The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ifeanyi Okowa

  • Delta community boils over recognition of monarch by government

    Despite a court injunction, the Delta State Government has gone ahead with the presentation of staff of office to Chief Solomon Ifenezuchie in Amai Kingdom, Ukwuani L.G.A, Delta State sparking concerns of renewed tension in the community.

    The Nation gathered that a combined team of soldiers and police were stationed in the community to forestall a breakdown of law and order during  and after  the presentation ceremony presided over by Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa who was represented by his Deputy.

    It was learnt that part of the community have been rocked with sporadic gunfire in protest over the installation of the new monarch.

    It will be recalled that a Delta High Court sitting in Kwale on May 7th restrained the State government from issuing staff of office to any party in the dispute pending when the case is decided.

    The next adjourned date for hearing in the case is June 20 and 21.

    A community leader who spoke to The Nation on condition of anonymity said the presentation of staff of office is politically motivated.

    He said, “This presentation has strong political undertones, this move by Gov. Okowa is purely with a view to the forthcoming elections. It is a desperate attempt to garner votes to the detriment of the people he is supposed to protect.”

    Read Also: Delta: I’m still in the race for the Senate – Uduaghan

    Meanwhile a statement made available to The Nation by scribe of Umuekum Quarters, Chief Alfred Onyenwosa drew the attention of the government to the court injunction, stressing that “disregarding the court injunction in the kingship tussle is incubating tension”.

    Part of the statement reads, “This is obvious injustice to the people of Umuekum Ruling House who are known to be very peaceful without a single history of communal violence. Government decision to wrongly back someone who not only lost the kingship election, but was never duly presented by the appropriate authority (Onotu Uku or Ugo of Umuekum Ruling House) at “Isu Asua” is inconsistent with Governor Okowa’s stand that gazette procedures must be followed in kingship succession”.

    The statement added, “The recent interest to bypass truth, tradition and to foist an individual sponsored by inordinate politicians who believe in muscling people can only generate tension”.

    Delta State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Patrick Ukah admitted that a decision was taken at the state executive council meeting for presentation of staff of office, stressing that the court injunction may have come late.

    His words, “First and foremost if there is a subsisting court injunction it did not come before the executive council meeting decision. Perhaps it was after the exco decision .I has been trying to find that out. Do you have any evidence that a staff of office. I am just entering Warri now. I am trying to get the Commissioner for Local Government and the Deputy Governor for me to get their side. I can confirm that we had a decision to present staff of office, but whether we got a court injunction that I cannot confirm.”

  • 2019: Okowa Has Done Nothing to Get Our Votes – Ijaw youths

    Governor of Delta state, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has been said to have done nothing to get the support of Ijaw people in the state come 2019 polls.

    The Ijaw Youth Council, while disclosing this in a statement circulated Warri on Thursday, assured that unless the “miraculous” happens within the next eight months, it will do everything to frustrate the election campaigns in its areas.

    According to the IYC president, Barr. Oweilaemi Pereotubo, Burutu council area alone gave the third largest votes that saw the governor’s emergence in 2015, yet it has neither infrastructure nor human capital development to show as reward.

    He opined that this was why the governor is yet to visit any of the Ijaw local government areas for town hall meetings, as he had done to nearly 21 others.

    Read Also: Okowa decries high number of IDPs

    The statement, in parts, reads thus: “the question that readily comes to my mind as an Ijaw man, and leader of the teeming Ijaw youths world wide, is what has Okowa done in terms of development in Ijaw land to merit our votes? The answer to this mind-boggling question is practically nothing, just nothing. Yet Burutu Local Government Area alone gave Dr. Okowa the third highest votes in 2015. The reward for this bulk vote from the people is lack of infrastructural and human capital development.

    “Okowa has gone round nearly all the twenty-one local council areas in Delta State holding town hall meetings and commissioning projects. The sad story is that he has not been to any of the Ijaw local council to hold town hall meetings because the people will look at him eyeball to eyeball to go out to commission projects if he has any. He has therefore completely avoided going to these areas.”

    Listing legacy projects executed by the past two administrations, the Bomadi Bridge by Chief James Ibori and the School of Maritime Technology, Burutu, by Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, Pereotubo accused the Okowa-led government of further depleting the Ijaw nation.

    “Our reward from Okowa is abandonment in all facets of his administration. If Okowa and his apologists are disputing our claims, we challenge him to convene a town hall meeting to tell the people the projects he has done in Ijaw land.

