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DELTA: Okowa’s Moderate Outing

By Hendrix Oliomogbe, Asaba
12 July 2015   |   7:44 am
IN his inaugural address on May 29 in Asaba, Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, was emphatic that the business of governance would no longer be business as usual. He acknowledged the challenges that confronted the new administration, as a result of the prevailing economic situation of the country. He, however, said: “Our promise of prosperity…
Okowa-RED-CAP

Okowa

IN his inaugural address on May 29 in Asaba, Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, was emphatic that the business of governance would no longer be business as usual.

He acknowledged the challenges that confronted the new administration, as a result of the prevailing economic situation of the country. He, however, said: “Our promise of prosperity for all Deltans is not a catch phrase or campaign rhetoric. It is predicated on the fundamental premise that we will succeed that we will succeed as a government when our people succeed. We must esteem merit over mediocrity performance over favouritism and unity over nepotism.”

Well, over a month after, the governor has appointed the Secretary to the State Government, Chief of Staff, 15 advisers and special assistants, seven media aides and 12 commissioners.

While the scribe, Mr. Festus Ovie Agas was sworn in on June 3, four days after his inauguration, the commissioners had to hold on for a while before they were sworn in one month after on July 3 along with five Special Advisers.

With over 35 cabinet members under immediate past governor,
Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, it is still very difficult to conclude what the number will be under Okowa.

Under Uduaghan, hard truth was that most of the commissioners, especially, those of special duties and special advisers didn’t have job schedules. Some did not even have offices and yet received huge salary and allowances.

The newly sworn in Commissioners are for Commerce and Industry; Environment; Economic Planning; Works; Transport; Energy; and Housing.

Others are Water Resources Development); Women Affairs; Agriculture and Natural Resources; Science and Technology; Basic and Secondary Education.

The Special Advisers are in charge of Rural Development and Peace Building; Infrastructure and Housing Development; Land Resources and Legislative Matters; National Assembly Matters and Inter-governmental Liaison; and Labour Relations.

There is no doubt that the cabinet will surely balloon when the second batch of commissioners are announced. Helmsmen for key ministries like Information, Finance, Higher Education; Health; Justice; Sports; Local Government; Land and Survey are yet to be announced.

Though, Okowa has not been emphatic what the actual size of his cabinet will be. With a careful reading his lips as regards his lamentation of the dire financial state of the Big Heart State, one could surmise that he is not the mood of going the way of his predecessor who had a cabinet that was jocularly referred to as the “Delta State Federal Executive Council”.

As part of his resolve to curb wastefulness in government, the governor ordered all ministries, departments and agencies in the state not to use government funds to place advertisement on his 56th birthday, which came up on Wednesday, July 8.

Also, to his friends and well-wishers, who intended to do same, he pleaded with them to channel such funds to the empowerment of less privileged persons in their communities.

While offering prayers at the New Government House Chapel, Asaba, the governor explained why he decided to have a low-key celebration. He couldn’t figure out why he would host an elaborate party when millions of less privilege in the society is in dire need of food and shelter.

He admonished: “For me this is the real celebration of my birthday not taking pages of advert in the newspapers, because I know there are so many people who are in need, the money can be used to touch the lives of the less privileged. I am not celebrating; I am hopping into the plane to Abuja now, so where ever you are just pray for me.”

He said: “Corruption starves the state of valuable resources that could be used for infrastructural development, improve our educational systems, boost our healthcare system and take care of the poor and needy. It is even worse is that anywhere it is allowed to fester the cost of doing business becomes prohibitive. I want to seek the support and partnership of all public office holders to lead the fight against corruption in their respective offices, which is the only way to retain the trust and confidence the people have bestowed upon us.”

Like a preacher teacher in the pulpit, he sermonized: “And to those of us entrusted with managing public funds, it is mandatory that we carry this weighty responsibility with the fear of God. We must avoid waste, profligacy and never lose sight of the fact that we will be held accountable to God and man for our stewardship.”

With less than two months in office, it is still hazy if Okowa will go the way of Uduaghan, a fellow medical doctor who promised initially to run a lean government but ended up with a swollen government, which milked the lean resources of the state excessively.

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