Delta PDP Mega Rally: Atiku inaugurates Okowa’s projects in Delta, Says restructuring key to Nigeria's progress

PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN-DELTA STATE 25/01/2023, 

By EgbemaVoice

The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, on Wednesday, restated his commitment to the restructuring and devolution of powers to states and local governments in the country. 

He said the current presidential system of government in the country concentrated so much powers at the center to the detriment of the federating units. 

Atiku stated this in Asaba during the inauguration of projects executed by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa administration in Delta State. 

The projects inaugurated include the Koka Flyover and Interchange along Asaba-Benin Expressway; Model Technical College, Asaba, Maryam Babangida Leisure Park, Asaba; Mother and Child Specialist Hospital and Advanced Diagnostics Centre, Owa-Alero, Ika North-East Local Government Area. 

The PDP Presidential candidate said that the over concentration of powers at the centre had impeded the nation's growth potentials and expressed his willingness to undertake restructuring of the country if elected into office. 

According to the former Vice President, if you look into the books you will see that this road is a federal road but the state government has taken over the construction of this project because it is closer to the people of Delta State. 

"We borrowed our Presidential system from the United States and in the United States the only federal roads you find are interstate roads that connects one state to another. Other internal roads, bridges and highways are the responsibility of state governments 

"It is understandable because it is the military that gave birth to our own presidential system of government and you know how they accumulate too much powers to themselves to the detriment of the federating units. 

"I believe by the time we undertake a fundamental amendment to our constitution to restore the autonomy to the states and local governments as far as resources are concerned we would have done away with this very huge bottleneck that has impeded our growth infrastructurally and otherwise. 

"Let me commend the Governor and Government of Delta State for taking the initiative for implementing restructuring even before it is constitutionally allowed. 

"Congratulations Governor Okowa for this very huge development that you have undertaken to the benefit of the people of Delta State and Nigerians in general who ply this road daily," he stated. 

On the Model Technical College, Atiku called for a review of the educational system in the country to ensure productivity at all levels. 

The kind of educational system we had in the first Republic in the Northern part of this country, there were no drop outs in the educational system. 

"What do I mean? The educational system was such that the brightest ones went to the Universities. The second group, went to the universities also. The third, went to the Technical Colleges and the last but not the least, went to what we used to call craft schools. 

"In the craft schools we have to learn cattle breeding, carpentry, poultry or even farming; that's Agriculture. When you finish, you are now given a capital to start a business. 

"So you see that the educational system did not produce non-performing or what we call unproductive members of the public. Every member of the society is productive. The only thing is the level of productivity varied from stage to stage. 

"No sooner we abandoned the first Republic for the second one, which was the Military, all those systems were set aside. We now went to a kind of unitary educational system. 

"We now rear and send every child to the university which they were not naturally endowed nor gifted by nature to attend. 

"There must be a review of our educational system in such a way that every child is granted opportunities to go to school but of course should be based on their God given or natural talent; so that he/she can be useful to the community. 

"You will see that in every aspect of our human endeavours, we have our thinking that can move us forward. So I want to thank the Governor for this initiative, even before we have a formal review of our educational system, he has decided to review the educational system in Delta State." 

Atiku commended Okowa for his hardwork, visionary and purposeful leadership and congratulated the people of the state for having such a great leader. 

He said healthcare was among the 5-point agenda in his policy document and would rely on the competence and experience of Governor Okowa in executing his health policies for the country. 

In his remarks Okowa said the Koka Flyover and Interchange was conceived and delivered by his administration to provide solution to the traffic gridlock along the Benin-Asaba highway and expressed optimism that on completion of the dualisation of the Ughelli-Asaba road, the traffic along the Koka corridor would have been eliminated. 

He said his administration embarked on revamping of technical education in the state to equip youths with technical skills to make them employers of labour rather than job seekers. 

He stated that his administration rehabilitated six existing technical colleges and award contracts for nine new model technical colleges with three already completed at Asaba, Effurun and Obiaruku. 

At Owa-Alero, Okowa said the construction of the Mother and Child Hospital and Advanced Medical Diagnostics Centre was well built, furnished with appropriate staff to improve the health of mothers and children. 

The ceremony was attended by former Vice-President Namadi Sambo, former President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki; Governors Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, Udom Emmanuel of Akwa-Ibom, Godwin Obaseki of Edo, Douye Diri of Bayelsa. 

Others include Deputy Governor of the State Kingsley Otuaro; Senate Minority Leader, Senator Philip Aduda; his Reps counterpart Ndudi Elumelu, former Governors Okwesileze Nwodo; Sule Lamido; Liyel Imoke; Bonnie Haruna; Governorship candidate of the party, Chief Sheriff Oborevwori and Senator Dino Melaye among others. 

*Nelson Egware

*Delta* *State* *Liaison* *Officer* ( *Strategic* *Communications* ) 

*PDP* *Presidential* *Campaign* *Council*