The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ifeanyi Okowa

  • Elections: Winner-takes-all syndrome builds tension, complicates situations – Okowa

    Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta says the syndrome of winner-takes-all after every election in Nigeria is responsible for tension build-up and complications in unemployment and poverty rates in the country.

    The governor made the assertion on Wednesday in Asaba, during the maiden edition of Maris Annual Lecture, organised by the Maris Trust Council.

    The theme of the lecture was “Managing Post-Election Challenges: Nigeria as Case Study.”

    He said, “Particularly, the winner takes it all after every election builds up tension; it complicates situations and builds high rate of unemployment and poverty in our country.”

    Okowa, represented by the state Commissioner for Water Resources, Chief Fidelis Tilije, described the theme and focus of the lecture as apt.

    He said that it was unfortunate that elections in the country often turned violent with undesirable outcome, adding “I am an advocate of free, fair and credible elections.”

    The governor said elections in the country should be free from all forms of hitches and promote peace which was essential for development.

    He noted that at every election, there must be a winner and advised those aggrieved by the outcome to seek redress through legitimate and legal means.

    Okowa commended Maris Trust for the initiatives while calling on the people to toe the line of peace in their endeavours to ensure development of the state and the country at large.

    The Guest Lecturer, Chief Williams Makinde, said that post-election challenges in the country had bearing with poverty, unemployment and inequality, among other ills.

    According to Makinde, as a developing country, post-election challenges in Nigeria included economic, social, political and cultural challenges as well low Human Development Index (HDI).

    “HID is the indicator of sustainable development; it is a summary measure for accessing long-term progress in three basic elements of human development: a long and healthy life, access to knowledge and a decent standard of living.

    “To allow government address the challenges of the right type of development, the political elite, career politicians and all other rent-seeking stakeholders must manage their greed.

    “There is enough to meet everybody’s need but there can never be enough to meet everybody’s greed,” the Managing Director, Delta State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (DESOPADEC) said.

    The discussants, Dr David Oba, Ms Faith Nwadishi, Sen. Stella Omu and Chief Fred Majemite, agreed that systems and institutional failure were responsible for post-election challenges.

    They argued that election, though a struggle for political power, the operators and political gladiators must play by the rules.

    They also said that in every contest, there must be a winner while losers must equally ensure peace by pursuing their mandate legally.

    The discussants however urged winners of elections to be magnanimous in victory and strive to meet the expectations of the electorate.

    Mr Fidelis Egugbo, Secretary, Maris Trust Council, in a vote of thanks, said the council would be holding the lecture annually to discuss topical issues with a view to addressing challenges in the country.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the occasion was graced by politicians from various political parties in the state. (NAN)

  • Okowa boosts Super Eagles with $50,000

    Governor Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa of Delta State has rewarded the Super Eagles following victories in their 2019 AFCON qualifying match against Seychelles and the prestige friendly against seven-time African champions Egypt, as he presented the sum of $10,000 to Technical Adviser Gernot Rohr and another $50,000 to the team on Tuesday.

    Thenff.com recalls that Governor Okowa similarly rewarded the team following their qualification for the 2019 AFCON with the 1-1 draw against South Africa in Johannesburg in November 2018, which they followed up with a friendly against Uganda in Asaba three days later.

    Captain Ahmed Musa, who, on his part, received rave reviews for promptly fulfilling his promise of N1million-a-goal to the Olympic Eagles by sending the team N4million on Monday evening immediately after their 4-0 win over Libya, thanked Governor Okowa for his kind gestures and support to the team, other National Teams and Nigerian Football generally.

    At its meeting on Monday, the NFF Executive Committee hailed Delta State’s number one citizen and his administration for the full sponsorship of the Super Eagles’ two matches, as well as taking care of the U23 AFCON qualifier between Nigeria and Libya.

    Nigeria’s Odion Ighalo emerged the top scorer of the 2019 AFCON qualifying campaign with seven goals, and the 1-0 victory over Africa’s number one ranked side Egypt was brilliantly executed and must have positive implications for Africa’s fourth-ranked team Nigeria’s position in the next FIFA ranking activation.

  • Delta monarchs hail Okowa’s reelection

    The traditional institution in Delta State has congratulated Governor Ifeanyi Okowa on his re-election.

    The monarchs, led by the Chairman, Delta State Traditional Rulers Council and also the Obi of Owa, HRM Emmanuel Efeizomor II at Asaba at the weekend paid a congratulatory visit to the governor on his reelection at the polls.

    But Okowa maintained that the peace in the various communities provided the enabling environment for his administration to deliver democratic dividends which translated to his electoral victory.

    The governor while thanking the traditional rulers attributed his victory at the polls to the traditional rulers who created the enabling environment in their kingdoms for his administration to execute projects that endeared him to the hearts of Deltans.

    He said, “I appreciate you, our traditional rulers for this visit, I thank you for your support for my administration; you have given us peace and the enabling environment which made us to work; your positive message to your people, our people over the years made victory at the elections easy and made the elections peaceful as the people came out with the sole purpose of voting for us.”

