By Amos Okioma
Ahead the People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) primary election for the Nov 16, 2019 Bayelsa State governorship election, one of the aspirants, Mr. Reuben Okoya, has said that he was not a desperate politician.
Okoya, spoke on Sunday, disclosed that he was too desperate to speed-off development in Bayelsa State and urged the delegates to vote for him because of his wealth of experience in both the private and public sectors of the economy. It would be recalled that Okoya had served twice as Commissioner of Special projects in the state, from 2003 to 2007 under the late Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha and Dr Goodluck Jonathan.
As a commissioner, he managed numerous projects across the state, among which were medical, infrastructural, social and educational. Okoya was the political head of the ministry and supervised the day to day running and his duties included formulation and implementation of policy framework to guide the rapid and qualitative implementation of priority projects as identified by the government of Bayelsa State, identifying and fast-tracking of slow paced or abandoned projects, preparation , review and vetting of design / contracts drawings and documents for various projects cutting across all ministries in the state. He named some of his achievements to included main secretariat annex, treasury building, revenue house, cultural centre and the Niger Delta University among others.
He said that his success was achieved through a balance of technical excellence, vast professional experience both locally and internationally, creativity and corporate managerial and leadership skill with a commitment to timely delivery and within budget.
Okoya said that the delegates should evaluate his achievements as Abuja City Manager under the FCT Minister , Bala Mohammed in 2011 – 2015.
He said he considers himself as prepared to govern the state and his desperation is not for power, but for the development of Bayelsa state.He said when he becomes governor of the state he would unite the state.