The
executive governor of Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, has
suddenly earned the ignominious tag of “Father Christmas” for doling out
the sum of N2.5 million to each lawmaker in the state as Christmas
gifts.
The
governor’s splash on the lawmakers came even as Deltans are groaning
under the paucity of funds the state is currently experiencing.
Delta
State has lately been in the eye of the storm due to the governor’s
misapplication of funds, and this latest action is said to be drawing
the ire of the people who are so hungry. Since his assumption of office,
we learnt that the governor has moved from his electioneering slogan of
“Prosperity for Deltans” to a new sing-song which has been “Delta State
is broke,” even though the 57-year-old’s body language suggests
otherwise.
Those
in the know believe that Delta State money circulates within an inner
circle of Okowa’s cronies and it is very clear even in the allocation of
lands in the state. One of the state-owned lands located in Asaba just
opposite the former acting governor, Sam Obi’s house has been shared out
by the governor. The land which is named Garden of Liberty was shared
without a single payment to the state’s coffers. Those close to the
governor got as many as ten plots each, according to a top government
functionary. The governor we learnt directed that the land must not be
sold but developed by those who got it.
Worst
of all, contrary to claims by the Delta State Government that it has
settled the three months pension arrears of retired civil servants and
workers in the state, we authoritatively gathered that non of the them
is yet to get the money as at time of filing this report.
The
state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, NUP. Mr Robert
Chukwunyem, its chairman, had said at the 2016 Pensioner’s Day
celebration and protest, that they were being owed three months pensions
and gratuities. Disclosing that the 33 per cent pension increment
approved by the Federal Government since July was yet to be effected by
the state government, Chukwunyem said some neighbouring states have
implemented theirs with the arrears duly paid.
“I
use this occasion to appeal to the state government as well as
managements of parastatals/institutions responsible for the payment of
pensions to step up efforts in the preparation and payment of December
pension before Christmas,” he said.
Some
of the placards displayed by the protesters read, “Okowa wants to kill
pensioners”; “Okowa honour your fathers and your mothers if you want
your days to be long”; “Stop treating pensioners as second class
citizens”; “Pension is a right not a privilege,” among others.
According
to political watchers in the state, Governor Okowa’s administration has
succeeded in impoverishing the people rather than enriching them. Since
he came into the saddle, he has “sacked over 3000 workers, cancelled
bursary for students and refused to pay workers what is due to them
while he steals the state blind.”
They
observed that in June 2016, the governor secured a N14.16 billion loan
facility from the federal government to finance the state’s
infrastructural development projects, but the projects are awarded at
inflated rates to people close to the governor.
Some
of the people spoken to, believe the governor’s priorities and far from
the state immediate needs. For instance, Gov. Okowa is said to have
lavished a whopping sum of money to celebrate the release from London
prison of a former governor of the state, Chief James Ibori who from all
indications is his godfather.
They
revealed that if elections are to be conducted today in the state, the
governor would not attract the same overwhelming support that brought
him to power a few years ago because he has failed the people.
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