    Continuing, “the support you have given us these past years was the push that made a lot of Deltans to come out and vote; I appreciate you, I appreciate our people, Deltans; it is a thing of joy that the state was peaceful before the elections and when the results were announced, they took to the streets to celebrate their victory, our victory; some are still organising thanksgiving and it gladdens my heart more that the state is very peaceful after the elections; I want to assure you and all Deltans that as a government, we will remain focused to deliver more dividends of democracy in the next four years starting from May 29.”

    The governor also addressed some of the issues raised by the traditional rulers, stating, “Nobody has the right to appoint himself as a traditional ruler; you cannot be a traditional ruler over a kingdom that does not exist; I will not support illegality, there is a process of creating kingdoms and emergence of traditional rulers.”

    He called for the support of the traditional rulers as his administration moves to make the state stronger and exemplary within the next four years.

  • Abolish death penalty in Nigeria, Okowa urges FG

    Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State on Monday called for the abolishment of death penalty in Nigeria.

    The governor made the call when members of the Presidential Committee on Prisons Reforms led by its Chairman, Justice Ishaq Bello paid him a courtesy visit in Asaba.

    According to him, death penalty should be abolished and those who are already sentenced to death be converted to life imprisonment, more so now that most state governments are unwilling to sign the death warrant.

    He also called for the reformation of the prisoners to make them better citizens of the country.

    Okowa condemned a situation where prison inmates coordinate criminal activities such as kidnapping from the prisons, adding that reforming the prisoners was apt for a sustainable crime-free society.

    “We need to reform the minds of the prisoners, a programme to reform the mind of prisoners is very important because once you are able to reform their minds, they will become better citizens.

    “As a state government, we are extending our skills acquisition programmes to the prisons.

    “But, it will be such that the prisoners would be given starter packs as they are leaving the prisons to enable them start their own businesses and be useful members of the society,’’ he said.

    Read Also: ACPN denies endorsing Okowa

    According to the governor, setting up of the committee for Prisons Reforms is timely and urged it to ensure a thorough job.

    He noted that the crime rate in the country was on the rise and available prisons infrastructure had been stretched beyond their limits.

    Earlier, Bello said that they were in the state to have as part of their activities to reform the Nigerian Prisons Service.

    He said that the committee had visited more than 13 states in that regard.

    NAN

     

  • UPU greets Okowa, Urhobo lawmakers

    The Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) has congratulated Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa on his re-election.

    A statement by the President-General, Olorogun Moses Taiga, urged Okowa to use his second term to bring more developments to Urhobo land, in particular, and Delta in general.

    The union also greeted the lawmakers-elect from Delta Central, urging them to always promote Urhobo interest and work towards the development of Urhoboland.

    Read also: Comedian I Go Dye congratulates Okowa

    The statement reads: “The Urhobo Nation is expecting more development projects from the government in the next four years.

    “To those who feel their mandates were stolen, the Nigerian electoral system is not perfect and you have every right to go to court if you feel aggrieved. But every action you take should be legal. No more violence, we have lost too many people already.”

  • Ijaws leaders task Okowa on development of riverine communities

    The People’s Democratic Party leaders from the Ijaws ethnic nationality have tasked Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and governor-elect of Delta State to aggressively focus on the development of the riverine Ijaw communities in the state.

    The PDP Ijaw leaders who spoke through Chief Julius Bobuoghan and Chief Torulolo Love, in a statement obtained by the Nation, also enjoined other PDP Delta House of Assembly members-elect across the state to join hands with Governor Okowa to “collaborate towards connecting the riverine communities in Forcados and Escravos Areas to the upland by road networks within the next four years.”

    While congratulating Governor Okowa for his victory at the just concluded poll, the Ijaw leaders said the re-election of Governor Okowab was an indication of his wide acceptance across the three senatorial districts of the state.

    The Ijaw leaders said Governor Okowa was a rare politician in Nigeria, stressing that the visible transformation of Delta State into an enviable height made Okowa’s re-election very easy.

    They enjoined Deltans to rally round the governor and be ready for more developmental strides during his second term.

    The Ijaw leaders also assured Deltans, particularly their primary constituency, Burutu local government area, that Governor Okowa would embark on more developmental projects in the area.

    According to the statement, “We congratulate the deputy governor, Deacon Kingsley Otuaro, distinguished Senator James Manager, Senator-elect, Delta South Senatorial district; Rt. Hon. Julius Pondi, as member-elect, Burutu Federal Constituency, House of Representatives; Hon. Asupa Forteta, member-elect, Delta State House of Assembly, Burutu constituency I; and Mr. Emomotimi Guwor, member-elect, Delta State House of Assembly, Warri South-West constituency.”

    The leaders also expressed optimism that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP 2019 presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar will be victorious at the tribunal.

