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Tag: Ifeanyi Okowa

  • Delta community sacks monarch, installs a new one

    The traditional rulership tussle in Agbarho Kingdom, Ughelli North council area of Delta state escalated further on Monday as youths of the kingdom reportedly installed Chief Williams Onokpite as new Osuvie (monarch) of the kingdom.
    Before the reported installation of Chief Onokpite as new king, the youths had reportedly banished the embatled Osuvie, HRM, Chief Samson Oghughunwa, who had fled the kingdom for fears for his life.
    A source, who spoke under conditions of anonymity, told the Nation that the new king was the chief kingmaker and next in line to Chief Oghughunwa.
    Meanwhile, addressing journalists in his place of refuge in Uvwie council area, the embatled and deposed Osuvie of Agbarho Kingdom, Chief Oghughunwa, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the Delta state governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, to come to his aid.
    He also raised the alarm that Agbarho Kingdom is currently in the grip of criminals and ritualists, adding that his ordeal had been engineered by those who see him as opposed to illegalities being perpetrated in the kingdom.
    The embatled monarch said he managed to escape assassination when suspected hired killers invaded his palace on Sunday, adding that those who had been sponsoring his ordeal were both after his life and the destruction of the kingdom.

    “I learnt that some armed youths were coming to the palace, barely 30 minutes when I got the information, they were already at the palace, but I had to vanish. My two wives were held at gun point and traditional beads worth several millions of naira were stolen during the invasion.

    Read Also: Agip urges Niger Delta youths to embrace agriculture

    “My security details were beaten up, my children laptops were carted away. Properties worth over N30 million were collected from the palace during yesterday’s attack. The matter is now with UPU and the Delta State Governor, Dr. Okowa.

    “I’m calling on President Buhari, Governor Okowa and all the security chiefs to come save my life and the kingdom from the activities of criminals and ritualists who want to kill me. Soldiers and policemen came and they saw these youths were arms and ammunitions but did nothing. No arrest was made because they got a directive from a retired military general who is against me.

    “So, I am crying to the FG, heads of army, navy, police, DSS and the state government to come and save Agbarho from a hand of a retired General. Once the matter is settled, it is what the retired General says that this group of people who do not want peace will do”, he said.

  • Buhari, Jonathan, Obaseki at Anenih’s Funeral in Uromi

    President Muhammadu Buhari, former President, Goodluck Jonathan, Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki and a long-list of the who-is-who in Nigeria’s political and business communities on Saturday graced the funeral mass in honour of late elder statesman, Chief Anthony Anenih.

    The dignitaries, including Governor of Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa and his Bayelsa State counterpart,  Seriake Dickson, Minister of State for Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, who represented President Buhari, converged at the St. Anthony Catholic Cathedral, Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area to pay their last respect to late Chief Anenih.

    The mass was part of the state burial organised for Chief Anenih, the Iyasele of Esan land, in recognition of his contributions to the development of Edo State and Nigeria.

    In his homily, the Bishop of the Diocese of Uromi, Most Rev. Dr Donatus Ogun, said human life was a journey and should be lived in service to humanity and with consciousness of the existence of the supreme being.

    The Bishop said late Anenih was an exceptionally generous person, who believed in giving opportunities to others to achieve their dreams and was a man of integrity, who stood and lived by his words, a virtue which made him to excel in his political career.

    “He believed that every situation could be solved and he helped to give solution to every problem brought to him,” the Bishop said.

    In his votes of thanks, the first son of the deceased, Anthony Anenih Jnr., described his late father as a national leader, a statesman and a caring father to many.

    “He was a beloved pillar in our community; from Uromi to Benin and through out Edo. He was our protector, umbrella and educator.

    He said his father believed in caring for the elderly, which made him set up a Geriatric Centre at the University College Hospital, Ibadan.

    Other dignitaries at the event include National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and Alhaji Aliko Dangote, among others.

