DESOPADEC, despite producing 22 percent of the total quantum of oil produced by the Urhobo Ethnic Nationality in Delta State.

The meeting was attended by eminent Udu Chiefs, as well as member representing Udu Constituency in the Delta State House of Aseembly, Hon. Chief Peter Uviejitobor, Commissioner Special Duties, Government House, Hon. Dr. Henry Sakpra, Chairman Udu Local Government, Hon. Chief Solomon Kpomah, Mr Raymond Edijala, Elegbete Barr. Moses Odibo, among others.

Delta State Governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa has assured communities in Delta State that government will be equitable in the distribution of projects across the State.

Governor Okowa stated this on Wednesday in Asaba when he played host to the Udu Traditional Council, Political Class, Women leaders and Youths of Udu Kingdom led by the Ovie of Udu Kingdom, HRM Barr. E.B.O. Delekpe, Owhorhu l.

According to the Governor, based on the economic situation of the country, the budget of 2016 would be very tight and realistic, assuring that it was designed to achieve a greater percentage of implementation and build the people’s trust in government.

“The budget is very tight and contracted far beyond the budgets of previous years because we are trying to be realistic, so that we do not give false hope to our people and at the end of the day we are doing less than they expect,” Governor Okowa said, adding, “we want to do projections in such a manner that we are able to achieve some reasonable part of the budget so that people can learn to trust government when they give their word because, we do not want to deceive people, we want to be on the right course.”
He reiterated that there will be equitable distribution of projects stating that nobody will smuggle any fictitious project into the budget as such would not be implemented.

The Governor lauded the people of Udu Kingdom for their peaceful disposition despite their perceived marginalization in terms of projects and appointments in the past while assuring the people that his government will not encourage the marginalization of any community as government will be guided by equity in the distribution of projects.

"I have been elected Governor of Delta State and as such I will not marginalize any community. I am governor for the old and for the young, I am governor for all. He said."