•Life has taught me lessons that will see me through the remaining years on earth

Born on April 10, 1964 in Jos, Plateau State, to Ogbueshi Albert Ukah of Umuomake Village, Obodogwugwu Quarters in Okpanam and Veronica  Ukah (nee Elueze) of Ogbe Owelle in Ibusa; Chief Patrick Ogoegbunam Ukah is the former Secretary to the State Government, Delta State, Nigeria, (2021-2023).

Currently, he is the Director General of Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency in the administration of Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori. He is a communication and public relations expert, an astute marketer, renowned Nigerian athlete and sports administrator. He will be 60 on Wednesday and fielded questions from us.

Happy 60th Birthday, in advance. How do you feel being 60 Years Old?

First, I have to thank God Almighty for keeping me, for His mercies, compassion, and protection and for being alive today. My journey to 60 years has been a life of challenges, ups and downs, but God has always been there for me. I am grateful to God.

Also, I am immensely thankful to my Wife, Barr. Mrs. Uche Perpetual Ukah; the love and wife of my youth; my adviser, and counsel for standing with me in the most trying and challenging journey of marriage, and perseverance over the years. She has been the pillar holding the family together. To my children, Afoma, Funanya and Naza, I sincerely thank them for the Godly family love and relationship we have built and continue to share. They are my wonderful family, gist mates.

And a big kudos to my parents, Ogbueshi Albert Ukah and Mrs. Veronica Ukah (nee Elueze) of Ogbe-Owele In Ibusa for instilling the right virtues and discipline in us, the children.  To my father, for reconnecting me back to the entire Ukah family and Okpanam.  I share a special bond and friendship with my mother and people mistook me to be her younger brother.  

 I want to remember my siblings; Tony, Chukwuma, Okwudili, Judith, and Victor for the cohesive family, understanding, and love we still have for each other. Ours has been an everlasting family union. I am very happy that we have jointly uplifted the family name to the glory of God.

My appreciation goes to all my friends, colleagues, and my political mentors for their support, and encouragement all through the difficult challenges of life.

Given my underprivileged background, and what God has done for me; I have every reason to worship and praise God as I turn 60 years. Despite my underprivileged background; I was surrounded by the warmth of grandparents and relations from the Adigwu’s of Ibusa who filled the gaps necessary for my early care, upbringing, and education. I celebrate and appreciate all of them for their sacrifices, support, and care.

At 60 years; I feel great, strong, inspired and still surging. I am optimistic about the future as “with God, all things are possible”. Life has taught me very many valuable lessons that will see me through the remaining years here on earth. I am full of appreciation for where I have gone so far and the future is great. Praise God.

You are known for being a sportsman, a young hockey player who suddenly turned to a politician. What led to their transition?

Sports and politics have been my natural hobbies ever since. I belong to so many social, and cultural groups and organizations and we play non-partisan politics. So you are right, I was a young Hockey player, a sportsman, a marketing professional turned partisan politician. The transition was not a sudden one as some may think. There is a line of best fit that passes through being a sportsman, a marketing professional, and a politician. Fair competition and service to humanity run through these professions and this made it possible for the smooth transition which was not sudden anyway. 

Politics is a natural thing for any fair competitive and public-spirited person. It is not an accident that I found myself in politics to fairly compete and to serve my people and humanity. I learned politics from scratch and had mentors like Late Chief Chris Okolie, founder/publisher of Newbreed magazine, and Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, who is my greatest political mentor and hero.  I still look up to him for care and support even as I get mature in politics.

 Your rise as a politician in Delta State was swift and speedy. How did you accomplish this?

I do not agree with the notion that my rise in politics was speedy and swift. I am still rising and growing in politics. Sports and politics are twins and I am playing in both fields. However, to put it in the proper perspective; I waited for over 15 years of active partisan politics before I got my first political appointment in 2015, as commissioner for information, then Basic and Secondary Education Commissioner in 2019, and Secretary to Delta State Government, (SSG) in 2021. Before then, in 2011, I contested for the Oshimili North Constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly. 

This exploit endeared me to the grassroots and the people as an advocate for service, equity, justice, and good governance. This also made me develop a network of friends, social groups, and organizations of which I still play pivotal roles.

In all, I am very grateful to Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa who God used to grand me properly in politics.  I thank him for the trust and love he has for me and my family.

You are currently back to the Government of Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori as Director-General, Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency. To some people, this is a demotion given your roles in the immediate, past administration of Governor Okowa.

Let’s make it clear, that it is not a demotion.  There have been instances in the past where an Ex-SSG was made the Director General of the Capital Territory Agency. Let me put this in its proper context. The exalted office of the Secretary to the State Government is “first amongst the equals” of commissioners, Special Advisers, and other top Governor’s appointees. It is a clearing ground of government policies, programmes, and activities. Also, it depends on your motivations in politics and your perspectives about political appointments. First, of all, and as I have said, I am in politics to serve and not to be served. The responsibilities of the Director General of the Capital Territory are huge. I am the Administrator of an area covering 363,175 sq. mtrs of land. The Delta State Capital Territory covers some parts of Aniocha South, and parts of Oshimili North Local Government Areas (Okpanam, Ugbolu, Ibusa) and Asaba, Oko, and Okwe in Oshimili South Local Government Area. The Director General of the Capital Territory is the alter ego of the FCT Minister at the State level.  I accepted to serve as the Director General of the Capital Territory to support and make useful contributions to the MORE Agenda of the Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, the Governor of Delta State. Secondly, I think, I am most suitable to administer the Capital Territory. First, I am from the Capital Territory, (Okpanam) and my wife is from Asaba, (the core of the Capital Territory) and my mother is from Ibusa. The Capital Territory stands on the tripod of Okpanam, Ibusa and Asaba and I represent this tripod. In fact, I am “Mr. Capital Territory” by birth and by appointment. Thank you, my Governor, for this appointment.

Finally, the two intervention Agencies in the State, The Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency and the Warri Uvwie Environs Special Development Agency are the signposts of development in the State. Appointments into these two Agencies are heavily considered by the Governor and are based on integrity, merit, competency, experience, and performance in the past. I am very proud to be so appointed to champion the development of the Capital Territory. 

Talking about the Government of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, what is your assessment of the Government, so far?

My friend, this is a very unfair question to me on my birthday. I am part of this government and it is like marking my examination script. However, let me say that the Governor started very well, doing very well, and is on course to fulfill the MORE Agenda promised to the people of Delta State.

Despite the distractions from the opposition party, APC; the Government has made giant strides in initiating infrastructural projects in Warri, Asaba, Agbor, Ughelli, and in different parts of the State, many of them are at various stages of working progress and will be completed on time.

 Finally, what is your next move given 2027?

Hahaha… 2027 is still far. But if you insist, my next move comes 2027 is to return Governor Sheriff to Asaba Government House and have a PDP-led Federal Government in Abuja. These are my prayers and so may they be. I think Nigerians have suffered enough and we need a change at Abuja in 2027.

Patrick Ukah’s birthday celebration begins with a Thanksgiving Holy Mass at the St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Okpanam at 11 am on Wednesday. There will be visits to Motherless Babies homes on Thursday and and golf tournament from Friday to Saturday