AS Deltans celebrate the 29th anniversary of the creation of the state, the Executive Assistant to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa on Youths Development, Chief Nwanze Oduah has said, the people have a lot to thank God for.
He told Newsden in Asaba that the creation of the state brought government closer to the people, and called for unity.
According to Oduah, “we all clamoured for the creation of Delta State and it was a great relief when the state was created and Asaba was made the capital.
“We are happy but, it is unfortunate that after 29 years of Asaba becoming the state capital, there is still a lot to be complained about in terms of infrastructure.
“We are grateful that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa came with a mindset of developing the state; he created the Capital Territory Development Agency which is doing a lot in giving Asaba a face-lift.
“The governor, no doubt has also done a lot in the area of attracting developments to Asaba, there is now a Court of Appeal, the airport has been upgraded to international standards, the flood situation in the city has greatly been checked and our governor has showed a lot of love and respect for our Royal Majesty, the Asagba of Asaba.
“It is unfortunate that Ogbogonogo, that is Nnebisi Road is still congested when road can be constructed from Slot, through to Stop-Over junction through St. Brigid’s Road to A Division Police station; also, the road from road safety through Umuonaje to Ogbeke Square and Ogbe Ilo, if constructed, will decongest traffic at Koka junction and Ibusa Road.
“Asaba is expanding and if governments that were before Governor Okowa had done half of what he has done, we would have fared much better as a state.
“There is no investor or visitor that will come to Delta without visiting Asaba and he will rate the state based on what he sees in Asaba, so, developing Asaba should be paramount among all Deltans.
“Playing host to the state capital came with a lot of sacrifice; today our people do not have shops in Ogbogonogo market, because they were not considered to be the first to choose and the cost of rent is high; most of our land was taken by the state government and the remaining once sold.
“The pressure to sell land was much, because of those coming with bags of money to buy land and invest in Asaba, and today, our retired civil servants have no access to markets for trading and land for farming.
“Asaba was also very peaceful before the state creation and our people were playing prominent roles in the Midwest and Bendel State governments, but, today, the influx of people have changed a lot of things, some are so antagonistic to us despite the fact that we have made a lot of sacrifice as a people.
“As we celebrate, we have to be more united, and more peaceful; peace comes with lots of benefits.
“We have to support Governor Okowa because he is doing very well, he is supporting our widows, providing free medical services to our widows, equipping our youths and women to be financially independent through different programmes, taking care of pregnant women and their children, constructing roads and providing facilities to make our state better, and he needs our prayers and support in whatever ways that we can ensure that he succeeds.
“With what the governor is doing, there is hope for a brighter, greater Delta State; all that we need to do is to be more united and peaceful,” Oduah who is the Odogwu-elect of Asaba said.
