Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa emerged overwhelmingly victorious at the April 2015 Governorship Election to become the fourth elected Governor of Delta State. After his swearing in on 29 May, 2015, there followed another several uncertain months of vengeful electioneering legal tussle that went up to the Supreme Court and the subsequent validation of His Excellency's Mandate.
There is nothing more difficult to carry out, not more doubtful of
success, not more dangerous to handle, than to initiate a new order of things.
For the reformer, he who dares to chat a new course, has enemies in all those
who profit by the old order and only lukewarm defenders in all those, who would
profit by the new order. This lukewarmness arises, partly from
incredibility of mankind, who do not truly believe in anything new, until they
have actually experienced it.
With Governor Okowa, Delta
people have elected a leader who is not selfish, and who places the people over
his personal needs. In this world, to be competitive in all aspects, it demands
radical socio-economic transformation and the Delta State Governor has vast
knowledge in governance, which will usher in socio-economic transformation.
Governor Okowa is a leader
that has good vision for the State. He has set standards for honesty and with
him, mismanagement of the State's resources, cronyism and recklessness in
governance has be grossly minimized if not eradicated. In leadership, your
acolytes greatly influence your output. The people you work with should share
same philosophy with you and be poised to interpret your vision statements into
realities.
The Senator Ifeanyi Okowa
administration has left no one in doubt about its clear intent to deliver good
governance to every sector facet of the State and create jobs for the teeming
population. Key to the prosperity agenda is the strategic importance of roads.
There is a strong positive correlation between economic development and the
quality of its road network. Governor Okowa is building roads across the State
in spite of the very poor financial situation occasioned by the continuously
dwindling statutory revenue accruing to the State due to the falling price of
crude oil.
It is no doubt a big challenge that
statutory allocation from the Federation Account to States has dropped
drastically. For Delta State it is huge drop from over N15 billion last year to
less than N6 billion now, thus making it difficult for most State governments
to pay salaries to workers, yet Governor Okowa has sustained the payment of
salaries to the State workforce and met the demands of other areas, because he
has continuously been thinking out of the box and every day, his concern is how
to improve the fortunes of the State.
The
people of Delta State are excited about the early glimpses of hope the
government has ignited as it is delivering on essential public works,
transportation infrastructure and provision and maintenance of key installations.
Governor Okowa has displayed burning passion to build roads, intervene where
existing roads have gone bad and source for added funds to undertake several
other new roads begging to be constructed. As a faithful servant leader, he is
keeping to the promise to sustain superior performance in every area of governance.
Road
transportation constitutes an integral aspect of society’s development. Roads
form one of the most important and a valuable public asset as it accounts for
94 percent of freight and 97 percent of all traffic movements, including a
major access to rural communities, which form the food basket of every
nation and raw materials hub.
A
good road network plays an important role in maximising economic and social
benefits, including basically enhancing the mobility of people interlinking
them to other towns or communities. Reducing the distance between people,
markets, services and knowledge is a great part of what economic growth
entails. Although virtual connectivity has become increasingly important today
with the emergence of new communication avenues, a good and reliable transport
network remains vital. It is one of the bedrocks that drive development through
increased investment and economic activities.
Across
the State, the government of Senator Okowa is embarking upon several road
construction projects. Interestingly, the roads under construction are key to
fulfilling the dreams of a Delta where wealth abounds. The Government has also
set high standards for the contractors as much emphasis has been laid on
quality from the point of contract award to different stages of certification.
So far the failed portions on various roads are been
addressed, while the Ughelli - Asaba road is receiving attention. Work commenced
earnestly on Ughelli, Afiesere, Ofuoma road and Oteri township roads in Ughelli North Local Government Area, Uduophori road in
Patani Local Government Area. Other roads under construction includes
Osonia road, Cable Point, dualization of Okpanam
Road, Alisimie-Ozanogogo road,
Orikeze Street road, dualization of Nnebisi Road from traffic light junction to
Cable Point, Palace road Owa-Oyibu, Construction of Ikokogbe/Idumizormor road,
Ogala/Chukwuemeke Street, Construction of Christ Embassy Church road Asaba,
Construction of Esenwa Street, Asaba, extension of access road to Orthopaedic
and General Surgical wards and Doctors Quarters - Federal Medical Center
Asaba. Construction of Kefas Road Oleh,
Oleh-Emede road, Imudia/Dr. White street, construction of Okpanam road, construction
of old Agbor - Lagos road linking Asaba - Benin Expressway. Others include Delsuth link road, Oghara in Ethiope West, Trailer park
Road, Nigercat, Ekpan in Uvwie LGA, Internal roads in Oghara, Jeddo road, and Okuvo-Kpokpogri-Iriama
road in Okpe LGA, Sapele road dualization project, among others.
The State Government is working assiduously right now round the
clock to ensure that something practical is done to take water from Okpanam
road to Anwai River. By the time that is achieved, the entire axis will no
longer experience flooding.
It is refreshing to note that the
present administration has a comprehensive policy on how to link the entire
State with motorable roads. The future smiles brightly in the area of road
construction and the Ifeanyi Okowa administration remains committed to sustaining
superior roads and critical infrastructure in the State.
There are a lot of
assurances and reassurances for the near future of Delta State. There might be
trying times in the nation right now, but fortunately for our people, the right
man is at the helm of affairs in Delta State. He who is adept in managing
little, can be trusted to do much if we are blessed with abundance.
Governor Okowa stands
for honesty, trustworthy and conscientiousness. He is highly-principled, selfless,
bonded in contentment, decent and above all, prudent. With him, Delta State has
chosen a leader who is not selfish, and who will place people over his personal
needs and above all, transparent.
No one is greater than God.
Comments
Post a Comment