President General of Urhobo Progress Union Worldwide, Olorogun Moses Taiga, has said that the union and the good people of Delta Central Senatorial District, will continue to support the state governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, to finish strong in 2023.
The elder statesman and business mogul, gave the assurance when the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Communications, Chief Dr Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe Esq, paid him a scheduled visit at his Okpare-Olomu country home in Ughelli South Local Government Area.
Olorogun Taiga, further asserted that the Okowa administration had rekindled the hope of Deltans in terms of Democratic dividends in representative government, noting that this administration successfully executed some key star projects namely; the reconstruction and upgrade of Asaba International Airport, and the completion and commissioning of the Stephen Keshi International Stadium.
The UPU PG also took cognisance of the construction and commissioning of Asaba Water Storm Underground drainage, renovation and equipping of the abandoned six technical colleges in the state and the construction and equipping of the gigantic ultra modern State Secretariat, named after the Asagba of Asaba, among others.
Taiga expressed UPU’s gratitude to the Okowa administration for the juicy appointments offered sons and daughter of Urhobo extraction since 2015, and still counting, adding that Delta Central Senatorial District had her fair share in rhe reconstruction and renovation of roads network embarked upon by by the state government.
He urged Deltans and Urhobo Nation to support the governor and his team in prayers and whatever means legitimate and noble to enable him finish strong in 2023.
The UPU Leader and statesman disclosed that the Union is apolitical and will not meddle into mainstream politics, other than to ensure a transparent process in the choice of a would be candidate from Urhobo nation.
Taiga disclosed that UPU will set up a powerful committee, made up of eminent personalities in Urhobo nation, to screen all aspirants from all political parties in 2022, possibly the third week in the month of February, after the celebration of the 90th anniversary of the Union.
Olorogun Taiga, said UPU will not enter into unholy alliance with any political party or candidate either now or in 2023, pointing out that, the sad political events of 2015, which tend to paint the union as a political organisation instead of a sociocultural umbrella of the Urhobos shall be avoided in this dispensation, and in the future.
“UPU have reasons to say that Gov Okowa has done well. We can see the proof of his hard work and purposeful leadership; the stadium, the state Secretariat, the over 3,000 kilometers of roads and bridges constructed and rehabilitated, as well as, the Asaba Airport rehabilitation and upgrade, the YAGEP, STEP, RYSA and PROJECT GEST enpowement programmes which took over 150,000 youth from the congested labour market in Delta State, and made them breadwinners and small and media scale business owners.
“Okowa has done well but we want him to do more. He can still achieve substantially in infrastructure and human capital development. It is our hope and prayer that the people of Delta Central and every part of the state will continue to benefit from this administration. I commend governor Okowa for his good governance strides.
“The issue of the 2023 governorship election is also in the front burner. And I can tell you for free that UPU will set up a powerful committee to screen all governorship aspirants next year; say the third week in February, 2022. This is to allow for more aspirants from all the registered political parties to show up in the political stage for the number one position in the state.
“And I have made it abundantly clear that no executive member of UPU is permitted to serve in the screening committee of any other group or political lobby group, so as not to give the impression that UPU screened members of a particular political party to the exclusion of others.
“We have sons and daughters in all the political parties, and it will be unjust and unfair to be seen to be partial in our activities in respect of the 2023 governorship aspirants screening.
In doing this, UPU door will remain open for consultations by all governorship aspirants from different political parties in the state. Those aspirants who are ready to consult UPU to articulate their manifestos and roadmap are now free to do so,” Taiga added.
Olorogun Taiga, commended the EAC to Okowa, Fred Oghenesivbe, for being able to effectively stabilize the media space for good governance, while urging him to remain focused and dedicated to his assigned responsibilities, not minding few detractors who may want to dampen his spirit out of envy and jealousy.
Responding, Oghenesivbe thanked the UPU President for inviting him to his palatial home in Okpare, for the first time, adding that he was humbled that a global figure like Olorogun Taiga would invite him for dinner and to interface with him on state and national issues.
“PG general, I am humbled by this meeting. Your fist Deputy President General, Chief Dr Anthony Onokharigho, broke the news and I was like who am l to dine with the great Olorogun Moses Taiga. But here we are having good time together.
“I must commend your visionary leadership and the father figure roles you have been playing to redeem the image of UPU, which was radically fractured and undermined by the immediate past President General and his politically minded team.
“You have saved Urhobo nation from embarrassment and mockery inflicted on Urhobo Nation and UPU by sponsored political forces in the Union.
“It is my hope and the desire of our people that your administration will remain focused and devoid of partisan politics, not striking unholy deals with any governorship candidate or the Presidency, as was the case in 2015, which greatly shortchanged Urhobo nation, in the scheme of things,” Oghenesivbe said.