Hon. Sunday Eromedoghene Onoriode, a stalwart of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is the immediate past council chairman of Ethiope East local government area of Delta State. He is presently the State Director of Youths Mobilization, the Assistant Secretary and also the Acting Treasurer of the state chapter of the party. In this interview, he bares his mind on sundry issues pertaining to the Delta State Government and other national issues. Excerpts: By Godwin Oghre
How do you react to perceptions that resources available to the government do not compare with achievements on ground?
I am not in the House of Assembly, I am a state officer of PDP but to the best of my knowledge, the senator, my governor, Dr. Okowa has done very well. This is despite the economic problems we are facing in the country. He is a very hardworking governor, not because of his new position but he is someone who has over the years, been from councillor, local government chairman, commissioner, secretary to state government, senator and now governor of Delta State. So, tell me why will such person not excel? I know he is going to do very well because his experience counts. You will see at the end that his Smart Agenda will usher in tremendous changes to Delta State.
How smart is Okowa’s Smart Agenda now in its ninth month?
Sunday Eromedoghene Onoriode An action without planning is a failure, the SMART Agenda of Senator Ifeanyi Okowa is geared towards making Deltans especially the youths, self-reliant, and it is not a thing you just gather them and give them money. The programme is all about training them, you train them and at the end of the day empower them to be on their own, with that they can help employ other youths to work with them. And the programme started immediately the Governor was sworn-in. The first batch just graduated or got through with training in different field or area of specialization. Some into farming, welding and fabrication, crafts work, and all left to start on their own with starter-pack. The essence of the programme is to train in the area where they can excel since government cannot provide employment to all of them. I believe the programme is a laudable one. It is not that of Father Christmas, it is something you must be interested in. So far so good, the reports are showing that the programme is a welcome development.
How do you compare the Okowa administration with its predecessor?
Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and Senator Ifeanyi Okowa are both members of PDP and cannot compare them because they are operating the policy of the party and by extension, delivering to Deltans their campaign promises, both are goal scorers from time we have known and we are proud of them. You know that there is this concept that no son will want to do lesser than his father, as no younger brother will want to do lesser than his elder brother. The government of Senator Okowa is fresh and just started but he will definitely do well because he has started very well. He started with Delta State queuing behind him, he is a product of free and fair primary, free and fair elections and those that voted for him are surely behind him. How do you react to perceptions that Okowa might move to APC, given the rate the APC is growing in the state? APC has no impact in Delta State and it has not made any meaningful impact in the state like PDP. For instance, this is my office and you came to see me working, which shows that PDP has a structure on ground but if you go to other political parties in the state, you will see that they don’t have anything on ground, you will see them coming just few months to another election and you call that political party?
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