Governor Okowa has Struck Gold, He Merits a Second Term – Funkekeme

By Miracle Enuji

Former Deputy Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Solomon Funkekeme has called on Deltans to rally round Governor Okowa and support his second term bid, noting that the Governor has struck gold and deserves a consolidation term.

The People’s Democratic Party, PDP Chieftain stated this while responding to questions from journalists at his Office in Asaba.

Funkekeme said, “As somebody who has been in public service for sometime, I am aware of the complexity of this State as a heterogeneous society and the need for every stakeholder to be his brother’s keeper and that was why we agreed that we should rotate the governorship among the senatorial districts. Even if politics is equally a struggle but staying by that zoning arrangement will guarantee peace, equity… and as far that I am concerned not because I am a PDP member, I am totally satisfied and as somebody who was in the House of Assembly; Minority leader, Deputy Speaker, Commissioner for Works, I know how to score a politician who is doing well and I believe that His Excellency, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa is doing very well.

“He is doing very well not because I know him before now, but his approach is very directional. His approach is very practical. His management style is very close to that of Chief Obafemi Awolowo. I am not giving in to frivolities or praise singing.”

Speaking further, Funkekeme lauded Governor Okowa for being focused. “The problem with Nigeria is that, we don’t face a particular matter at a time, that has always been the problem. Identify one problem, identify two problems and tackle those ones headlong, when your time goes, another person comes and identifies another two problems. If that was the approach, then we could have developed beyond what we are. The issue of taking everything at the same time is what is causing under-development and as far that I am concerned, Dr. Okowa identified that the major issue of Asaba is Storm Water and it takes only a bold and conscientious person to face such even though the cost is very expensive. If his whole achievement is to solve the issue of flood in Asaba, that is a Star achievement.”

Continuing, the former lawmaker said, “It is his right constitutionally to seek re-election but I say, he merits a second tenure because as a former commissioner for works, I know what it means to do construction and therefore, he requires another opportunity to consolidate what he has started and I say so without any form of contradiction. But I am convinced that he is doing well and I will like to call on Deltans, let us allow Delta North to complete their Eight years so that this issue of rancour can be laid to rest.

“I advise any of my brothers from Delta Central and Delta South to perish any thought of trying to challenge the issue of governorship come 2019. Allow Delta North to slug it out and I stand for Dr Okowa because he has done perfectly well. In my own insinuation as a man of knowledge of governance, I have been on all sides; Judiciary, Parliament and Executive, so I know when a politician is doing well or not. He has also been able to carry the State along. He has unified all Deltans. All of us are saying the same thing, that is because of his approach to governance, knowing that it is the people that can speak for or against you, not the leaders.