  • Guber polls: INC warns against militarization of Ijaw nation

    The Ijaw National Congress (INC), has warned against the militarization of the Ijaw communities as the nation gets ready for Saturday’s gubernatorial elections across the states.

    INC Spokesperson and former Minister of Police Affairs, Alaowei Broderick Bozimo, who spoke to journalists in Warri also appealed to the federal government to allow peace to reign in the Niger Delta region.

    He said, “Now rumours are flying everywhere that there would be a complete overrun of the Ijaws for the purpose of this election. We plead with Mr President, the APC to leave the Ijaw nation alone and let sleeping dogs lie.”

    Bozimo, who is also a leader of the Ijaw nation, reiterates the resolve of the INC to support governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta as their preferred candidate in next Saturday’s gubernatorial elections.

    “We the Ijaws will support the PDP in the next gubernatorial elections in Nigeria, specifically Okowa the candidate of the PDP in Delta State and all other southern areas where the Ijaws is predominant, namely Edo, Ondo, Delta, Rivera, and Cross River.

    Read Also: Ijaw group drums support for APC in Edo

    “That position has been taken for a while now and was highlighted by the Ijaw National Congress Steering Committee in Port Harcourt where we took that decision. So what I am doing is to reemphasise that position.

    “So I want to appeal to our sons and daughters wherever they are, in disapora or in Nigeria  that we have taken a position and we want to stand with the PDP in this gubernatorial elections and even the state House of Assembly elections,” Bozimo added.

  • ACPN denies endorsing Okowa

    The Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) said on Sunday that it has not endorsed the candidacy of the incumbent governor of Delta state, Ifeanyi Okowa for this weekend’s governorship election.

    National Secretary of the party, Chief Paul Isamade said in a statement in Abuja that the ACPN was committed to winning the governorship election in Delta state and pulling the people of the state out of the backwardness the current PDP government is subjected the people to.

    Chief Isamade who is also the party’s governorship candidate in the state said the people of the state should disregard such insinuation and urged its members across the state to work hard for the success of the party’s governorship candidate in the state.

    The party’s national leadership also threatened to sanction any member of ACPN who defy the directive or seen in anti-party activity in whatever form.

    The statement also urged the public to disregard any publication that includes the name of the party in respect of purported endorsement.

    “Allied Congress Party of Nigeria “ACPN” wish to inform the general public that the party in delta state has not and will not endorse any other candidate in the March 9th governorship election in delta state because the party is contesting the said electrion.

    “The general public should disregard any publication that includes the name of the party in respect of the above subject.  The party also warns all it’s members in the state to work for the success of the party and her candidate only.”

  • We have nothing to do with death of two, says Delta APC

    The All Progressive Congress (APC) has debunked allegations linking it to the death of two young men during the presidential and national assembly polls in Sapele, Delta State.

    In a press release made available to newsmen on Sunday, the party described the claims as efforts on the part of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to cover up their involvement in the killings.

    Calling on security operatives to investigate the matter, the release which was signed by the party’s chairman, Comrade Friday Erubasa, said the attack was plotted to rig the elections in ward 9, which has always been an APC stronghold.

    It also called on security agencies to ignore allegations by the PDP that the attack was carried out by one of APC chieftains, whose house was burnt down after the onslaught.

    Read Also: Polls: Kidnapped APC candidate still in captivity

    Some political thugs had reportedly opened fire on voters at Ward 9, Unit 15 in Amukpe area of Sapele, leading to the death of two persons who made attempt to snatch ballot boxes.

    Stating that the presence of the deceased persons, identified as Michael Chibueze and Jeffrey Otevane, at that polling unit was questionable, considering that they were not registered voters of the unit, the APC alleged that they were PDP members recruited as mercenaries by the council chairman, Chief Eugene Inoaghan and one Hero Asagba, a special adviser to governor of Delta state, Sen Ifeanyi Okowa.

    It wondered why the duo were being said to be Ad-hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), even when the electoral body is yet to report loss of any official.

    Calling on party supporters to come out en masse and vote for APC candidates in the forthcoming governorship polls, the party disputed claims that its candidate, Moses Ogodo was part of the thugs, adding, “Moses Ogodo was never at the polling booth, as he is a registered voter at unit 12, ward 9 where he was on that day, exercising his franchise.”

  • Police charge Okowa’s ex-aide, two others

    The Delta State Police Command said it has charged an ex-aide  of Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa, Friday Eluro, and two others to court.

    In a statement by the command’s acting public relations officer, ASP Chuks Oresewezie, the police said the suspects were charged at an Ashaka Magistrate Court on 18th February.

    Oresewezie said the suspects were arrested following a trending video of a woman that was stripped naked and tortured.

    Read Also: Okowa orders sack of aide for assault

    The statement further alleged that the ex- aide “have more than 20 boys in his compound, whom he uses for his nefarious activities.”

    It added: “Friday Eluro and two others were charged of abduction, torture, and dehumanizing treatment of the victim”.

    The statement said the suspects have been remanded in Kwale prison.