If there is any cardinal action in recent time that proved beyond reasonable doubt to Deltans that the Governor Sheriff Oborevwori-led administration in the state is laced with a burning desire to empower the poor and vulnerable in the state, it is the governor’s well thought-out decision to continue with the Social Investment Programmes (SIPs) created by the immediate past administration and his re-appointment of Chief Dr. Isioma Okonta as Senior Special Assistant (SSA) in charge of the office.
Aside from aligning with global call on leaders to prioritize identifying the problems of the poor in the society and according deserving attention to them, Governor Oborevwori’s latest decision to build on the sustainable social investment foundation laid by immediate past Governor Ifeanyi Okowa signifies a leadership understands that any transformation agenda in the state that does not have social investment at the centre of its programme will take us nowhere.
Like every Deltan of goodwill, I am particularly happy with the re-appointment of Okonta as Senior Special Assistant (SSA). It is not only timely but critical to the success of the programme. This particular assertion is predicated on the exemplary and impressive scorecard he achieve previously while in that office.
First, Deltans, particularly beneficiaries of social investment programmes in the state under the previous administration, are in agreement that Okonta is not only a round peg in a round hole when it comes to social investment. Rather, his experience in this direction is unparalleled.
Okonta was the pioneer Senior Special Assistant on Social Investment to former Governor Okowa and the only soul that has occupied that position in the state. He incubated, nurtured and brought the programme to fruition to the admiration of all. Under his watch as SSA on Social Investment, Delta State, going by reports, won many awards as the best state in Nigeria in social investments.
It is equally a statement of fact that the Okowa-led administration is today perceived as one of the best administrations in the annals of Delta State because of its huge dedication to carefully crafted and meticulously executed social investment programmes.
In 2018, as the state coordinator of Widows Welfare Programme, widely known as ‘Widows Alert’, an initiative under the state’s social investment scheme set up to provide succour and wipe away tears, remedy and assuage hunger in the 25 local government areas of the state, Dr. Okonta reportedly changed the fortunes of widows in the state who were hitherto invisible to policymakers.
Before his appointment as SSA to Governor Okowa, nothing was specifically discussed about widows in policy-making meetings. But upon assumption of office, he, with unalloyed support from former Governor Okowa, creatively brought about policy focus on common citizens, labourers, jobless youths, and other suffering segments of society.
Today in the state, there exists a beam of socioeconomic hope for all!
Separate from the aforementioned reality, Okonta has in the past sustainably manifested leadership traits that qualify as people-focused and demonstrated beyond reasonable doubt that he is a believer in the words of the late former UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, that there is no tool for development more effective than empowerment of women, and no other policy is as likely to raise economic productivity, or to reduce infant and maternal mortality.
Also working in favour of Dr. Okonta and, of course, another reason why his latest appointment is considered the right step in the right direction on the part of Governor Oborevwori, is the awareness that he is among the public office holders in the country that could be trusted with funds. It is backed with facts that throughout his occupation of the position during the last administration, there were no cases of manipulation, opaque, or shoddy deals. There were no reported or perceived traces of financial misappropriation or irregularities.
To achieve transparency in his day-to-day administration of programmes, Okonta designed a viable and workable framework that assisted the state in tracking the real widows. The names of these widows were drawn from the communities and the state made sure the community leaders were involved to help ascertain the veracity of the widows.
Under his watch, the state did not draw up a list without making sure the community leaders cross-checked the facts.
In furtherance of this efficiency and accountability, Governor Okowa brought in consultants to conduct an integrated service. They were saddled with the responsibility of coming up with an electronic database of widows across Delta State. So, today, they have rounded off their work and we have over 50,000 widows in the electronic database. This database is used as a veritable tool for the government to make decisions and plans concerning the widows.
I congratulate Isioma Okonta on his latest appointment.
Two things stand out for me. One, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa did not make a mistake throwing his weight behind Oborevwori’s governorship ambition. It was indeed a very wise leadership judgment. Deltans are currently reaping the reward of such brilliant decision/support.
Two, on his part, the amiable people’s governor, Oborevwori has within the shortest period of his leadership in the state proved to be a creative public servant. This fact is particularly evident in the calibre of people he surrounds himself with. A glaring example of such notable and result-oriented people is Dr. Isioma Okonta.
*Utomi is the Programme Coordinator (Media and Public Policy), The Social and Economic Justice Advocacy (SEJA).
