Stephen Keshi Stadium before its renovation by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.

What do you call, in your language, a man who says something and does exactly what he says?  A man whose words are his bond.  Such a man, in my own language is called ‘EKWUEME.’

Stephen Keshi Stadium after its completion.  Courtesy of Sincerity Media.

Phyno, one of the Nigerian musicians who performed at the just concluded African Senior Athletics Championship at the Stephen Keshi Stadium.

That is exactly what the governor of Delta State, Senator (Dr.) Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa is.  He does not say what he cannot do or what he does not intend to do.  He says something and does exactly what he says.  What a politician with a difference?

“Why are you showering all these praises on Governor Okowa?” you might ask.  I’ll tell you why.

He made some promises to the people of Delta State during his political campaign in 2014 that he would make prosperity of all Deltans possible.  And today, that is exactly what he is doing.

While other politicians are looking the other way to the detriment of their people, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa is busy fulfilling his own promises and delivering the dividends of democracy to Deltans and non-Deltans living in Delta State.

A trip round the three Senatorial districts of the state, Delta Central, Delta North and Delta South, would attest to this fact.  There’s no part of these areas that His Excellency has not touched in terms of fulfilling his campaign promises.

The part of Senator Okowa that prompted me to write this particular article is his good habit of listening to the people he governs and their plights, which is not common among many Nigerian politicians.  Many politicians can do anything during their campaigns, including eating with beggars, visiting the poor in their homes, eating roasted corn on the street, and so on and so forth, but as soon as they are elected into the offices of their choice, they become inaccessible.

Athletes in action during the just concluded African Senior Athletics Championship at the Stephen Keshi Stadium.

On the second day of February this year, February 2, 2018, I posted an article on this blog entitled: PLEASE, GOVERNOR OKOWA, COMPLETE STEPHEN KESHI STADIUM, HONOUR STEPHEN KESHI.  Stephen Keshi Stadium, as you would remember, was called Asaba Township Stadium.  It has been in existence since the 1970s, as far as I can remember, because the secondary school I attended did play some of its Principal Cup soccer matches there between 1978 and 1981.

Unfortunately, the stadium was not developed since then till a few months ago.  The governments before that of Senator Okowa awarded contracts for its development but nothing tangible came out of those contracts until Governor Okowa stepped in.

I was very excited when the renovation work commenced at the stadium, especially because of the African Senior Athletics competition that was held there recently.  It was that excitement that prompted me to write the article I mentioned above.

After pleading with Governor Okowa, in my article, to complete the stadium and allow its new name, Stephen Keshi Stadium, to stick, some people called me and said: “Why are you advising the governor to rename the stadium after Stephen Keshi?”  “Why must the stadium be named after Stephen Keshi, a native of IlIah, instead of after an Asaba indigene?  Don’t we have people from Asaba who excelled in sports?”

Those people forgot that both IIIah and Asaba are towns in the same state called Delta.  They forgot that the Stadium was not renamed by Governor Okowa but by the Federal Government of Nigeria after Stephen Keshi had made Nigeria proud in the field of soccer.  They also forgot that renaming Asaba Township Stadium after Stephen Keshi was an honour to both Delta State and to Stephen Keshim, whom honour was due.

After my story in February, a reliable source at the Government House in Asaba confided in me that the Ekwueme governor, in his characteristics way of doing things, has promised to implement the renaming of the stadium as soon as it was completed.

And today, Governor Okowa, who knew the right thing to do, did exactly what I was told.  He has simply implemented the renaming of the stadium, from Asaba Township Stadium to Stephen Keshi Stadium.  In other words, the former Asaba Township Stadium is now to be known and addressed to as Stephen Keshi Stadium.

The Entrance Gate of Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba, Delta State.

I thank God, who gave him the uncommon courage to do so.  I thank God also for putting, to shame, Satan the devil, who was expecting the “we no go gree” disagreement song from Asaba indigenes to mar the whole thing.

Finally, I want to use this opportunity to thank our Ekwueme governor for doing what Napoleon could not do.  For giving honour to whom honour was due, honour will never cease in his family in Jesus name.

A-M-E-N!