By Oghenero J. Eghweree
The Delta State Governor Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori is just another “Road Master”. Today, it is no news that the Governor is merely copycatting his predecessor Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa’s style of governance.
But the matter is, while H.E Oborevwori is glaringly following Okowa’s footsteps, meanwhile Sen. Okowa’s administration was not so great itself while it lasted. Some of the projects that made political praisers to name him “Road Master” had since failed barely three years since he handed over to the current dispensation.
No doubt Gov. Oborevwori has passion for the betterment of Delta State, judging by his stamina for work and exemplified by his hands-on project monitoring. His dedication is also seen in his choice of reputable contractors executing some of the government’s projects. But where I have a challenge with this administration is the government’s application of the governance tactics applied by subsequent governments which had not produced the necessary results considering modern day reality.
In light of aiming for better for the people of Delta State, and not more of the same approach to governance as evidenced in execution of the M.O.R.E Agenda of Gov. Oborevwori, the government must break from the past ways for us to move forward. For instance, in the past decade previous administrations had smooched with national and international financial institutions for loans and project collaborations to the tune of trillions, without any meaningful progress in education, health care, and even infrastructure development.
Thus, In starting a new path to development, the Oborevwori Government should still seek international collaborations and financial support, but with the focus to channel the funds to specific areas where the state has the advantage. Above all, the focus should be to catch-up with today’s ICT and AI dominated way of life.
For example, in the area of agriculture the government should maximize potentials in the vast arable land in the state, by seeking partnership with local and foreign and experts, on the localization of manufacturing of essential agricultural inputs and the application of science and technology to food and animal production.
In this plan, Delta State will provide the facility and materials for a special learning center, or could use the Industrial Zone at Kwale as the take-off point, or better still, the permanent site. There selected experts in Nigeria and across the world would be offered contracts containing a minimum of five-year residency requirement at the center, where they would train our youths on modern agricultural technology.
This way, the potentials of some of our vibrant boys and girls would be effectively put to use, and if the program turns out to be successful, it could transform Delta State into a hub of agricultural technology in the country and the sub-Sahara region.
And, yes! Delta State is capable of such an institution. And if the governor wishes, the replicas of the proposed Agricultural Technology Institution ATI, could be reproduced in other key sectors where Delta State has the upper hand, such as the entertainment industry and sports sector, to mention but a few.
Ōse, miguo, sir. Please look favorably into my little ideas and do something big with them for our people.
Dō, sir.
NB
Governor sir, you are yet to comply with the traditional media briefing with journalists since inception of your administration. Although the government/media parley is merely symbolic, yet it provides the people the rare opportunity to hear directly from their governor in a setting not prearranged or convenient like the one you entertained recently with a national television.
Remember that despite your reelection chances, it is still possible that this might be your one and only term as Governor. Anything can happen at the polls, made possible by the increasing popularity of one of the new political parties, which is fast emerging as a political force in the polity. So, It is better late than never to see us while you still hold the reins of power.
Oga, we de wait for you.
OGHENERO J. EGHWEREE is a senior journalist, unionist and writer, with three outstanding children and an astonishing wife to match.
