TheNewsGuru

Tag: Ifeanyi Okowa

  • BREAKING: Okowa appoints Orodje Okpe as Chairman of Delta State Traditional Rulers Council

    BREAKING: Okowa appoints Orodje Okpe as Chairman of Delta State Traditional Rulers Council

    Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has appointed Orodje Okpe, HRM Major General Felix Mujakperuo (rtd), Orhue I as the Chairman of Delta State Traditional Rulers Council.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Governor Okowa appointed the Orodje Okpe as Chairman of the Delta State Traditional Rulers Council following the dissolution of the former council headed by Dr. Emmanuel Efeizomor II.

    The defunct council had the Orodje of Okpe, who is now the chairman of the newly reconstituted council, as it’s Vice Chairman.

    The newly reconstituted council has HRM Pere Stanley P. Luke, Kalanama VIII, The Pere of Akugbene-Mein as first Vice-Chairman, and HRM Agbogidi, Obi Henry A. Kikachukwu, The Obi of Ubulu-Unor as second Vice Chairman.

    The appointment of the Orodje Okpe as Chairman of the Delta State Traditional Rulers Council was communicated by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Patrick Ukah.

    See full list of the newly reconstituted Delta State Traditional Rulers Council below:

  • Asaba rally: Augoye lauds Okowa, Ibori, Esiso for quality leadership

    Asaba rally: Augoye lauds Okowa, Ibori, Esiso for quality leadership

    Chief James Augoye, immediate past Commissioner for Works of Delta State has lauded the State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for providing quality leadership for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the State.

    Chief Augoye lauded Governor Okowa, along with former Governor of the State, Chief James Ibori and the State PDP Chairman, Barr. Kingsley Esiso while speaking briefly with newsmen on the sidelines of the PDP mega rally held on Saturday in Asaba.

    The frontline governorship aspirant for the 2023 elections, argued that the turn out of the rally held at the Cenotaph was a testament to the calibre of leaders Governor Okowa, Chief Ibori and Barr Esiso are.

    Augoye stressed that Delta State is blessed to have the trio as leaders of the party in the State, while also acknowledging other key leaders of the party in the State.

    Augoye said: “No doubt, today’s rally is a testament to the calibre of leaders we have in Delta State PDP. When you look at the arrays of the frontliners of the rally today, you will agree with me that the PDP in Delta is blessed.

    “I cannot but thank our amiable Governor, His Excellency, Senator (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa, former Governor James Ibori and our astute party chairman, Barrister Kingsley Esiso for purposeful leadership for the party in Delta.

    “My heart is full of joy that we have leaders like them to reckon with. They don’t work alone. Of course there are other party leaders who join them to provide direction for the party. I thank all of them.

    Speaking on the position reached by the PDP leaders at the rally, Augoye welcomed the promise of a free, fair and transparent ground for the PDP primaries.

    Earlier, both Governor Okowa and Ibori had promised that all aspirants will have a leveled playing ground to contest the gubernatorial ticket of the party.

  • 2023: Don’t waste your money to contest – Gov Okowa tells opposition aspirants

    2023: Don’t waste your money to contest – Gov Okowa tells opposition aspirants

    …you have done well, you remain Delta PDP leader after your tenure – Ibori tells Okowa

    Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has advised aspirants in opposition parties in the State not to waste their time and money to contest the 2023 elections.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Governor Okowa gave the advice while speaking at a mega rally organised by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta at the Cenotaph, Asaba, on Saturday.

    While affirming that PDP remained one united family in the State, Okowa assured members of the party of free, fair and transparent primary elections ahead of the 2023 general elections.

    He assured that leaders of the party in the State would ensure that primaries for all elective positions were free and credible.

    He said that the massive mobilisation for the rally showed that PDP was ready to rescue Nigeria from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and advised aspirants in other political parties not to waste their money to contest elections in Delta.

    “I give thanks to God for what is happening here today and I thank our leaders in the PDP, our state and local government executives, our youths and women for the massive mobilisation for this rally.

