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Tag: Senator Ifeanyi Okowa

  • Ex-Gov Okowa’s aide resigns from PDP

    Ex-Gov Okowa’s aide resigns from PDP

    A former aide to ex-Delta Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa and chairmanship aspirant for Warei South Local Government Area  (LGA), Monoyo Edon, has resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Edon served as a Special Assistant on Media and Publicity in the past administration.

    In a letter addressed to the Obodo/Ubeji 1 ward chairman, Mr. Allen Mayuku, he hinged his decision to resign on the party’s “uncanny” method of rewarding members as well as poor acceptance of new ideas, dispositions he (Edon) believed would hinder his growth.

    Parts of the letter read: “I write to officially notify the party of my decision to rescind my membership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) with party registration number 294/04/2022. 

    “I have been a loyal card-carrying member since 2021 and contributed actively to the election which delivered His Excellency, Sheriff F.O Oborevwori as Governor of Delta State and the other 4 elective positions (completing 5/5 in Ward 1) in the 2023 general elections.

    “It is worthy of mention that I also actively served (briefly) as Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa. 

    “In 2020, I willfully joined the party because I thought it is a platform for young and promising Deltans. 

    “The party allowed room for me to take a shot at the race to the chairmanship ticket of Warri South LGA in the 2024 Delta LGA polls. 

    Read Also: Edo PDP using media to blackmail tribunal- Mayaki

    “However, during and after the contest, I became more familiar with the culture of the party which quite frankly has an uncanny reward system and unaccommodating to new progressive ideas, particularly in Warri South.

    “It is not in my character to remain in a place averse to my progress, contribution and aspiration.

    “Let me seize this opportunity to especially thank my leaders -Dcn Victor Agbateyiniro and Mr. Ewetan Okerentie (Former Ward Secretary) for bringing me into the party and also not forgetting other leaders whom I worked with during my time in the PDP,” Edon stated.

  • Day Ogbe-Ijoh lit up

    Day Ogbe-Ijoh lit up

    It was meant to be just a New Year party hosted by Chief Favour Izoukumor for indigenes of Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom, but it turned into a carnival that left a mark in land and lasting impressions on the minds of inhabitants of the Ijaw community.

    Izoukumor pulled a surprise on his people with the introduction of competitions such as Bible recitation, folklore and native Ijaw (Owigiri) dance competition among others and rewarded winners with gifts and cash donations that set off their 2018 in a grand style.

    Speaking with Niger Delta Report  Izoukumor, who is the Commissioner Representing the Ijaw ethnic nationality on the board of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), said it was a way to heal the wounds of the past year and to set the tone for what he hoped would be a better year for his kinsmen.

    He said the state governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, and his deputy, Dcn Kingsley Otuaro, were determined to make the Ijaw oil-bearing areas of the state benefit from their contributions to the state’s coffer and called for peace and support for the government.

    On the purpose of the party, he said, “Few days to the end of the year 2017, we unanimously agreed that it was important to come together to celebrate, because we have so many reasons to do so. Our people faced challenges in 2017; but we were kept alive by the grace of God,” he stated.

    There was no doubt that the business mogul turned politician was alluding to the fratricidal conflict between his people of Ogbe-Ijoh and Aladja. The crisis has cost dozens of lives and affected relationship between the two age-long neighbours, who are now at daggers drawn. The past year saw the escalation of the crisis with huge human and material costs.

    Nobody is caught in the middle more than Izoukumor, who is paternally from Ogbe-Ijoh and maternally from Aladja (Urhobo). The circumstance of his birth has not only thrust him in the middle, but made him a key player in the search for elusive peace between the two communities.

    He appealed to Ogbe-Ijoh leaders to use the occasion of the yuletide festivity to become more united, stressing, “Our coming together is a show of love to one another. Let us use the occasion to become stronger in unity as we share, we eat and drink together.”

    Speaking in the same vein, Chief Frank Omare, a former Commissioner of Environment in the state and current adviser to Governor Okowa, assured that people of the continued support of the government. He and Izoukumor appealed for unflinching support for the PDPD-led government.

    Guests included members of the Ogbe-Ijoh Traditional Council: Chief Korebo Hitler, Postman Okiri, Friday Deingha, Simeon Igbomene, along with members of the Oil and Gas Host Communities in Ijaw land, and Chief Joel Ogbonna, SSA on political matters to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.

    Notable Ijaw leaders Captain Joseph Zico, commended Izoukumor, who is the Fiye-Owei (Spokesperson) of Ogbe-Ijoh Warri kingdom, “for his gesture to the people, for his kindness and genuine intentions to his people.”

    The highpoint of the ceremony was the presentation of cash award to the winners of the Bible verse recitation contests and winners of the dancing contests. Cash gift ranging from N10,000 to N50,000 were received by the lucky winners. Clevis Kuku, the only male participant also went home with N50,000, described the prize as surprising.

    ”We came here to enjoy ourselves, eat and drink in the spirit of the season and now we are leaving with so much more. What a way to start the New Year!”

    Pastor Moses Couple, who coordinated the kids for the bible contest, described it and the cash reward for winners as very encouraging, stressing that it would spur more children to seek knowledge of God’s word, adding, “this will lead to a better society”.

     

  •  Excitement as Ogbe-Ijoh monarch gets staff of office

     Excitement as Ogbe-Ijoh monarch gets staff of office

     

     

    There was jubilation in Ogbe-Ijoh, headquarters of Warri Southwest Local Government Area of Delta State last weekend, as the state government presented staff of office to the traditional ruler, Pere Couple Mackson Oromoni, Amakosu Monbene III, as 12th Pere of Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom.

