Okowa and New Delta State

Come May 29, 2015 Senator (Dr.) Arthur Ifeanyi  Okowa  shall be sworn in as the Executive Governor of a New Delta State. Unarguably, Senator Okowa is blessed with the possession of rare powers of memory. His accumulation of facts is immense.

The selection and citation of authorities caused him no hesitation. The Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is always taking share in the promotion of education and other basic needs for the talakawas and others for their betterment.

His constructive criticisms brought him into opposition with some people and his expositions occasionally produced bitterness in opposite factions.

To this end therefore, the road of all Deltans is to the sure and not to the strong. This is because Senator Okowa believes that integrity, honour, patriotism, selfless service and fears of God, must be hallmarks of leadership at all levels. He is a man dedicated to the pursuit of excellence.

Great philosophers often say that attaining the position of leadership is without doubt a burden, bearing in mind that not all leaders possess all that it takes to bear the leadership burden successfully.

If a person emerges as a leader in an exceptional circumstance, such a person by whatever standard is without doubt not out of the way. Again, some are born great some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them according to William Shakespeare. One of such person is Senator (Dr.) Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa who shall soon take over the mantle of leadership as the Executive Governor of a New Delta State.

Greatness is bestowed on some people at birth, but to others, greatness is attained through dint of hard work and determination. The later describes the case of Senator Okowa.

Now that Dr. Okowa is to take over the mantle of leadership in a New Delta State, I wish to quote a press statement issued by Chief Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo during the civil war in Nigeria precisely on the 12^th of August 1967 “And in the successful and satisfactory of these (our) assignments, we need, in very large and abundant measure, certain sterling attributes, among them are, dedication, selfless devotion, courage and faith”.

If I may borrow the vivid words of Heyland, we must during our tenure of office, “be faithful to the highest ideals we have known, with no pandering to the second best, no leniency with our lower selves, no looking backward, no cowardice”.

It is crystal and abundantly clear that Okowa shall be jealously and rigorously guided because of his professionalism, versatility, ability, agility, enthusiasm among others. He is intelligent, exposed, and experienced because he has been a quintessential patriot, foremost defender of democracy and human rights, and political war horse who always stand on the side of truth. In fact, a “hope- giver” a man of superior courage and principle.

Okowa, I think and believe has a historical opportunity dropped on his laps by God to distinguish himself and to show that he is not going to be anybody’s stooge.

He will show to all Deltans both at home and in the Diaspora that he has the capability to efficiently and effectively hold the office of the Executive Governor of Delta State because he is a person who has high level of discipline.

Without mincing words, his transformation agenda will be necessitated by the need to correct some flaws in the State’s drive for development where there is absence by long-term perspective, and lack of continuity, consistency and commitment (3Cs) to agreed policies.

It is a truism to say that development in Delta State under Senator Okowa will not be through the barrel of the mouth. In other words, not just what we have in broadcast media appearances and jingles including the print media.

Okowa is transparent and hard working from all previous offices held. He will be able to create the enabling atmosphere. In view of his versatility and exposure, he will definitely succeed in working out the peaceful, stable, balanced and ethical co-existence of all Deltans.

Deltans can well proclaim in the words of the old coca-cola advertisement “that we like to teach the world to live in perfect harmony”. In fact, prosperity for all Deltans. We must all join hands in order to put the State in the right perspective, New Delta State.

Dr. Charles Ikedikwa Soeze, fhnr, fcida, fcai, fswca, cpae, chnr, son, ksq, emba, ghnr is a mass communication scholar and retired Assistant Director (Administration)/Head, Academic & Physical Planning (A&PP) of the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, Delta State, Nigeria. 08036724193 charlessoeze@yahoo.ca

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