    Most of the projects he has been using to deceive the people are just on paper. There’s no visible work going on anywhere including the much publicized Ayakoromo bridge project.

    “Instead of adding to us, Governor Okowa takes away from the Ijaw nation. The only higher institution in Ijaw, the School of Maritime Technology, Burutu has since been fragmented into bits of campuses to the extent that the students population which was once exploding in Burutu is now depleted,” the statement said further

  • Okowa assures of more people- oriented projects in Delta

    Delta Governor Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has assured of more people-oriented projects in order to make life more meaningful to its citizens

    Okowa who attributed the success of his administration to the glory of God, said, “We believe our God that it will get better and better.”

    Okowa  who spoke at a thanksgiving ceremony in Asaba-the State Capital to mark 2019 Democracy Day said, “In the next few months, we will create a new Delta State that we all will be proud of, we have encouraged youths participation in sports through the Principal and Headmaster’s football championships, the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education will organise athletics competitions, and in August this year, 54 African countries will converge in Asaba for the 21st African Senior Athletics Championships, the Asaba Airport has been opened for business and the airport without sounding immodest, has the best runway in Nigeria,” he stated, disclosing that a lot of projects would be commissioned across the state in the next few days”.

    He said ,“As we give thanks to God for what He is doing for us in Delta State,  I wish to appreciate every one of you, every Deltan, you have played different roles for things to get better, when you have Jesus as your Lord, nothing can go wrong.”

    Read Also: Okowa gets second term nod

    Continuing, “We promised our people that we will create jobs, we have created a lot of it, we have continued to build on the foundations laid by former Governors James Ibori and Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, and we will continue to execute projects that will impact on our people, our state is peaceful and we need the cooperation of everybody to sustain the peace, investors are coming and more investors will still come.”

    President, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Rev. Dr. Felix Omobude urged those in authority to use their positions for the benefits of the masses.

    He said the people deserve good leaders, and urged Nigerians to be actively involved in the democratic process to choose the right leaders.

    The event was graced by Governor’s wife, Edith, his Deputy, Kingsley Otuaro and his wife, ex- Governors, James Ibori, and Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan.

    Gospel musicians who performed at the event include Chioma Jesus, Sammie Okpozo, David G., Samsong, Oyelade Elijah, Prospa Ochimana.

  • Delta demands five-year warranty from contractors

    The Delta Government has directed contractors handling various construction works in the state to give a five-year warranty on every contract executed.

    Mr Peter Mrakpor, the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, gave the directive at a Ministerial Press Briefing in Asaba on Monday.

    He said that the move was aimed at checking substandard projects in the state.

    “His Excellency, Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa had recently directed that henceforth, for any contract awarded, the contractor must as matter of principle, give the state government a five-year warranty on the job.

    “This position (of the state government) is aimed at checkmating the poor execution of construction projects across the state, because we have come to realise that most contractors are fond of delivering substandard jobs.

    “As a government that is committed and determined to give the people of the state quality infrastructure and services, we would no longer take poor execution of contracts from contractors.

    Read Also: Niger Delta states on top as states share N593.1b in Q1

    “That is why the governor decided that we must find a way to check the sharp practices of contractors.

    “So, we decided to come up with this correctional measure to ensure quality for money, ” Mrakpor said.

    The commissioner explained that with the five-year warranty, the contractor would bear any cost of reconstruction emanating from the execution of a substandard job in the event of any development.

    He said that the state government’s demand for a five-year warranty became necessary to guide against sharp practices of most contractors, who were fond of delivering poor quality construction jobs.

    NAN

  • Okowa Calls for private-public partnership

    …as SPDC Unveils Athletic Facility in Delta School 

     

    The governor of Delta state, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has called for partnership between private and public sectors to fast-track development in the state.

    Speaking on Thursday, at the kick off ceremony of the “Youth Sport Athletes Development Project” (YSADP) in Government College, Ughelli in Ughelli North council area of the state, Governor Okowa, added that his administration is bent on providing conducive environment for investors.

    The governor, who was represented by the Delta Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr Chiedu Ebie, remarked on the importance of the project to the athletic performance of not only the students, but dwellers of neigbouring communities.

    “Government alone cannot attend to the needs of the people, there are many avenue through which the private sector and NGO’s can partner to bring development to the people.

    “No sacrifice is too much for any organisation in addressing the needs of the people. We will continue to provide the right environment for the private sector to operate,” he said.