    The ceremony, which was performed by the state governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, was the culmination of a rigorous selection process and fractious contest by aspirants to the throne.

    Couple Oromoni, who is the pioneer chairman of Warri Southwest LGA, emerged the 12th Pere of Ogbe-Ijoh, following his selection by the kingmakers to succeed the late Amakosu Oduwor III, who died in 2013. He thereafter adopted the title, Pere Monbene III.

    With his presentation with the staff of office by the state government on Friday, he scaled the last hurdle to his ascension to the throne.

    Governor Okowa, who was represented by his deputy, Dcn Kingsley Otuaro, a lawyer, urged the monarch and other traditional rulers in the region to treat their people fairly.

    He said, “As the custodian of the tradition of your people, it is important that you do not, in words or action, give any cause to your subjects to doubt your ability to uphold the sanctity of their customs.

    “I sincerely appeal to you to imbibe the democratic norms of dialogue and consultation in all your dealings with the people.”

    Otuaro, who was accused by the defeated aspirant of meddling in the selection process of the Pere, stated that “It is statutory for the State Government to present Staff of Office to traditional ruler after due installation and endorsement by his people according to the Laws of Delta State.

    “This event is in compliance with the statute and an endorsement of the peaceful manner, the whole process of this ascension has taken”.

    Speaking on the protracted crisis between the Ogbe-Ijoh and Aladja people in Udu LGA, the Otuaro assured that the government was working out an amicable and workable lasting solution to the crisis.

    “We are doing our very best to bring the boundary issue between Ogbe-Ijoh people and Aladja community to an end”, he said.

    Earlier in his address, the Fie-Owei (Spokesperson) of Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom, Chief Favour Izoukumor, had appealed to the state government to resolve the boundary dispute in order to ensure peaceful coexistence between the two communities.

    Nevertheless, he expressed delight at the peaceful conduct of the presentation of staff of office to the Ogbe-Ijoh monarch and commended the state government for its neutrality in the process and the courage in doing what was right for the people, peace and stability of the kingdom.

    “I am so much delighted for your (Okowa’s) courage and resilience you exhibited on the event of official presentation of staff of office to HRM Mobene II. I want to unequivocally state that this peaceful event wouldn’t have been possible without your inputs and your timeless love for the people of Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom.

    “I have no doubt in my mind that these your acts which resulted in the peaceful presentation of staff of office will definitely go down in the annals of the history of our Kingdom and it will be forever memorable for all the sons and daughters of the present generation and generations to come.”

     

     

  • Ethiope East PDP backs Okowa

    Ethiope East PDP backs Okowa

    Delta State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, got yesterday the assurance of the party’s candidates in Ethiope East Local Government Area for massive votes in the February 28 elections.

    The assurance came from PDP’s House of Representatives candidate, Lovette Idisi; her House of Assembly counterpart, Arthur Akpowowo and the party’s Director of Youth Mobilisation, Sunday Onoriode.

    They spoke during their visit to Okowa’s campaign team at Otorho-Agbon.

    They said the party was so sure of victory that they were waiting Okowa’s swearing-in.

    They said the PDP would not have a problem in getting massive votes in Ethiope East in all the elections.

    The candidates said Okowa was an Urhobo son at heart, adding that he had paid his dues in the party since 1999.

  • Between Ochei and Okowa

    STILL on Delta PDP and the fall-out of its governorship primary; contrary to earlier reports that Hon. Victor Ochei, one of the governorship aspirants and Senator Ifeanyi Okowa are not on the same page due to the outcome of the PDP primary election, sources say nothing can be farther from the truth. Though Ochei lost to Okowa, he was quick to congratulate the latter right at the venue of the exercise. Sources say Ochei also promised to collapse his campaign structures with Okowa’s in fulfillment of his earlier promise to Okowa, who had visited the former Speaker of the state House of Assembly about two days to the PDP governorship primaries. Ripples learnt that during his visit, Okowa arrived Ochei’s residence in the company of a few aides, and later went into a closed-door session with his host. Several minutes later, the two men emerged from the parley, all smiles, revealed a source.

  • Ifeanyi Okowa emerges winner in Delta

    Ifeanyi Okowa emerges winner in Delta

    Senator Ifeanyi Okowa has emerged winner of Delta State Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) governorship primary after beating 24 other aspirants.

    Okowa polled 406 votes in the primary in which 1,121 delegates voted, beating his closest challenger, David Edebvie, who polled 299 votes. One vote was voided.

    The elections, which held amidst tight security, was peaceful as delegates conducted themselves orderly.

    Okowa, who hails from Ika North East Local Government Area, won the keenly contested primaries.

    The returning officer, Sunday Karimi, declared Okowa winner after having polled the largest number of votes.

    Supporters of the winner sang solidarity songs after the results were announced.

    Okowa narrowly lost the PDP primaries in 2007 to incumbent Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan.

    Ex-Speaker Mr. Victor Ochei was a distant third, scoring 185 votes.

    Mr. Tony Obuh polled five votes while Ndudi Elumelu got 50 votes.

    Former Minister of Niger-Delta Affairs Mr. Godsday Orubebe polled 49 votes

    The two female contestants, Mrs. Esther Uduehi got one votes while Mrs. Ngozi Olejeme polled 10 votes.

    David Edebvie lost the primaries despite the endorsement of the Urhobo Progressive Union (UPU), the apex socio-cultural organisation of the Urhobo nation..