  • Okowa advises politicians against politics of bitterness

    Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State has advised politicians to shun actions that could jeopardize peace in the 2019 general elections.

    The governor gave the advice on Friday during the 87th Annual National Congress and Award of Honours of Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) at Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta.

    Okowa urged candidates to shun politics of bitterness and focus on people-oriented programmes to woo the electorate.

    The governor said everyone should work toward free, fair and credible elections.

    Read Also: Okowa inaugurates 10 vehicles for campaign

    He attributed the success recorded by his administration to the peaceful co-existence of different ethnic groups in the State.

    “The peace and unity that exists among the different ethnic nationalities in the state has contributed greatly to the success story of my administration.

    “If there is division in any of the ethnic nationalities, there will be problem; and as long as each of the ethnic nationalities are at peace with themselves, it will be easy for government to manage its affairs,” he said.

    Okowa urged the various ethnic nationalities in the state to continue to live in peace.

    He said that he believed Shell Petroleum and Development Company (SPDC) would listen to the collective voice of different ethnic nationalities and relocate to Warri, which would boost the economy of the state.

    “There is no doubt that the UPU is a very strong union; it is an embodiment of strength of the Urhobo people.

    “I thank the leadership for keeping faith with the ideals of the founding fathers of the UPU;  I must appreciate the traditional rulers who have come together to ensure that there is no division in the union,” he said.

    Also, former governor. James Ibori, commended the President-General of UPU, Mr Moses Taiga, and the traditional rulers for working for the  unity of Urhoboland.

    “The people should consider the overall interest of the Urhobo nation at all times.

    “As we continue to ask our governor to do more for us, we must keep the peace, which is necessary for development to take place,” he said.

    In his remark, Taiga commended Gov. Okowa for his developmental strides, especially in Urhoboland.

    He said that UPU would join forces with other ethnic nationalities to push for Shell’s returns to Warri.

     

    NAN

  • Okowa inaugurates 10 vehicles for campaign

    DELTA State Governor  Ifeanyi Okowa, at the weekend, inaugurated Team Kelly 4 Okowa with  over 10 vehicles ahead of 2019 elections.

    The governor, while launching the vehicles at Otokutu-Ogor, Ughelli North 1, said the director general, Kelly Oghenekevwe Emuoghenerue, had displayed commitment and support for his re-election and others in the party.

    The governor, represented by Mr. Ifeanyi Eboigbe, director of Protocol, Government House, urged members to key into the Team Kelly 4 Okowa by ensuring victory next year.

    Okowa added that what Emuoghenerue had done by providing over 10 vehicles for his re-election was a first in  Delta by a lawmaker.

    The governor said as part of his contribution to assist the group, he promised  to pay 20 women, 20 youths and 10 elders N20,000 every month.

    Earlier, Emuoghenerue said the group would encourage, sensitise and mobilise the grassroots, especially the Ughelli North 1, to return Okowa to power in 2019.

    He said the governor had done well, and that the only way to appreciate him was for Ughelli North to vote for him again.

    The director general said the vehicles were some of those he budgeted for Okowa’s campaign.

    He promised that every nook and cranny of Ughelli North 1 and beyond would deliver Okowa for re-election.

     

  • FNB Stadium Draw: No Okowa dollars for Super Eagles

     

    Super Eagles may have qualified for the 2019 AFCON in Cameroon, but the Ahmed Musa captained team has kissed goodbye to the $25,000 per goal promised by Delta state Governor Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa.

    The Governor who visited the team in their Asaba camp just before departure to South Africa, had promised to dole out the largesse for every goal scored.  Unfortunately the Eagles failed to score any goal.  What would have passed as the joker failed to click after Ahmed Musa’s 84th minute goal was ruled offside.  The two goals scored for and against Nigeria were all scored by the South Africans themselves.

    The Governor in a tweet dished out shortly after the match on Saturday congratulated the team for qualifying for the 2019 AFCON while promising that the people and government of Delta state will continue to pray for the team in their quest to ultimately clinch the title.