    Read Also: Okowa orders demolition of illegal structures

    Commending the oil multinational for the choice of project, the governor urged it to continue to find ways to identify with the needs of the people, further tasking users to ensure proper care of the facility.

    The project, which is sponsored by the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) in collaboration with the Africare, an international Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), has four other Delta schools, Osadenis High School, Asaba, Comprehensive Secondary School, Ogwashi-Uku, Girls Model Secondary, Evwreni and Unity Model Secondary School, Agbarho, as beneficiaries.

    According to available information, the project which is put at 1.5 million US dollars (N534 million), is a rubberized track of 400m by six lanes, facilities for jumps and throws, and 25 sporting items including whistles, jerseys and hurdles.

    Earlier, Mr Igo Weli, the General Manager, External Relations of SPDC noted that the company’s investment in social projects depends largely on smooth operations.

    Weli, represented by Mr Emmanuel Ekpeyong, SPDC Social Investment Manager, stressed on the need for people to come out to condemn crude oil theft, pipelines vandalism among others crimes causing environmental harm.

    “The survival and expansion of many social investment projects and programmes of Shell in Nigeria is dependent on sustained uninterrupted production. Our corporate commitment remains to deliver energy safely and responsibly.

    “It is time we tell ourselves the truth that roundtable remains the best place to have difficult discussions. We have all seen the result of applying the hard method and it has not been mutually beneficial, it is time to change tact,” he said.

    On his part, principal of the school, Mr Godspower Odenema expressed gratitude for the development.

    He, however, appealed to the government to provide security to keep guard and set up a perimeter fence around the athletic field.

  • Secondus, Ekweremadu laud Ekiti PDP primary

    The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Prince Uche Secondus says that the successful conduct of hitch free and transparent gubernatorial primaries in Ekiti state on Tuesday is a consequence of the party rebranding and repositioning project that has proved to be on course.

    Prince Secondus said that the real winner from the exercise is democracy and not any individual as the PDP family in Ekiti would be healthier from the primary.

    In a congratulatory message he sent to Governor Ayodele Fayose and other leaders and members of PDP in Ekiti state soon after the primary, the National Chairman appreciated them for conducting themselves well. He charged them to note the pre- primary understanding that there will be no winner or loser but contestants all.

    In a statement from his media office signed by Ike Abonyi, the National Chairman commended all those whose made huge sacrifice that helped to make the primary a success particularly Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State and his team who conducted the primary. He also commended in particular Senator Dayo Adeyeye for not only accepting the result but commending the process as free, fair and credible.

    Prince Secondus assured members and supporters of the party in the state and indeed nationally, that his campaign promises that the era of impunity and imposition of candidates in the party is gone remains and Ekiti is the first test case for us.

    He charged any member of the party desiring to fly the flag of the party at any level to return to the grassroots and market themselves because in a rebranded PDP ticket is not given in party offices but by the people at the field.

    The PDP leader warned the APC in Ekiti state not to create any nuisance in their frustration ahead of the July election as available intelligence shows that the opposition in the state is trying to launch havoc  just to disrupt the peaceful election.

    Prince Secondus finally urged PDP members in the state to remain vigilant and not relent until the final success is achieved in July.

    Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu also congratulated the Ekiti State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, for the peaceful conduct of the primary election that produced the Deputy Governor of the State, Prof. Kolapo Olusola, as the governorship candidate of the party in the July 2018 gubernatorial election.

    Ekweremadu emphasized that more important than the result was the process, noting that the PDP had, once more, showcased the growing internal democracy in the party.

    He advised other political parties to emulate the Ekiti PDP example to avoid overheating the political temperature of the State.

    He said: “I congratulate the PDP, Ekiti State, on this transparent, peaceful, free, and fair outing. It is has showcased, once again, the growing internal democracy in our party.

    “I commend Governor Ayodele Fayose, the Returning Officer, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, and our party leaders for showing leadership when it mattered the most.

    “I commend the aspirants for their exemplary sportsmanship. I enjoin Prof. Olusola to continue to work closely with every party faithful, especially the former aspirants, to ensure a massive victory for the PDP in the governorship poll”.

    Ekweremadu also called on the people of Ekiti State to continue to support the PDP.

     

  • Ranching will stop Farmers /Herders clash – Okowa

    Delta Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, on Tuesday said ranching will put to a stop clashes between Fulani herdsmen and farmers in the country.

    Okowa made this known in Ekpan community Uvwie L.G.A Delta State.

    Okowa said, “Herdsmen/farmers clash is a national problem, as a state, we are trying to bring the casualties to the barest minimum, as a nation, we must go into ranching of our cattle.”

