The Asaba Branch of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) has pledged its support for former Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, ahead of the 2027 general elections, expressing confidence in his leadership capacity and track record in public service.
The engineers, led by the branch Chairman, Mr. Chukwuka Ojei, made the pledge on Tuesday during a solidarity visit to the former governor in Asaba, where they commended his administration’s infrastructural achievements across the state.
The delegation, which comprised a large number of professional engineers, acknowledged the significant strides recorded in infrastructure development during Okowa’s eight-year administration, describing his performance as deserving of their support at the polls.
They further assured the former governor that NSE members across Delta North Senatorial District would mobilise support for his electoral ambition and work towards securing his victory.
Responding, Senator Okowa described members of the engineering profession as dependable partners in development, recalling the cordial working relationship he maintained with them during his tenure as governor.
He particularly acknowledged their contributions to efforts aimed at addressing flooding challenges in Asaba, noting the importance of engineering expertise in tackling critical infrastructural and environmental issues.
The former governor appealed to the engineers to support his bid to return to the Senate, expressing confidence that his wealth of experience in governance and legislative responsibilities would enable him to provide effective representation for the people.
Okowa, who previously served in the Senate between 2011 and 2015, highlighted his contributions to the development of Nigeria’s healthcare sector, particularly his involvement in the passage of the National Health Act.
According to him, the legislation provided the framework for improved healthcare financing, including provisions for health insurance and dedicated funding for primary healthcare delivery across the country.
Addressing concerns surrounding the removal of the petroleum subsidy, the former governor recalled that the four major presidential candidates in the 2023 general elections had included subsidy removal in their respective manifestoes.
He argued that the policy was not peculiar to President Bola Tinubu, explaining that the presidential candidates had independently recognised the need for its removal in the country’s economic interest.
“Any of the presidential candidates would have removed the subsidy, as they had all made that commitment in their manifestoes. Tinubu only had the opportunity to implement it because he emerged as President,” Okowa said.
He maintained that his experience across different levels of government, coupled with his legislative background, would position him to contribute meaningfully to national development if given another opportunity to represent Delta North in the Senate.