    “On behalf of @dsgovernment and people of Delta State I congratulate @NGSuperEagles for qualifying for #2019AFCONQ.Delta State will continue to pray for you as you compete in the coming tournament, and we look forward to having you back in Asaba” the governor said

    Some fans were seen at a viewing on Saturday arguing over whether or not the team will get the promised money if view of the result.  One of the fans sounding as if he were the spokesman of the governor said “There is no way the governor is going to give the team any money because they did not score. An own goal is just what it is an own goal it was not scored by the team so it wouldn’t count,” he submitted.

    Eagles still lead the group with 10 points just a point above South Africa who will next face Libya in the last group match while Nigeria take on Seychelles at home in what some have already dubbed pre-tournament training tie.

  • Okowa urges police to check increasing spate of kidnapping

    Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta has charged the police to hasten to check rising kidnapping and violent crime rate in the country, saying they have become the Force’s great challenge.

    Okowa made the call on Wednesday when the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 5, Mr Alkali Usman, visited him at the Government House, Asaba.

    He said: “There is no doubt that Delta is relatively peaceful, but kidnapping has become a national issue and it is very unfortunate.

    “Most of the kidnappings take place in the highways and that is a cause for worry because road users face a lot of attacks daily.

    “It is getting scary and soon we will not be able to travel without seeking some form of help from the security agencies.

    “I know that the police do not have enough manpower to provide protection for all travellers.”

    The governor expressed concern over the recent kidnap of some Catholic priests in the state but said that he was in touch with Commissioner of Police in the state, and that a lot was being done.

    He underscored the need for greater synergy between Delta and neighbouring Edo, Bayelsa and Anambra commands of the police in the efforts to finding lasting solution to kidnapping.

    According to him, we need to gather a lot of intelligence because I strongly believe that these criminals are mobile and move from one location to another.

    Okowa congratulated Usman on his appointment as AIG and hoped that he would deploy his wealth of experience and knowledge of the area to achieve success in crime control in the zone.

    He admonished the police to be proactive in crime control in view of imminent 2019 general elections.

    He also advised politicians to play by the rule and shun acts that could overheat the polity.

    Earlier, Usman, who said that he was on a familiarisation tour of police formations in the zone, thanked the governor “for contributing to the success story of the police in crime control.”

  • Okowa swears in commissioner, SAs

    Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta on Wednesday swore in three new appointees — Chief Joseph Utomi, Mrs Mercy Almona-Isei and Chief Kenneth Gbagi — charging them to bring on board their brilliance in furthering the state’s development.

    Utomi was sworn in as Commissioner, while Almona-Isei and Gbagi were sworn in as Special Advisers.

    Their specific offices were not named at the swearing-in ceremony.

    The governor, who performed the ceremony in Asaba, charged the appointees to key into the developmental framework of his administration.

    “The thrust of our policies and programmes is clear and focused, and that is, empowerment, job and wealth creation.

    Read Also:We’ ve lost a patriotic Nigerian, says Okowa

     

    “We are committed to building infrastructure that can support economic growth and an economically integrated state,” Okowa said.

    He said that his administration was committed to transparency and accountability, and the state was blessed with many brilliant people out of which the appointees had been selected.

    Okowa congratulated them on their appointment and urged them to contribute to positive development in the state, for the common good.

    “Let it be known loud and clear that service to the people is the best opportunity to serve God,” he said.

    The governor assured the people that the development programmes of his administration would get to every community in the state.

    Responding on behalf of the appointees, Utomi, thanked the governor for finding them fit to serve in his administration.

    He assured the governor that they would serve the government and the people of the state selflessly and to the best of their abilities.

  • Okowa swears-in two commissioners-designate

    Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa has sworn-in two commissioners-designate and three members of the local interventionist body, DESOPADEC.

    He charged political appointees to always give their best in rendering services to Deltans.

