By Festus Ahon & Ochuko Akuopha

OLEH—IN an apparent jab at the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Delta State, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has described those accusing his administration of non-performance as blind, saying, “They have eyes but cannot see.”

Gov Ifeanyi Okowa

Okowa maintained that the National Competitiveness Council of Nigeria, NCCN, using all parameters, had recently adjudged Delta State as second to Lagos State in terms of human and infrastructural development.

The governor spoke at Oleh and Ozoro, Isoko South and North Local Government Areas, during the flag-off of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, campaign for the January 6 local government election in the areas.

The party’s flags were presented to the chairmanship candidates, Sir Itiako Ikpokpo, Isoko South and Mr. Emmanuel Egbabor, Isoko North Local Government Areas and their councillors.

Lamenting the plight of local government council workers in the state, Okowa promised that with the rising revenue profile, his administration would assist local government councils in the state to lessen their salary burden.

He said: “We feel the pains of our brothers and sisters in the local government councils. We are happy that peace has returned to our state, this will lead to increase in revenue and with such, we will assist the councils to reduce their salary burdens.”

While expressing delight that “our youths have agreed that they will no longer burst pipelines,” Okowa noted that 2018 will be a good year for the people of the state.

“We presented our budget a long time ago,” the governor said, reiterating that the state House of Assembly was the first in the country to pass the 2018 budget.

Expressing optimism that the PDP would win the council polls with a wide margin, he urged “leaders and party faithful to go to their different wards and galvanise votes because, nobody will write result anywhere and the number of votes from your area will show how popular you are.”

Okowa told all political office appointees to cultivate the habit of always going to their communities and wards on regular basis to enable the people feel the impact of their positions, saying the mammoth crowd at the rallies was a clear indication that the PDP was strong in the Isoko nation.

Leaders of the party in the areas, Chief Ovuozorie Macaulay, Senator Stella Omu, Dr Idodo Umeh, Chief Dennis Etalokwu, Mrs Orezi Esievo, Chief Solomon Ogba, Mr. Ross Uredi, Mr. Tim Owefere, Mr Emmanuel Ogidi, Mr. Emmanuel Okoro, Dr. Paul Oweh, Chief Simeon Efeludu, Joseph Ogeh, Mr. Godwin Ogorugba and others who spoke at the separate rallies, said the Isoko people would continue to associate with the PDP.

They said the state belonged to the PDP and assured that they would deliver the party in the areas in the local government polls and the general election in 2019.

On his part, the state party chairman, Olorogun Kingsley Esiso, while presenting the chairmanship and  councillorship candidates to the people, said the sincerity of Governor Okowa in managing the affairs of the state had increased the fortunes of the PDP and endeared the party to the people.

Earlier, Chairman of the party in Isoko North, Mr. Godwin Ogorugba listed and thanked the Governor for the projects executed by his administration in Isoko land.