    “It is our hope that necessary actions will be taken for us to go into ranching, we cannot continue to allow our cattle to be roaming around.”

    The Governor  disclosed that  machinery were in motion for anyone who hides under the guise of youths to extort money from property developers and law abiding citizens to be prosecuted and jailed if found guilty.

    According, “We have sent a bill to the Delta State House of Assembly which will criminalize ‘deve’ (extortion) by youths and anyone who is found guilty will go to jail. Anyone who is caught causing trouble, no matter how highly placed you are or who your sponsors are, will face the wrath of the law, we like the peace we are enjoying in the State.”

    The Governor also called for collective efforts to ensure clean environment, observing that while it is the duty of local government councils to ensure clean areas, it was the duty of all Deltans to dispose their refuse appropriately.

  • Stephen Keshi stadium to be completed in two months – Okowa

    Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has expressed confidence in delivering a world class stadium to host the African Athletics Competition to begin in August 2018.

    The stadium christened Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba-the Delta State Capital is billed to host the 2018 African Athletics Competition.

    Okowa who said this on Friday when Mr. Victor  Oyovbaire, Executive Producer, All Access Television Production crew paid him a courtesy call in Asaba, said that the ongoing reconstruction work at the Stephen Keshi Stadium would be completed soon and according to specifications.

    According to him “As the competition grows closer I am very confident that the stadium which will host the games will be ready in the next two months for the 2018 African Athletics Competition taking place in August”.

    “During the last inspection, tremendous progress has already been made and I believe that when the stadium is finished it will compete with the best stadia in the world” the governor added.

    Governor Okowa commended the team for embarking on a  tour of the stadium saying” It is good to see youths show interest in sports and I believe that at the end of your visit you will give constructive criticism because my administration is open to such, not only to receive praises”.

    Mr. Simi Adejumo, host of the television program All Access, said that the team was on a tour of the stadium to do a documentary on sports in the state.

  • Delta Governor wants Shell back

    The Delta Government has appealed to the Shell Petroleum Development Company ( SPDC ) to once more resume full operations to Warri.

    Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa, made the appeal on Thursday at the inauguration of the N123 million Ugborodo Ultra-modern Town Hall donated by SPDC Joint Venture.

    The newsmen reports that Ugborodo community is host to many oil multinationals, including Chevron Nigeria Ltd.

    The governor, represented by the Commissioner for Oil and Gas, Mr Mofe Pirah, said the government would continue to provide conducive business environment for the private sector to operate.

    According to Okowa, his administration will continue to upgrade infrastructure in Warri and environs.

    He appealed to other industries that left Warri to return.

    Okowa expressed the hope that with the proposed dredging of the Escravos by the Federal Government, more businesses would return to Warri which, he said, was the state’s industrial hub.

    “I appealed to the industries that moved out of Warri during crisis to come back, Warri is ranked among the most peaceful cities in the country.

    “I want to also plead with Shell to return with the full complement of its western operations.

    “The government will continue to provide conducive environment for the private sector to operate, that is why we keep our doors open to receive genuine suggestions and partnership in every area of human endeavours,’’ he said.

    Okowa, who described the town hall as a good example of Corporate Social Responsibility, added that it was a way of building bridges of confidence and trust between the SPDC and the people.

    He appealed to the Ugborodo people to use the facility responsibly.

    Earlier, the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Ikenwoli, advised the people, particularly youths against obstructing development projects in the community.

    “I thank the community for creating the enabling environment for this project to succeed. Youths are supposed to be agents of development, so, you should support Shell to attract more development,’’ he said.

    Mr Igo Weli, the General Manager, External Relations of SPDC, said the 500-capacity ultra-modern town hall also had five offices, meeting room for 18 persons, one ICT room, a store and conveniences.

    Read Also: Delta deputy Speaker sacked for alleged falsification

    He said the project was chosen by the Ugborodo community as priority need and was directly supervised by the Ugborodo Project Community Trust under a Project Management Committee arrangement.

    “I appeal to the community to support the Ugborodo Project Community Trust to ensure maintenance of the hall.

    “It is our hope that Ugborodo and other host communities would work towards the successful establishment of a functional Global Memorandum of Understanding ( GMoU ) in this area,’’ he said.

    Mr Victor Omunu, President, Ugborodo Community, represented by the Financial Secretary, Mr Christian Akpeyi, thanked Shell for the hall and promised to make good use of it.

