Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa
By Emeka Nwokocha
The clarion call for prudent management of the resources accruing to the nation lately by good spirited Nigerians is a welcome development. This is against the backdrop of recurring economic recession hurting the Nigerian state in recent times, with attendant dysfunction in the economy wherein decrepit economic indices constantly jeopardize every effort garnered towards making a strive to our collective greatness.
Most worrisome is the brazen fact that the tempo of our nation’s economic ruin has persistently been on the rise even as the economies of the federating states have not fared any better as evidence of pillaging, mismanagement, plundering, and misappropriation of public funds stare us in the face. Worst still, the huge debt profile of the states resulting from poor administrative acumen of the leaders are occasioned by rabid corruption pervading every facet of our political and economic institutions over the years.
At this time of trending indices of our economic woe, the emergence of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as a new brand of political leader of oil rich Delta State is quite revealing, even as it enthusiastically raises the expectations of hapless Deltans who cannot wait to see their lives turned around for good.
There is no scintilla of doubt that governor Okowa is a grassroots politician whose romance with the corridor of power has maintained a steady leap forward, of which his shot at the governorship seat in 2015 came to fruition by divine intervention. One can confidently say that Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa’s election as governor of Delta state broke the jinx in Delta politics of subjugation and annihilation, as he made history as the first governor of the state from Delta North through the ballot.
Therefore, the determination of governor Ifeanyi Okowa to write his name in the annals of the states’ economic transformation history may not be refuted as his five point “SMART” agenda presents a window of opportunity for the infrastructure deficit Delta State to make resounding progress in fixing its ailing institutions, andklyj infrastructure, and building a solid economic foundation sine qua non for industrial revolution in the state.
There is no denying the fact that Delta State has over the years been denied the right atmosphere and policy framework for industrial growth despite having in abundance natural and human resources that could drive industrial and infrastructural development at a great speed.
Therefore, having Governor Okowa at the saddle of leadership coupled with his trumpeted crusade of industrial, economic and socio-political re-engineering, it is expected that the drawbacks and obstacles that had stood in the way to speedy development of the state would be dismantled by the new administration to pave way for progressive, meaningful and viable economic and industrial growth.
To stand Governor Okowa in good stead, he must be reminded that the good people of Delta State and millions of Nigerians would be ready to pledge their support for his government as it pursues its transformation initiative tenaciously. In case the governor does not know the plethora of tortuous issues begging for his attention, he is duty bound to take a bird eye view of the complex challenges bedeviling the state with a view to nipping them in the bud. This advice is predicated on the fact that the teething problems before Governor Okowa’s government are obviously enormous and practically tougher and more complex than he seems to have knowledge of them.
Considering the dwindling resources of the country currently, resulting from fallen crude oil price and low performing rate of income generating institutions, it is appropriate to remind governor Okowa that his government will have to think out of the box to be able to contend with the challenges posed by paucity of fund as evident in drastic reduction in the Federal Revenue Allocation (FRA) to the states in recent times. To augment the shortfall in revenue therefore, Governor Okowa must plug the leakages in the internally generated revenue sector of the state to pave way for proper accountability.
In the same plank, the nagging issue of unemployment has been recurring in the state, with successive governments paying lip service to its attendant harm to the socio-economic wellbeing of the people. The teeming unemployed graduates and indeed, able body men and women roaming the streets deserve better living standard from the government of the day. Therefore, Governor Okowa’s government must not fail in its responsibility to providing succor to the hapless and unemployed Deltans.
The most pathetic a situation hurting the state is the deteriorating state of safety of lives and properties in recent times, and the attention of Governor Okowa is seriously needed in this regard. There is no denying the fact that the spate of insecurity in the state has assumed a disturbing dimension as crimes are committed with ease with little or no effort on the part of the law enforcement agencies to bring the perpetrators to book. Consequently, residents in most cities in the state now resort to self-help mechanism by contracting the services of private guards. What with the liberty at which youths wield dangerous weapons and cause mayhem in the communities and cities. Without mincing words, the rate at which lawlessness prevails in most communities of the state calls for urgent attention of the government or else, there will be total breakdown of law and order. Splinter groups of youths or factions in the communities often pitch against one another in a shooting bout and causing pandemonium as residents scamper for safety.
Governor Okowa must ensure that the mindset of the youths is reoriented, reformed, and repositioned towards productive life endeavour. The governor must ensure that Delta State is safe and conducive for living with full enthronement of the rule of law which is sine qua non for economic and infrastructural development of the state. In other words, the Governor Okowa’s crafted road map to economic recovery and prosperity of the state through the platform of the SMART agenda cannot see the light of day when safety of lives and properties is undermined and botched by impunity and flagrant violation of the extant laws of the land by miscreants and ‘area boys.’
In a nutshell, Deltans urge governor Okowa to be focused, steadfast and committed to his transformation initiative to be able to rescue the state from the current economic turmoil. This clarion call must be taken serious by the governor in situ.
Emeka Nwokocha, a Public Affairs Analyst, wrote from Warri
