Okowa Becomes A Trailblazer, A Stabilizing Catalysts At #PDPNational Convention

The much-publicised National Convention of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has come and gone. For the PDP, the match to reclaim power come 2019 has just begun.

Although, its conduct has been a subject of controversy going by pockets of protest, hitches and challenges, the national convention of Nigeria’s main opposition party is a done deal.

A new set of leaders have emerged and the party have also installed a new set of power brokers.

The challenge ahead to outwit the ruling party, All Progressives Congress are still enormous but PDP despite its known power games remain a trusted alternative to right anything the ruling party cannot offer Nigerians who have being frustrated by economic hardship.

The party’s national convention was successful by all account as promised by the Chairman of the PDP National Convention Elective Committee and the Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa.

This is one convention which its activities can be likened to a presidential election with the tension and hype created by the media and the campaign of all aspirants publicly displayed.

The convention was seen as the last hope of all Nigerians and after its successful conclusion, one cannot but breathe a sigh of relief and hail Governor Okowa for keeping his promises.

In all of it, one thing that would lingered beyond the national convention is the dramatic personea who made things work.

Senator Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, himself being a very strong grassroots mobiliser has become a trailblazer and stabilizing catalysts, first after he had succeeded with the non-elective National Convention of the party and now this which APC had expected to fail.

Okowa has proved that he is somebody who can set new standards not only in administration of people, resources but also political mobilization and structuring.

Political watchers say the governor has shattered the glass ceilings in this national assignment, permuting that if he put this kind of mobilization to his reelection come 2019, or performance in his home state Delta, his ride to Government House come 2019 may just be smooth drive again.

This was why former governor of Benue state, who served as the Chairman of the Electoral Committee for the Convention, Mr Gabriel Suswam, could not hold his feelings about Okowa just after the result were declared.

For him, Governor Okowa was a “workaholic whose drive made it possible for the PDP to have the best convention since the formation of the party in 1998”.

Okowa has always showed that commitment and tireless devotion in anything he does. In the administration of human and economic resources in Delta State, he is rated high,  except where high expectations on governance become a major problem.

According to Suswam, in his judgment of how the convention was conducted; “this is the first ever very transparent election convention that the PDP has ever had, he said,  adding “it took Governor Okowa a lot of military tact for us to have what we have today”.

When Ifeanyi Okowa was chosen to lead the PDP National Elective Committee, he made a promise to ensure that the convention was credible and transparent and that was the catalyst needed to drive his committee to their goal.

He understood that the public were watching the outcome of this convention because their future depended on it and with this herculean task, he set out “with his face like a flint towards Jerusalem” to make the yearning future bright again and make PDP a beacon of hope for Nigerians.

In order for chaos not to ensue, he barred the use of the convention venue for campaigns and display of posters and banners and this was adhered to strictly.

He motivated every section of the party to willingly work with him and the level of maturity displayed was so much that after the elections, party aspirants were seen congratulating each other with one of the defeated candidate going as far as to say there was no form of illegal activities whatsoever.

Thus, Governor Okowa embodies democracy in its true form and with his handling of the PDP convention, one would pray for INEC chairman to become like Okowa to make the next general elections as peaceful, transperant and acceptable as that of PDP.

This is therefore very clear to Deltans that their amiable Governor is a man of peace and in touch with the realities on ground. It is only the obstinate and the ignorant who will not value the treasure of a personality like Governor Okowa.

Various sections of the state that have made it their pastime to castigate him of incompetence is so cliché that he (Governor Okowa) has chosen the gentleman and mature way out; “Keep silent and let his works speak for him”.

An example is the Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP) and Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurs Programme (YAGEP) which have enabled youths to be gainfully employed.

However, it is high time state officials draw the Governor’s attention to the fact that this programmes of his should be given more awareness and that the procedures should be less strenuous.

The verdict of Suswam, without further ado shows the experience Governor Okowa brings to bear when saddled with responsibility and it will be a shame and a huge monumental loss if he is not given a second tenure to consolidate on his “SMART” agenda for Deltans.

The Midas touch of Governor Okowa is portrayed when the Local Government primaries in the state’s party finished without so much as a rancor. This shows make an educated mind understand the gem who is leading the state.

However, as various sections of the Delta populace castigate the Governor on critical issues of state economic and development, it is high time Okowa give listening ears because most of these agitations are legitimate.

The Governor if possible should employ the same “military tact” he used to ensure a successful PDP convention to address some of these pressing needs and it is believe that if he does, there will be unprecedented results before 2019.

Julius Eras-Olabowu, additional reporting by Odigwe Jilams

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