    The newsmen reports that after divesting most of its facilities in Delta to some indigenous oil companies, SPDC still operate the Forcados Export Terminal and one other platform in the state.

    NAN

  • Jubilation as Okowa presents staff of office to Ebu monarch

    It was a carnival atmosphere at the vast playground of Ubueni Primary School, Oshimili North L.G.A. with the large crowd thronging the school. Many drummed, sang and danced.

    Huge colourful billboards placed at strategic location around the community proclaimed the event. Residents of this mainly agrarian community took the day off. Socio-economic activities were suspended and the famous Ebu yam market was closed.

    Before the event proper, the crowd which hitherto was a trickle had transformed into a deluge as the young and old from the five quarters of Ebu community besieged the venue of the ceremony.

    Music blared from loudspeakers around the playground. The mood was jubilant as visitors from neighbouring community joined in the celebration.

    The famous Ebu masquerade captivated the audience. Guests marveled at its magical powers. The cylindrically shape masquerade clothed in light brown spotted  canvass material rose to dizzying heights only to  contract  into a tidy neatly  folded heap fitting into a 3ft by2ft box.

    The occasion was the coronation and presentation of staff of office by the Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa to His Royal Majesty Paul Odilile Opili, Onu Umukojordu,  Onu of Ebu.

    The Ebu people were expectant having been without a king for many years following the untimely demise of the last king, HRM Aninta Ojorjadu 11.

    But soon the wait was over as the convoy of the Deputy Governor; Mr. Kingsley Utuaro who represented Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa drove into venue.

    The President General of Ebu Development Union, (EDU) Akpeli Tom Nwakalor kicked off the event with his address.

    He said that Ebu community is the only Igala speaking community in the State surrounded by Igbo speaking communities, adding that their uniqueness has impelled them into developing the community and much of the relevance it enjoys in the scheme of things in the present Delta State.

    His words, “Ebu is the only Igala speaking community in Delta State and regarded as a minority in Anioma group in the State. In the light of this apparent disadvantage, one would expect the Ebu community to have sunk in her endeavor to develop. No, this was not to be. Rather our sons and daughters have remained undaunted and held to their faith and belief that God had his purpose for locating Ebu in its present abode and for giving it, its peculiar character.”

    He appealed to government for intervention in infrastructure, stressing that the community has not had light in over ten years.

    He appealed for a new public secondary school, stressing that   said as a result of government policy, Ebu Grammar school  was handed over to the missionary  and a a consequence  students who could not  afford the new fees charged by the missions have relocated to the primary school compound.

    Chairman, Oshimili North L.G.A, Mr. Louis Ndukwe praised the Ebu people for resolving the kingship issue without bloodshed or litigation, while describing the maturity shown as “legendary and commendable”.

    He said the installation of the monarch of Ebu brings to six the number of gazzetted kings in the local government area, adding that it was a welcome development given the “enormous roles they play in ensuring peace in their respective domains.”

    According to him, Ebu is important to the local council due to the fact that it is a frontier community and an entry point into the State for people from the North, while stressing also its value as a “strong internally generated revenue base of the local government area.”

    He urged the monarch to uphold the sanctity of the culture and traditions of Ebu land, maintain peace and harmonious relationship between the various quarters.

    Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa commended the Ebu people for rallying round their king, adding that the large number of Ebu people witnessing the coronation of their monarch was reflective of their “extreme regard they have for the traditional stool. It expresses their love and respect for the royal father”

    He assured that his administration will support traditional institutions in the State through the provision of conducive environment for their leadership to thrive, adding that this support would galvanise the paramount rulers to mobilise their subjects to support government policies.

    Okowa listed the achievements of his administration and assured the Ebu people that the request by the community will be addressed by the appropriate authorities.

    The high point of the ceremony was the presentation of the staff of office by Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa to the new monarch.

    Present at the occasion were the Delta North Senatorial Chair, Moses Iduh, Delta Commissioner for Information, Mr. Patrick Ukah, Obuzor of Ibusa, HRM Prof Louis Nwaboshi, Obi of Akwukwu-Igbo, Obi Azuka, Ugoani of Okpanam, HRM Michael Mbanefo Ogbolu,Attah of Igala HRM, Dr. Michael Idakwo Ameh Oboni 11,Chief Moses A Braimoh, Amana Attah of Igala, Chief Ibrahim Adama Atadoga,Inalogun, Attah Igala and HRM  Ibrahim Gambo Amodu ,Onu Ido Okoliko amongst other dignitaries.