As the Delta State governorship election draws near, stakeholders and political watchers have perused the credentials of the various aspirants that have signified intention to take over from Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan in 2015 and have concluded that the governorship position be zoned to Delta North Senatorial District, a zone that has not produced the governor since the creation of the State.
After a critical scrutiny of all the candidates from that zone, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, representing Delta North Senatorial District at the National Assembly came tops on account of his humble disposition and experience. He carried out his duties as a former Secretary to the Delta State Government from 2007 to 2010 and currently a senator without a smidgen of arrogance and many believe he will exhibit same trait after emerging governor of Delta State.
Okowa is one man who detests living in delusion.. He is down-to-earth, unassuming, accessible, level headed and incorruptible.
His humility knows no bounds. This placidity makes him unassuming. Those close to Okowa describe him as a man with extraordinary courage and a depth of knowledge and these to a large extent, distinguishes him from his peers. They also describe his character traits as fair, faithful, fantastic, fearless,, frank, friendly, generous and gentle.
There is something about this self effacing politician that is beyond the comprehension of political watchers in the state and that is his ability to warm his way into the hearts of most Deltans, after declaring his intention to vie for the Delta State plum job,. he has traversed the nooks and crannies of the state campaigning.
Though, Okowa, a political juggernaut of high repute is enjoying tremendous support from the people and in spite of his overwhelming rising profile; he maintains a low profile.
On account of Okowa’s rising popularity, most of his political opponents are surreptitiously aligning with him while others are gradually fading out like a dog fated to wander into oblivion.
Okowa relied on his popularity to woo the delegates from the 25 local governments to realize his ambition at the primary elections. He will align with the incumbent governor to ensure he defeat the other political parties at the governorship general election It is obvious that the incumbent governor’s achievements speak louder than amplified percussion in an orchestra held inside a massive amphi-theatre. Not only that, Okowa also exhibited his intellectual prowess during a chance meeting with this reporter at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja recently. He dwarfed the submission of those who gave him no chance of emerging the PDP governorship flagbearer in Delta State. When he displayed his dexterity at politics. You immediately glean this when the conversation meanders into the politics of Delta. He provided answer to how to touch the lives of Deltans if elected. His views of compassion and empathy for the poor are carefully balanced on the need to be a welfarist and his desire to consolidate on infrastructural development, poverty reduction, job creation, maintaining peace and security of lives and property as done by the incumbent governor.
There is no gain saying in the fact that good leadership requires intelligence, accountability, experience, good understanding of the masses, and knowledge of the environment, obedience, humility, wisdom and the fear of God which Okowa has.
Most of the people our correspondent spoke with are unanimous that Okowa is the right choice to sustain the tempo of achievements of the out-going governor, their submission is based on the premise that the distinguished Senator knows the rudiment of governance thereby creating an enabling advantage for him to manage the affairs of the state.
Senator (Dr.) Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa became a member of the National Assembly representing Delta North Senatorial District in the Senate in June, 2011 after a hard fought electoral contest that confirmed his popularity among the grassroot. In the last three years, he distinguished himself through robust contributions to debates, and in carrying out vital oversight functions in the different committees he belong.
Before he was elected to the National Assembly, Senator Okowa had served as commissioner in the Agriculture and Water Resources as well as Heath Ministries in Delta State. He was also Secretary to the State Government (SSG). In the various offices he occupied he gave good accounts of himself. As commissioner and SSG he paid serious attention to human empowerment which earned him wide acceptance and approbation across the state. His numerous admirers and even his critics agree that he is a humane politician who has continued to put smiles on the faces of people.
His predisposition to empowering people and the many achievements he has recorded in the Delta State politics has helped in no small measure in boosting and strengthening his political base. Today, Okowa is a household name across the three senatorial districts in the state. His political profile keeps rising due to his style of political engagements, which focus on the upliftment of people rather than self enrichment. He strongly believes in the principle of reaching out to people with a steady strong helping hand.
At the Senate, he performed above. He sponsored about 10 bills impacted positively the well-being of Nigerians. Senator (Dr). Ifeanyi Okowa was born on July 8, 1959 in Owa Alero, Ika North East Local Government Area of Delta State. He stated his education career by attending the Iroro Primary, Owa Alero and later attended the prestigious Edo College, Benin City between 1970 and 1976. He proceeded to the University of Ibadan where he studied Medicine and Surgery and graduated in 1981 with M.B.B.S at age 22.
after completing the mandatory National Youth Service Corps in 1982, he commenced his working career with the defunct Bendel State Hospitals Management Board as a Medical Officer and later went into private practice as Director, Victory Medical Centre, Igbanke in 1986. Desirous of bringing medical facility closer to his people, he set up Victory Medical Centre in Boji Boji, Owa. He warmed himself into his people’s heart by his charitable service of rendering free health care.
He was Secretary to Ika Local Government and pioneer chairman, Ika North East Local Government Council, from 1991to 1993. In preparation for the return of the country to democratic rule in 1998, he joined the Peoples Democratic Party. Senator Okowa served as the Delta North Coordinator of the Grassroot Democratic Movement (GDM), Delta North Coordinator of the James Ibori Campaign Organisation in 1998 and Secretary of the Transition Committee, which ushered in the James Ibori administration in 1999. For eight years, he was Commissioner of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Commissioner for Water Resources, and Commissioner for Health. He contested governorship election in Delta State in 2007 and lost to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan. He served as Director General of the PDP Campaign Organization in Delta State and later Secretary to the 34 member Transition Committee which prepared the blueprint for the take off of Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan administration. He was Secretary to the Delta State between 2007 and 2010.
For his outstanding performances, he was bestowed with the award of Excellence by NANS, Retract Club of Asaba, and Vice Chancellor Award of the Delta State University, Abraka. He was also decorated by the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) as an achiever, recognized as one of the best Health Commissioners in the federation.
– Jimmy Enyeh
