REFLECTIONS TOWARDS DELTA DECIDES 2019:

STEPHEN KESHI STADIUM: A Successful Mega Project of the Okowa's Administration.

By Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe Esq.



Visionary leaders are not common, they are gifts from God, which is why the Holy scripture said; "when the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice..."

Before the state governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, came into office on May 29, 2015; the state capital was to a large extent ignored in terms of good roads network and city beautification.

Asaba was dull, more or less a glorified city and social activities were at its lowest ebb. Civil servants, contractors and professionals work and hustle from Monday to Friday; and relax in other groovy cities nearby to return to work again on Mondays.

Therefore, the need arose for the Okowa administration to give the state capital of Asaba, the needed facelift so as to create the conducive environment that would stimulate social activities for all class of people especially in sports development and tourism.

The SMART AGENDA team got cracking and it came to mind that one of the best ways to attract development is to invest in sports infrastructure and recreational centers.

It took the genius in Gov Okowa, to face the project headlong at a time the Buhari adminstration plunged the nation into unwarranted economic recession. Steven Keshi Stadium at the time was abandoned with no hope in sight.

And like a Nollywood script, the governor assembled a team of experts to draw a master plan of how to complete the construction of the project within a reasonable time.

Funds were released and the project commenced. Gov Okowa was committed to the completion of the stadium in terms of funding, regular inspection of the project and ensuring that funds released to contractors, consultants and suppliers were adequately deployed so as to get the exact value for money.

What many people referred to as "a white elephant project" by the Okowa administration came to fruition; completed, commissioned and hosted international athletic competition and soccer match to the dismay of political detractors.

Deltans and indeed the African Continent celebrated the commissioning of Stephen Keshi International Stadium which has  been certified by FIFA to host international soccer matches and competitions.

It is only fair and just to appreciate Gov Okowa of Delta State, for this milestone achievement and for many other mega infrastructure projects spread across the three senatorial districts of North, Central and South, respectively.

Vote OKOWA AGAIN for a Stronger Delta, on March 2, 2019.