Governor Okowa Says 2019 Political Fever Has Caught His Detractors

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State has reacted to a publication by a group christened as Coalition of Registered Political Parties which alleges failure of his administration in the past two years, saying that the publication was the handiwork of detractors who are already shivering over his ‘modest achievements’ as 2019 approaches.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Charles Aniagwu on Wednesday, Okowa said that his ‘prosperity’ train was on course and would not be detracted by group of persons who tend to cast aspersions on the efforts, policies and programmes of the state government.

His said that his administration had done exceedingly well in the area of road constructions, job creation through the various youth empowerment programmes, uplift of facilities in the educational sector including revamping of once moribund technical colleges, among others.

While reassuring Deltans that he would use the remaining period of his administration to attend to issues of governance with renewed vigor, Governor Okowa said the determination of government to stay focused on the policy thrust of his administration is unshakeable.

The statement read: “Our attention has been drawn to a publication by a body that calls itself the Coalition of Registered Political Parties in Delta State in which they attacked the laudable programmes and the modest achievements of the Okowa led administration.

“Ordinarily, we don’t respond to faceless groups neither do we succumb to the antics of such groups whose sole aim is to distract us from staying focused on the objectives and goals we have set for ourselves as a government.

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“The reason why we have elected to give this particular publication a thought is because the authors are claiming to represent Registered Political Parties in the state and have also tended to discredit our modest achievements in the last two years.

“First from our investigations, there is no known body, registered or incorporated as Coalition of State Chairmen of Registered Political Parties in Delta State. It beats our imagination to observe that this unregistered body is attacking the essence of the ongoing Town Hall Meetings initiated by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Town Hall meetings have been adjudged by well meaning Deltans as laudable as it has afforded them the opportunity to Interface with the government just as it has also afforded the Governor the opportunity to have first hand information on a number of issues.

“The group while claiming that development activities is at a stand still in Delta, went ahead to contradict itself by alleging that ongoing contracts were awarded without due respect to transparency.

“Again, that is not the true position as contracts are awarded with strict adherence to due process, transparency, accountability and in accordance with laid down laws of the state with strict observance of international best practices.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the state government has awarded contracts for 98 roads covering 612km out of which 45 spanning more than 245km have been completed and commissioned. This is in addition to line drains covering over 300km.

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“It is also on record that the administration’s policy on job creation is fully on course and has led to the emergence of hundreds of young entrepreneurs both in the agricultural and skill acquisition sectors with attendant multiplier effects.

“Needn’t we also stress that a reasonable number of primary and secondary schools have been renovated and now wearing anew look. Such uplift of faciities in the educational sector have also been complimented with the revamping of technical schools in the state which were hitherto in a deplorable condition.

“The faceless group in an attempt to attract a measure of credibility to itself delved into the sentimental issue of salaries of local government workers. It is common knowledge that the State Government has severally assisted the Local governments to meet up with their salary obligations despite the fact that the local government is an independent tier of government.

“We can also confidently say that DESOPADEC was restructured via an Act of the State House of Assembly and most Deltans can attest to the fact that the restructuring has saved the Commission from being bugged down by excessive boardroom politics, just as the Commission have despite the recession in the economy been able to address some developmental needs of oil bearing communities.

“The Okowa led administration has continued to take steps to reposition our urban and commercial centres especially the state capital, Asaba which in the last two years witnessed the construction of roads and drains.

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“The reconstruction and upgrade of roads in Warri, the state commercial nerve centre is also ongoing. The Effurun to Enerhen Junction dualization is a an example of such efforts by the government.

“We aware that the 2019 political fever may have caught up with some group of persons and as such may find it convenient to cast aspersions on the efforts, policies and programmes of the government, but we wish to categorically state that our determination to stay focused on our SMART Agenda is unshakeable.

“We wish to assure Deltans that the by the grace of God, we will in the remaining period of this administration attend to issues of governance with renewed vigour”, the statement added.