In Defense of Governor Okowa’s Vice Presidency Quest

Barely 24hour after a piece titled ‘PDP, Atiku and Imperatives of Okowa’s Vice Presidency’ by this same author was posted, it elicited a torrent of reactions from readers and political stakeholders particularly in Delta state and the general public. While some people hailed the argument pushed forward by the intervention, others viewed it with skepticism. The boundaries between both spheres have shifted back and forth and in some cases, they have ended up igniting a lot of tension.

As a background, the referenced piece, among other things, argued that since the nation is currently faced with economic crisis, of which majority of such challenges stemmed from the country’s revenue crisis, which has remained unabating in the last seven years while the borrowings have persisted, an indication that the economy has been primed for recurring tough outcomes. It therefore, submitted that for Nigeria to move out of this present vicious circle of poverty, the nation will in 2023 need not a leisurely Vice President reputed for antagonizing the President or works across purpose. But a creative and transformative leader experienced in temperament, positive mindset, flexible attitude and enterprise spirit to work hard with concentration on the business of governance and understands the meaning and requirement of being a leader in a complex country like Nigeria.

Although I sympathies with the Governor on whose shoulder rests these gamut of arguments. On the other hand, the truth must be told to the effect that while some of the reactions qualify as objective concerns from Nigerians with sincere desire to see the nation move forward, majority of the diatribes shared a common denominator; they were largely triggered by the outcome of the party’s recent gubernatorial primary in the state and notoriously laced in personal interest while lying prostrate in greater good for greater number.

More than anything else, the commentaries/criticisms symbolizes hallmark of politicians' with non-understanding that democracy works where politicians have the culture of accommodation and tolerance which makes a minority accept a majority’s right to have its way until the next, and wait patiently and peacefully for its turn to become the government by pursuing more voters to support.

As to whether Governor Okowa has performed to deserve the Vice Presidential Position, the answer to that fact is barefaced.

First and very fundamental, from Okowa’s achievements as Commissioner, Secretary to the state Government, Senator and Governor, it is factually supported that he is eminently qualified to be the nation’s president as his credential speaks volume.

Take as illustration; Delta State under the leadership of Senator (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa was ranked the Best State in Human Capital Development in the 2017States Peer Review by the National Competitiveness Council of Nigeria. Before the joy elicited by such feat/achievement could settle, another was up as the state was in 2020, adjudged the Second Least Poor State, coming only after Lagos, Nigeria’s business hub, according to the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS). Making this achievements a hilarious one is that the state is a microcosm of Nigeria because it is populated by different ethnic nationalities and has under previous administrations had inter-ethnic conflicts/clashes, fatal boundary disputes, especially over oil-bearing land, political tensions, high unemployment and poverty rates, which has all been tackled and sustainable peace restored in those troubled areas by the Okowa led administration.

How could these feats be possible if the state was not in the hands of a dynamic leadership that is exceptionally good at painting a clear vision that inspires and motivates his populace? If the state Governor has not performed as alleged, how come sustainable peace has endured in the state?

While an answer to the above is being awaited, this piece must elicit other examples to consolidate claims on Okowa’s performance.

The Asaba Airport for example, was downgraded just before the Governor assumed office. Today, the same airport is now a category 6 airport that receives international flights; the airport is now a major national carrier’s hub in the South-East and South-South geo-political zones. Same goes with the Osubi Air in Warri part of the state.

in the area of education, separate from three new universities Okowa recently incubated, nurtured and established in the state, evidence abounds that as a result of the work of the Technical and Vocational Education Board in conjunction with the supervising Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education in the state, six technical colleges in Agbor, Sapele, Ofagbe, Utagba-Ogbe, Ogor and Issele-Uku have been fully rehabilitated, well equipped and fully functional. Consequently, Delta is the first State in the country to have all of the courses offered by its technical colleges accredited by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).

In a similar experience, during a media interview with a coastal dweller in the state, he, with excitement noted thus; the age-long excuse by previous administrations that the coastal region cannot be developed because the terrain is marshy-a feature that renders construction difficult if not impossible, can no longer be sustained. Adding that the Governor being a God sent, used his politics of development to send such an excuse to the dustbin of history. The region, he added is now blessed with an appreciable level of good/internal road networks and other infrastructural development- a feat that qualifies the Governor as the first to give a sense of belonging to the people of the region.

With this development, the people of the region he added seems certain to make an increasing contribution to development of the state as a handful of them can now afford the luxury of education and access to good amenities. It is clear in hindsight that the Governor’s effort will not only give the people a sense that they have a governor that cares but act as a technique to support the people to understand the Governor’s vision. He concluded.

At the national levels, the achievement of Governor Okowa stands tall.

A while ago, he identified the absence of a national ideology that all the component parts of the country subscribe to as the crux of the matter, why we are yet to forge that sense of oneness and unity. In the absence of a shared national vision or aspiration, primordial loyalties and sentiments largely hold sway among the citizens. He submitted.

Before the dust of appreciation, analysis and commendation elicited by such objective declaration could settle, another was up. This time around, the Governor called for a new constitution in the country, lamenting that the lack of political will to devise a constitution that supports true federalism will prevent the nation from moving forward.

In his words,; The 1999 Constitution (as amended) centralises political and economic powers in the Federal Government and emasculates the states by denying them powers to secure their own territories and control their natural resources for the development of their territories and people.

And as a man of peace and promoter of national unity, Okowa admitted that we are better and stronger together, and that, with appropriate, visionary leadership and good governance, we can turn our diversity into a great source of strength and a springboard to build a strong multi-ethnic and multi-religious country that will be the envy of other nations.

To catalyze the process of building a more united Nigeria, he underlined that the Federal Government must frontally and transparently tackle insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, criminal herdsmen operations and all purveyors of insecurity in a way to obviate the popular impression that they are executors of a pre-planned genocide. He concluded that there should be stiff penalties for electoral violence and other malpractices, regardless of which party is culpable. Election results should also be transmitted electronically at the point of counting the votes at the polling units to remove the opportunities for later alterations of figures.

Glib, official declarations like “The unity of Nigeria is non-negotiable” or “The unity of Nigeria is sacrosanct” cannot diffuse the tension, resentment, anger and sectarianism prevalent in the country today. Only conscious, consensual action to remove the causes of mistrust and disunity identified above can. He concluded.

For one thing, Okowa has in my views shown that strategic success cannot be reduced to a formula, nor can one become a strategic thinker by reading a book, but through constant demonstration of competence, connection and character.

Finally, like I usually remark, looking at the above facts, I ask; who will be considered best as President or Vice President to help lead the nation out of its present socio political and economic woods if not the likes of Governor Okowa?

Utomi Jerome-Mario is the Programme Cordinator (Media and Public Policy), The Social And Economic Justice Advocacy (SEJA). He could be reached via; [email protected] or 08032725374.