By Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe.
#eacgovdelta
Governor of Delta State, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, has disclosed that he had to dissolve the State Executive Council, EXCO, due to recent unauthorised activities of some members which obviously seem to distract them from concentrating on their assigned official responsibilities.
He made this disclosure at the quarterly media interaction on Wednesday 19th May, in Asaba, saying that it was for the best interest of the state and this administration.
The governor said the immediate past commissioners and other members of Exco affected by the exercise contributed immensely to the enviable achievements of government in the past two years of the second tenure, and thanked them for their meritorious service to the state.
Gov Okowa while responding to a question on which senatorial district to produce the next PDP governor, said the Almighty God by virtue of His mortal status knows the end from the beginning, and as such He alone knows who will take over the leadership of the state from him in 2023, adding that it will be wrong for him to “play God” by pretending to know the future.
And on power rotation within the PDP, the platinum governor asserted that at the appropriate time the leaders of the party in the state will sit together to look into what is fair, equitable and justiceable, and possibly arrive at the best ways and means to get things done in the best interest of the party and the good people of Delta State.
Touching on the repatriated £2.4 million Delta money by the British government, governor Okowa said his administration is currently on top of the matter, adding that official letters have been written to the federal government and the office of the Attorney General of the Federation, on the need to channel the money to some projects in the state, if it becomes impossible for cash to the released.
He further disclosed that there might be the need to contemplate on supplementary budget to fund some important infrastructure projects in the state, adding that due to shortfalls from monthly federal allocations, the 2021 budget implementation suffered hiccups and therefore government must of a necessity do the needful to provide good governance at all times.
Gov Okowa said the three Universities recently approved by the National University Commission, NUC, will be funded adequately to provide qualitative education, adding that construction of new administrative buildings for; Dennis Osadebey University, Delta University And Delta State University of Science and Technology, have been approved by Exco and construction works will commence in earnest.
“As for who become the governor of Delta State in 2023, it is only God that knows the future and the next governor of Delta State.
“I believe that at the appropriate time, leaders of our party, PDP, in the state will come together to decide the way forward, especially to critically look into what is fair, equitable and justiceable as far as power rotation and governorship election is concerned. But you as individuals can also pray to God, for Him to reveal the next governor to you.
“Yes, I have reasons for dissolving Exco and it has to do with unhealthy distractions noticed in some members, wherein focus was substantially being shifted from assigned official responsibilities. And I had to do something about it, and the best option available was to dissolve Exco.
“The commissioners and other members of the immediate past Exco did excellently well within the past two years, and I must commend and thank them, once again, for their valuable contributions to good governance in the state.
“As for the repatriated Delta funds, we are already on top of the matter. Letters were written to the federal government and the Attorney General of the Federation. We shall continue to do the needful to ensure that the money is either returned to the state in cash or channeled into infrastructure projects in Delta State.
“The Southern Nigeria Governors resolution passed recently in Asaba, is for the best interest of Nigeria, and we shall continue to meet and review the situation until we are able to come up with a perfect plan that we can formally present to the federal government via Mr President.
“In the main time, we are doing our best to secure the State and Delta has remained relatively peaceful in the midst of daunting security challenges in the country, especially in Southern Nigeria.
“The state education sector will continue to receive the attention of government because we want more and more qualified Deltans to have access to University education.
“Exco has approved the construction of new administrative buildings for the three Universities; Delta University, Agbor; Dennis Osadebey University, Anwai and Delta State University of Science and Technology, Ozoro.
“As for my future political interest after leaving office, I will continue to pray for God to direct my steps on the way to go, and I will keep praying until I receive confirmation from my Father in Heaven,” Okowa said.
Chairman of the Delta State Chapter of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Comrade Michael Ikeogwu, commended the visionary leadership of the governor of Delta State, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, and thanked him for providing the necessary support towards the completion of the NUJ Press Centre, due for commissioning on or before May 29, 2021.
In attendance at the Press interstice session were top government officials, including the Deputy Governor, Barrister Kingsley Otuaro, Permanent Secretary, Mr Paul Osahon, Director of Information, Ministry of Information, General Managers of Delta Broadcasting Service, Warri and Asaba stations; Pastor Malcom Oteri, Mr Frnkwhyte Osabohien and personal senior media aides of the governor; Chief Press Secretary, Mr Olise Ifeajika, Executive Assistant on Communications, Olorogun Barr Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, JP, Mr Nelson Egware, SSA on Media and others too numerous to mention.