    “It is by the grace of God and through their hands that we have mobilised to make a statement today across Nigeria that PDP is prepared to take over this nation.

    “One good thing about us in the PDP is that we are one family, we are not like the other people where one man takes it all. Here in PDP, we are one family.

    “We work as a family with the love of God but in the other parties, they are always fighting themselves.

    “We have been doing a great job as Deltans, but it is because Deltans voted us into power and that is why we have the opportunity to do the great job that we are doing for our state.

    “It is because you have always supported us that is why when we win, we win very well. We won well in 2015 and in 2019, and in 2023 we will finish work again.

    “We are advising those who want to run in other political parties not to waste their time and money because there is no space for them in Delta,” Okowa said.

    Okowa remarked that his administration had done quite a lot since inception, explaining that he had appointed many youths into government and that never in the history of the state had youths been so appointed into various offices in the state.

    “Never in the history of this state have youths been so empowered through our various empowerment and entrepreneurship programmes.

    “We have done well for our women and we will continue to do more for them, and let me make it clear that even as we play politics, we will continue to do the work that you asked us to do,” he said.

    On infrastructure, the Governor assured Deltans that his administration would not slow down in constructing more roads, saying “until I leave office in May, 2023, we will continue to build more and more roads and for those who haven’t been to Asaba in recent times, when you see our new State Secretariat you will be proud that you are a Deltan.

    “All our achievements are the collective efforts of all Deltans because you gave us the peace to work and we can’t thank you enough.”

    He advised aspirants to control their followers, noting that there was no need for any fight as the party remained one big united family.

    “We are one family in PDP; we cannot fight and we will never fight; at the appropriate time, it will be well with us.

    “But, one thing I have always promised and I still promise today is that there will always be free and fair primaries; so, there is no room to fight.

    “There is no room to quarrel, let us work together as one family that we are and ensure that PDP stays continuously as a family,” he stressed.

    In his address, former Governor of the State, Chief James Ibori, lauded Governor Okowa for his style of leadership.

    Chief Ibori declared that he would continue to support him to succeed beyond his tenure as governor of the State.

    “I cannot be more proud that you are our Governor today. I say that from the bottom of my heart. You have led us and you are leading us very well.

    “We are committed to stand by you to finish very strong. At the end of the day, we will all doff our hats for you.

    “From what I can see here, you have provided an atmosphere of free and fair contest. From what I can see here, you have provided an atmosphere for people’s aspiration to be heard without fear of intimidation or whatsoever.

    “I can recall the day our party was launched at the old parade ground in 1998 when I stood up and I said that democracy is about opening up the environment for everybody and anybody to aspire to be whatever he or she wants to be. And I thank you for carrying on in that manner.

    “I want to tell you that I personally don’t believe that your leadership will terminate at the end of your tenure. I don’t believe that. I am bold to say that you have earned your strides and your strides will carry you on”.

    Meanwhile, welcoming defectors to the party, Chairman of PDP in the State, Chief Kingsley Esiso said that the rally was primarily organised to welcome decampees from APC and other political parties.

    Esiso said that the massive exodus from APC was a testimony that the party has failed Nigerians in all ramifications.

    “I can tell you that the primary purpose of this rally is to reduce the opposition party in Delta State by 90 per cent.

    “My heart is full of joy and a testimony that APC is a failed political party and the people of Delta have come to realise that APC has only come to bring us economic hardship, poverty, banditry, kidnapping and failed promises.

    “It is therefore not a surprise that every reasonable member of the APC is jumping ship to join us.

    “Today, we are harvesting many of their leaders from different local government areas and we are celebrating this victory for our great party,” he said.

    Other leaders who spoke at the rally included, Deputy Governor, Mr Kingsley Otuaro, Minority Leader, House of Representatives, Chief Ndudi Elumelu, Senator James Manager and former Senate Chief Whip, Senator Stella Omu.

