From Paul Osuyi, Asaba
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State and vice presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday in Asaba described as remarkable the achievements of his administration since 2015.
Okowa was obviously reacting to claims by the Deputy Senate President and the All Progressive Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Ovie Omo-Agege, that the present administration has nothing to show for the huge funds that accrued to the state in the past seven and half years.
The governor, while inaugurating the secretariat of the state council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) built by the state government, said his critics and the opposition party were deliberately telling lies to deceive the people.
He said despite the challenges of recession among others, the state government has been judiciously managing available resources, “thinking out of the box, we have tried to engender peace, we have tried to be very supportive of our people creating jobs and wealth. What we have achieved is remarkable.”
Okowa seized the opportunity to take stock of his achievements, particularly in Asaba, saying that the state capital witnessed significant infrastructure and institutional growth under his watch.
“In the real sense of it, we know what has been done to ensure that we are able to control the storm water that we have in this state.
“We know how much it took us, you may not see all the drains at the moment because over a few years now you are beginning to forget that it was done because you are not seeing it on the surface but we know how many billions of naira it cost us to ensure that people have liveable homes in Asaba.
“The state civil service secretariat did not cost N1 billion. When I was building that secretariat, the same party was criticizing but today, the civil servants know that it is a conducive place for them to work. And we are happy that we are able to bring our people to work together sharing common services.
“We know how the road network was and what it is today. There is a university in this town now. The Anwai campus turned into a university. If you step into that place as of today, a lot development is on going.
“The Leisure Park and Film Village, we know the multiplier effect and the tourism impact it will create in this state. Am sure it will be completed by next month for commissioning.
“In the riverine area, possibly these people stay in Abuja or some of them stay in Lagos, they have not taken time to go to some of our riverine areas to see the turn around there,” he said.
Earlier, state chairman of the NUJ, Mike Ikeogwu and the national president of the union, Chris Isiguzo, appreciated the state government for the edifice, and solicited the continued cooperation between journalists and state officials.