Ukah’s Appointment as SSG Based on Competence, Loyalty, Says Okowa

By Omon-Julius Onabu

Governor lfeanyi Okowa of Delta State revealed that his decision to settle for former education and information commissioner, Chief Patrick Ukah, as Secretary to the State Government (SSG) was based primarily on Ukah’s exhibition of capacity and competence as well as unflinching loyalty to his administration.

Speaking at a civic reception organised in honour of Ukah by his Okpanam community in Oshimili North Local Government Area of the state, Okowa admitted that the new SSG emerged by some divine intervention, advising Ukah, who holds the traditional title of Akatakpo-Enyin of Okpanam, to remain steadfast in both faith and discharge of his duties.

While lauding the people of Okpanam and Oshimili North in general for the Civic reception, the governor said that ensuring that their community and local government area remained peaceful was a further step to honour the SSG and demonstrate their support for the Okowa administration.

Okowa said, “I am glad that today the people of Okpanam and the entire people of Oshimili North have come together to honour one of their own, Chief Patrick Ukah, the Secretary to the State Government.

“I want to congratulate Chief Patrick Ukah and his wife for the honour done them by the people of Okpanam through the civic reception organised in their honour.

“As a government, we are happy with the honour done the SSG and his wife. I thank the people of Oshimili North for the very warm welcome accorded us.

“I saw the excitement on the faces of the people, especially women who have come out in their numbers. The best thing the people of Okpanam could do for their son, Ukah, is to ensure that they continue to maintain peace and unity in the community.”

While giving all glory and honour to God for making it possible for his administration to do the much it had done in Okpanam and Oshimili North and the entire state despite the various challenges, Okowa assured that the government would remain focused in trying to do the best it could for Deltans to the last day of his administration.

In his response, Ukah, who was overwhelmed with emotions as he thanked the governor and his wife as well as the people of Okpanam for their confidence in him, said that he was taken by surprise when Governor Okowa announced him as the new SSG because he had no prior knowledge that he would be so appointed.

He said that he never dreamt of becoming a member of the State Executive Council (EXCO) when he started his political career, adding that it was God Almighty who made it possible for him to be elevated politically through the instrumentality of Dr Okowa.

Chief Ukah, who fought back tears of emotion, expressed appreciation to Governor Okowa for the opportunity to serve the state, saying that he would remain loyal to him for the desired service delivery to the people of the state.

He said that he was eternally grateful to the governor for inspiring him politically and for the opportunity to serve his people in the capacity as SSG, the highest political appointment for any indigene of Okpanam.

“The day Okowa quits politics is the day that l will quit politics. Okowa is my mentor, he is a team player and a bridge builder.

“From the depth of my heart, I want to thank you, Your Excellency for all that you have done for me, Okpanam Community and Oshimili North,” Ukah said.

Earlier in his remarks, the Ugoani of Okpanam, HRM, Dr. Ubanefo Michael Ogbolu (JP) said the last six years of Okowa’s administration in the state had witnessed phenomenal and massive deployment of resources to the development of the three senatorial districts of the state.

Okowa has transformed the rural community to an urban community, he observed, saying that since the creation of the state, no Okpanam man or woman had ever been appointed into the State Executive Council.

He thanked Governor Okowa for the appointment given to one of his subjects, Ukah, even as he assured the governor of the sustained support of the people of Okpanam beyond 2023.