    The defectors to the PDP, who were in large number and led by former Chairman of APC in the state, Chief Cyril Ogodo. pledged to work for the PDP to ensure that APC was no more in the state.

  • BREAKING: Gov Okowa dissolves Delta State traditional rulers council

    BREAKING: Gov Okowa dissolves Delta State traditional rulers council

    Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has dissolved the State Traditional Rulers Council with immediate effect.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Patrick Ukah made this known in a statement on Friday.

    The Governor thanked members of the defunct council for their contributions to his govenrment, adding that the council will be reconstituted in due course.

    TNG reports the defunct Delta State traditional rulers council was headed by Dr. Emmanuel Efeizomor II, the Obi of Owa.

    The council had as it’s Vice Chairman, the Orodje of Okpe, Maj-Gen. Felix Mujakperuo (rtd), Orhue 1, and second Vice Chairman, the Pere of Akugbene Mien, Luke SP Kalanama VIII.

    The statement by the SSG added that the dissolution is sequel to the expiration of the tenure of the council.

    The statement reads: “It is hereby announced for the information of the general public, particularly the highly esteemed Traditional Rulers of Delta State and Deltans in general, that the Governor of Delta State, His Excellency, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has approved the dissolution of the Delta State Traditional Rulers Council.

    “The dissolution is sequel to the expiration of the tenure of the Council. I hereby convey the gratitude of the Governor of Delta State and, indeed Deltans at large, to members of the defunct Council for their very impactful contributions to governance during the period of their stewardship. The Council will be reconstituted in due course”.

  • 2023: Don’t come to tell me who is best to succeed me – Gov Okowa tells scheming politicians

    2023: Don’t come to tell me who is best to succeed me – Gov Okowa tells scheming politicians

    Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has asked scheming politicians not to come to him with advice on who is best to succeed him as Governor of the State come 2023.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Governor Okowa rather asked such politicians having their choice candidates to go to God in prayers and allow His will only to be done.

    Okowa, who made this known while speaking during a family thanksgiving on Tuesday, stressed that the person who will succeed him as the Governor of the State come 2023 will not be by his power but by the power of God.

    While asking Deltans to pray for him for the will of God to be done, Okowa said God was yet to give him a revelation of who will succeed him.

    While acknowledging his human weakness, the Governor expressed confidence that the God he serves will cause His revelation to come to him and that the person who will succeed him is someone who should keep the fire of the Government House Chapel in Asaba burning.

    Okowa said: “This is a year of politics and as politicians we cannot avoid it. I want to crave that each and every one of us should continue to pray for ourselves, and especially pray for me and my family. It’s a trying time. Pray with me. Pray for us. Pray about the State.

    “It is not to come to tell me “Dr Okowa this is the best, this one will not be the best to take over your post”. But pray that God will cause His will to be revealed to me. That is the greatest justice that you can do to the State

    “It is important that we realise that in every situation, we are men, we are flesh, including me, and we ought to obey the Lord our God. So pray for me that God will reveal to me and that I will have the will to obey God rather than obey man.

    “I know that the God I serve will cause His revelation to come to me. When I tell people that I am praying, it is truly and genuinely the truth because people think it’s all politics. It’s not all politics.

    “The person who will succeed me by the special grace of God will not be by my power but by the power of God.

    TNG reports the family thanksgiving was held at the Government House Chapel in Asaba.

  • Delta’s Gov. Okowa mourns Olubadan of Ibadan

    Delta’s Gov. Okowa mourns Olubadan of Ibadan

    Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta on Monday commiserated with Gov. Seyi Makinde, the government and people of Oyo State over the passing of the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji.

    Oba Adetunji died on Sunday at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, at 93.

    Okowa noted in a statement issued by his media aide, Mr Olisa Ifeajika, that the late Olubadan was a courageous leader and one committed to the development of his kingdom and beyond.