    The governor gave the charge on Friday in Asaba at the swearing-in ceremony of two new members of the State Executive Council: Hon. Freeman O. Fregene and Mr. Julius Takeme, three members of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission – DESOPADEC:  Hon. Ejaife Odebala, Hon. Mofe Pira, Hon. Talib Tebite and Dr. Samuel Ochonogor Ossai as Executive Director, and the inauguration of Mr. Kelly Oghenekevwe as member of Delta State Internal Revenue Board.

    According to Governor Okowa, “I expect that those appointed to serve in various capacities, should give their best to the entire State; in your various portfolios, we expect you to serve with integrity, devotion, commitment and accountability.”

    “It is our expectations that you will provide fresh ideas and new drive to support the government in consolidating our programmes and projects, while moving the politics of Delta State to a higher level of humility, justice and harmony as you serve our people,” he said, adding, “I want to remind the new appointees that your assignment will be especially challenging, as we seek to accomplish most of our projects and other commitments under a disciplined financial regime and urgency, especially as the seasons of expectations of our citizens, active politics and attendant elections begin to accelerate.”

    He urged all Deltans to actively participate in politics, stating that Deltans should be conscious and at all times, stand for transparent, free and fair elections, where every vote counts.

    Read Also: Okowa advocates alternative funding for INEC

    Governor Okowa urged the appointees to inject fresh and productive ideas into the Ministries, Commission or Board they find themselves, stating, “I urge all those sworn-in or inaugurated today to bring with them the desirable winning attitude, ingenuity and deep insight in the handling of your various assignments; these are the only ways you can assist this administration leave a desired legacy of service in Delta State, while also endearing yourselves to our people.”

    “We are approaching the twilight of our first term in office; we have before us, many urgent challenges arising from the committed pursuit of our projects and programmes, including the inevitable pressures of politics as we are getting deep into the electioneering season; but, we need not be derailed in our commitment to our economic agenda,” he admonished.

    Responding on behalf of the appointees, Hon. Ejaife Odebala thanked Governor Okowa for the appointment, expressing delight that they have been chosen to be part of the team that was working to positively change the lives of Deltans.

    He assured the governor and all entire Deltans that they will discharge their duties meritoriously to the benefits of the people.

  • Tambuwal, Makarfi pledge support for Atiku

    Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal and former Kaduna State Governor, Ahmed Makarfi have pledged their full support for the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
    Tambuwal and Makarfi were two of the aspirants that contested and lost the PDP presidential ticket to Atiku at the party’s recent presidential primaries in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

    The two politicians gave the commitment yesterday when the Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson led two other PDP governors to the Abuja homes of Tambuwal and Makarfi for consultations.

    Speaking with newsmen shortly after a closed door meeting with the Dickson team, Tambuwal stressed the need for PDP to remain a strong united party, adding that the emphasis should be on the country and not personal ambition.

    Tambuwal who observed that the country was being run by proxy said that Nigeria needed a president who would deliver effective governance.

    The Sokoto Governor added that he was resolute in his decision to give his total support to Atiku in pursuit of victory for the PDP in the 2019 general elections.

    On his part, Makarfi said although the 12 aspirants went into the primary election as contestants, the emergence of one of them was a collective victory for party.

    Makarfi said he had a long standing political relationship with Atiku spanning many years and it that it was too late in the day for him to jettison that relationship over presidential primaries.

    Read Also: 2019: Tambuwal congratulates Atiku

    He predicted a resounding victory for the PDP in the 2019 elections both at the federal and state elections.

    Governor Dickson together with Governors Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta) and Darius Ishaku (Taraba) hailed Tambuwal and Makarfi for their understanding and spirit of sportsmanship.

    Dickson, who led the team, described Tambuwal and Makarfi as frontline politicians qualified enough to fly the party’s presidential flag.

    Dickson, on behalf of other PDP Governors, commended the two former aspirants for displaying maturity before, during and after the presidential primaries.

