By Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe.
#eacgovdelta
Executive Governor of Delta State, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, has again sounded a note of warning to all political appointees in his administration, saying that they must henceforth focus on their assigned official responsibilities, jettison politicking and political distractions.
He issued the yellow card while speaking at the swearing in ceremony of the 12th Secretary to the State Government, Chief Patrick Ukah, and eight Advisers, including the Chief Economic Adviser to the Governor, Dr Kingsley Emu, in Asaba, on Monday June 7, 2021.
Okowa, reminded appointees of the absolute need to assist him to deliver on the mandate given by Deltans, adding that this administration is determined to “finish strong” on May 29, 2023, hence it will be out of place for political appointees who happens to be his co-labourers to abandon their official duties to play politics at the middle of the second tenure.
Quoting from the Holy scriptures; Ecclesiastes 7:8 “Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit,” Okowa said the Stronger Delta Team, in the last two years of his tenure in office, must of a necessity be focused and dedicated to duty; so as to fully implement the agenda, for the benefit of the people.
It will be recalled that the platinum governor recently dissolved his cabinet to avoid distraction, meaning that, it is almost impossible for appointees to combine full time politicking with official duties. This pronouncement appears to be a renewed call on those who have overshot the runway to taxi back to base.
In a similar development, the State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in a recent statement warned all state, local government and ward exco members, not to associate themselves with political pressure groups, PPG, and must not attend social activities or meetings organised by PPGs anywhere in Delta State and beyond.
Okowa described the new SSG, Chief Patrick Ukah, as a pleasant personality, a humble gentleman and a dedicated public servant who in the past six years, proved to be highly committed to ensuring that government policies and programmes are pursued to fruition, adding that he has implicit confidence in his ability to deliver on his new assignment as SSG.
“Chief Patrick Ukah, has been part of all that we have done and achieved in the past six years. He did well as Commissioner for Information in the first tenure, before he was drafted to the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, where he served meritoriously in the past two years before his new job as SSG.
“He is an active team player, humble and forthright. His pleasant personality is worthy of note. I have no doubt in my mind that he will improve on the enviable achievements of his predecessor, Barr Chiedu Ebie.
“I therefore, enjoined the new SSG to assist government in reconciliatory matters, make friends across board, be fair to all concerned, and to serve the state and Deltans to the best of his abilities, without fear or undue favour.
Responding on behalf of all newly sworn in appointees, Ukah thanked the governor for considering them worthy to serve the state and people in the next two years of this administration.
“As SSG, I will prayerfully and meticulously discharge my duties without blemish. And as a loyal apostle of Okowa Political Philosophy, I will continue to serve the people, the state and keep learning new skills under the political tutelage of the platinum governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa,” Ukah assured.
The ceremony was well attended by senior government officials, elected representatives, political actors and senior personal aides to the Governor, which include; the Deputy Governor, Barr Kingsley Otuaro and his wife, Speaker., Delta State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori and some members of the State House of Assembly, State Party Chairman, Barr Kingsley Esiso and immediate past Functioning SSG and Head of Service, Mr Reginald Bayoko, mni.
Others are; Some Past SSGs; Comrade Ovuzorie Macaulay, Rt Hon Festus Ovie Agas and Barr Chiedu Ebie; Permanent Secretaries, State Director of Protocol, Hon Ifeanyi Eboigbe, Manager Communications, Hon Jackson Ekwugum, Chief Press Secretary, Hon Olise Ifeajika, Executive Assistant to the Governor on Communications, Chief Barr Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, JP., and others too numerous to mention here.