2023: We need a Governor that will care for us like Okowa -Delta Students

BY Andrew Ikehi, Jumai Nwachukwu

As the 2023 timeline for the current political office holders in the country, particularly Delta State to exit office ticks, palpable fears of uncertainties have engulfed the student community in the State.

Their fears, The Pointer gathered, is hinged on what they described as the possible ability and determination of the political stakeholders in the State to provide candidate that can equal or perhaps, surpass the leadership traits of the current Governor of the State, Senator (Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa.

The leadership of the various Student Bodies in the State, Tuesday in Asaba, the State capital, expressed the fears during a one-day stakeholders meeting with the Student Bodies as Organised by the office of the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the State Governor on Students Affairs, Comrade (Engr.) Jerry Ehiwarior.

At the well attended Meeting, the leadership of the various Student Bodies which included; the National Association of Delta State students (NADESSTU), National Association of Nigeria Students/Joint Campus Committee (NANS/JCC),Delta state chapter, All Student Union Government (SUG) Presidents of tertiary institutions in Delta state, All the National Presidents of Ethnic nationalities students union (Isoko, Itsekiri, Ijaw, Ika etc), National President-elect of National Association of Polytechnic students (NAPS) and Deputy coordinator of NANS Zone-B were present.

Commending Governor Okowa for what they described as his People-Oriented Governance in the State, the Students are calling on the leadership of the People’s Democratic party (PDP) to ensure that they produce a credible Governorship flag bearer for the Party who has the People-oriented pedigree as being witnessed in the life of the current Governor of the State.

According to them, the administration of Senator Ifeanyi Okowa is not only projecting the youths for future leadership roles, but has greatly accommodated the interests of Students in the State.

They listed some of the benefits of the Senator Ifeanyi Okowa administration in the life of students in the State to include; increased welfare packages, prompt and regular payments of bursaries, procurement and distribution of vehicles to the various Student Unions, among others.

Among those who Spoke at the Meeting were the President, National Association of Delta ljaw Students (NADIS) Comrd. Festus Ayigo , the immediate past Senate president of National Association of Delta State Students (NADESSTU) Comrade Hycent Odogwu, among others.

Responding, the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Delta State Governor on students affairs and Principal convener of the meeting, Comrade (Engr.) Jerry Ehiwarior charged the students to equip themselves with personal voter’s cards (PVC) in order to make their voices heard in the 2023 general election.

Commending the Students for their unalloyed support, dedication and commitment towards the Okowa led administration in the State, also, applauded the various Student Unions for keeping faith with the current administration

The Governor’s aide urged the students to rise up to the task of determining their future by getting actively involved in the decision making of the state, through election, stressing that the first step in achieving this was to ensure that they got their PVCs.