WARRI/Nigeria: Erudite scholar and journalist, Comrade Emeka Nwokocha has called on the governor of Delta state, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa to do everything within the confine of his office to turn the shambolic economy of Delta state around which in turn would create jobs to address the rising rate of unemployment in the state, saying that the teeming unemployed youths roaming about in the streets is a time bomb at the verge of explosion.
Speaking at a public forum in Warri recently, Comrade Nwokocha lamented the alarming rate of poverty in the state resulting from rising rate of unemployment in recent times.
The mass communication scholar noted that Delta state is richly endowed with mineral and human resources capable of placing it at the pinnacle of economic growth, even as he stated that Deltans have no justifiable reason to be jobless, poor or hungry.
Continuing, Comr. Nwokocha noted that over the years, poverty has invaded the communities and towns in the state and ravaging the gullible populace while the government seems to have no palliative to cushion the hurting effect.
“It is inexplainable why the vibrant youths in the state roam the streets with forlorn hope and go to bed without food in their bellies. This development is quite unfortunate, as it simply tells that the welfare of the people has over the years been glossed over by successive governments.
His words, “There is no denying the fact that the shabby nature of the state’s economy stares everyone in the face even as standard of living in our communities is so appalling, while the slum-like cities the people live is seriously lacking the basic amenities to make life worth a living.”
Comr. Nwokocha stressed the need for a collective effort to launch Delta state on the path of economic recovery. He called on political office holders in the state to join hands with governor Okowa to wrestle the state out of the grip of unemployment and poverty, even as he noted that the Okowa’s developmental model, “SMART” agenda could make a huge impact in reduction of unemployment in the state if it is vigorously pursued with patriotism, sincerity and determination.
Reacting to complaints about the health sector in the state, Comr. Nwokocha expressed worry over the epileptic state of the free medical treatment for children, aged 0 – 5 years, saying that the scheme has since been ineffective and apparently hijacked by corrupt elements in the health sector. He called on governor Okowa to visit the public hospitals to ascertain the efficiency and practicality of the scheme. He noted that the free medical scheme which was started by the immediate past governor of the state, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and currently being sustained by the government of Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, is fast becoming a charade.
He said, “It is disheartening to note that the free medical scheme for children aged 0 – 5 years has become a sham in recent times. This is truly pathetic as parents who took their children to Ekpan General Hospital in Uvwie Local Government Area of the state recently, have said that the trumpeted free medical scheme is no longer operational, saying that free drugs are no longer available for the sick children.
“Therefore, I implore Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to reactivate the free medical scheme in order to reduce infant mortality in the state.”
Continuing, Comr. Nwokocha said, “Without any iota of doubt, the free medical scheme has made great impact on the health of children in the state since it was launched alongside free maternal treatment some years ago. I am sure governor Okowa’s government will lose credibility if the free medical scheme is not resuscitated to maintain the steady reduction in infant and child mortality in the state.”
He called on governor Okowa and the Commissioner for Health to constitute a transparent investigation team to look deeply into the operation of the free medical scheme in a bid to sanctioning any medical staff who indulges in any act capable of truncating the objectives of the scheme.
His words, “in case the free medical scheme is still running, I strongly call on governor Okowa to look critically into its operation so that unpatriotic and corrupt elements in the medical sector, who are bent on sabotaging the good intention of the government, will be brought to book.
“Against the backdrop of complaints trailing the scheme in recent times, it is obvious that some staff in the state health institutions are sabotaging the free medical scheme by diverting some of the medical supplies to other purposes, primarily to satiate personal gratification.
“I urge governor Okowa to overhaul the health sector in the state as feelers indicate that a lot of back door transactions are gaining prominence to a worrisome dimension.
Reacting to governor Okowa’s promise to ensure dredging of Warri and Koko Ports to make them function optimally and boost economic activities in the state, Comr. Nwokocha said that the initiative was in the right direction, even as he noted that reactivation of the ports is long overdue. He however, called on the governor to walk his talk, noting that past governments in the state looked the other way while the Warri and Koko Ports are in bad shape with attendant draught in economic activities and job opportunities for the teeming youths in the state over the years.
He praised governor Okowa for exploring various avenues to revamping the ailing economy of the state, resulting from shrieked revenue occasioned by dwindling price of crude oil at the international market in recent times.