    The Bayelsa governor said the visit to the two politicians was part of the decision of the PDP to visit and interact with other presidential aspirants that lost the primaries, with a view to encouraging them as leaders of the party in their own rights.

    Dickson who heads the Standing Committee on Reconciliation of the PDP, said that the party had commenced series of consultative talks with other categories of aspirants and leaders of the party in the bid to present a united front.

    He stressed that the meeting with two former aspirants was borne out of the need to strengthen the PDP, to provide the requisite support for the candidate of the party for electoral victory.

    Dickson said, “I am leading a team of the committee of governors to interact and compare notes with our brothers, Governor Aminu Tambuwal and Senator Ahmed Makarfi.

    “They ran a great race and we are all proud of what they did and what they continue to do. We appreciate their statesmanship, we appreciate the way and manner they have been of help in consolidating the gains the party is making.

    “This afternoon, as part of our decision to go round, visit, encourage and interact with all our party leaders, especially all those who indicated interest in the last presidential elections, we have held fruitful meetings.

    “This is just the beginning of several interactions formally and informally that we are going to have with them and with several other leaders of our party.

    “As you all know, they are very key players in the unfolding political scenario and we are all committed to reclaiming our country and building a new Nigeria”.

    Dickson stressed the need for leaders of the PDP to close ranks and to hold regular talks as opposition politicians to reposition the PDP for electoral victory.

    The Bayelsa Governor noted that as the nation moved towards the next election, the Indepedent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security agencies had a responsibility to ensure the conduct of free, fair and credible elections in the country.

    He urged INEC and the security agencies to be fair, adhere strictly to the rule of law, and to respect the rights of individuals in the next elections.

  • 2019: Okowa advocates alternative source of funding for INEC

    Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa has advocated for change in the funding of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure its independence. 

    Okowa spoke on Saturday at the executive session of the 14th All Nigeria Editor’s Conference (ANEC).
    The event which holds in Asaba-Delta State had as its theme, “Credible Elections, Sustainable Democracy and the Role of the Media.”,
    His words, “INEC is supposed to be an unbiased body, so, how can they truly be unbiased? How will they get their source of funding? How will they work on their process of appointments? These and more questions are what we are supposed to address and they have to be dealt with in such a manner that we can give them enough power, make them truly independent in such a manner that they do not walk cap in hand to the executive to ask for funding, because when you know that somebody controls the funds, you will definitely not be in a position to be truly independent.”
    Continuing, “It will be hard to say, not when such individuals in charge of the funds make certain request, and I believe that INEC is gradually moving, I still believe that there is a lot to be done which means that our legislation must be in such a manner that will truly make INEC independent and if they are going to be answerable to anybody at all, they should be answerable to the legislature and not any other arm of government which will be better”. 

    Read Also: ‘Okowa has done well in Itsekiri land, Delta’

    Governor Okowa disclosed the reason the Peoples Democratic Party’s Special Convention Planning Committee was able to organize a free, credible and acceptable presidential primary election of the PDP, saying, “we did our best to conduct the primaries that one can truly say that we did things, the way they ought to be, because we had to extract from our National Executive that we would be allowed to do what is right otherwise, we will not accept the nominations to conduct the primaries and I thank God that they allowed us do what is right and once we do things right, it becomes easier for one to move forward and the press is very important in trying to turn things around for our country.”

    “If all of us work together and that means that the press must be able to report appropriately, they must be in the position to advise us the politicians appropriately and they must be in a position to fully inform the people and beyond the information, they must put us, politicians, under pressure and it is very important that we must realize that not just the Guild of Editors but, the entire press need to play the role it ought to play if we are able to do things better that will gradually improve the situation, so that we can conduct elections that are credible,” Governor Okowa added.

    The governor highlighted his achievements in Delta State, stressing “generally, in our country, I do believe that the need for voters’ education, the need to ensure that we take our people out of the poverty level are motivations that will help us to improve on the electoral process because, as long as our people continue to remain in the poverty bracket, there will be no integrity.”