    “On behalf of the government and people of Delta, I commiserate with the government and people of Oyo State and the immediate family of the Olubadan,

    “I also commiserate with the Olubadan-in-Council, as well as the Oyo State Traditional Council over the passing of Oba Saliu Adetunji, the 41st Olubadan of Ibadan.

    “The late monarch’s five years reign recorded remarkable peace and infrastructural development in his domain.

    “He will be remembered for his contributions to the peace, unity and development of his kingdom and the entire Oyo state,’’ Okowa said.

    He urged the family of the deceased royal father, friends, associates and the people of Ibadan to take solace in the knowledge that the oba lived an exemplary life deserving honour and celebration.

    Okowa prayed that the almighty God would grant the soul of the departed traditional ruler eternal rest.

  • Delta commences payment of students’ bursary

    Delta commences payment of students’ bursary

    The Delta State Bursary and Scholarship Board has announced the commencement of the payment of the Students Special Assistance Scheme, also known as ‘Okowa Alert’.

    In a statement issued by the Executive Secretary of the board, Hon Sunny Orishedere, the payment commenced on 28th December, 2021, and 18,761 students of Delta State origin in various tertiary institutions across the country benefitted.

    According to the statement, the beneficiaries were those who registered for the 2020/2021 Session and were cleared by respective institutions.

    The statement urged the beneficiaries to reciprocate the gesture of the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, by being good ambassadors of the state.

    The statement lauded the governor for the gesture, adding that despite the challenging financial situation, he continually ensured that Delta State students studying in different tertiary institutions across the nation were paid regularly.

  • Delta PDP hails Okowa for sacking aide

    Delta PDP hails Okowa for sacking aide

    …demands 100% loyalty from party faithfuls

    The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Delta State, has hailed the decision of the State Government, to terminate the appointment of the Executive Assistant to the State Governor (Communications), Barr. Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe.

    This was contained in a statement signed by Delta PDP State Publicity Secretary, Dr. Ifeanyi Osuoza.

    The party stated that: “The Delta PDP has hailed the decision of the State Government to terminate the appointment of the Executive Assistant to the State Governor (Communications), Barr. Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, whose reckless penchant and unbridled insubordination to periodically attack the person and administration of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa publicly, through calculated and disingenuous blackmail, is no longer acceptable.

    “We commend the large hearted benevolence of His Excellency the Governor, for not only giving Oghenesivbe a privileged space in the administration as Executive Assistant to the State Governor (Communications), but indeed for enduring and accommodating his capricious whims and avaricious, egotistical tendencies, for so long.

    “As a responsible political party, we were not unmindful of the dangerous potentials of Oghenesivbe’s foolhardy disregard for our leader and the constituted authority of our party, to cause discontent, disaffection and disharmony within and amongst our loyal, committed party faithful. The termination of his appointment is therefore, as the saying goes, ‘a stitch in time saves nine’.

    “We urge all party members to be guided by Oghenesivbe’s ill-advised indiscipline and misadventure and appeal that no matter what the appointment or position of responsibility we find ourselves, our loyalty and service to the party and its leadership should always remain our watchword in the discharge of our duties and not the greedy, covetous comparisons with others.

    “The PDP umbrella is large enough to accommodate everyone and with patient dedication and loyal commitment to the values of the party and service to Deltans, the rewards will manifest bountifully in the fullness of time.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) recalls that the ex-EAC had published words not too palatable to swallow by Okowa though he eventually pulled down the page.

  • BREAKING: Gov Okowa fires aide for recklessness, insubordination

    BREAKING: Gov Okowa fires aide for recklessness, insubordination

    Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has terminated the appointment of his Executive Assistant (Communication), Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, citing issues relating to recklessness and insubordination.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports this is contained in a statement released by Patrick Ukah, Secretary to State Government, who stated that Governor Okowa was fed up with Oghenesivbe.

    The statement reads: “I write to convey to you the displeasure of His Excellency, the Governor of Delta State, over your conduct with respect to the performance of your duties wherein there has been manifest recklessness and insubordination.

    “As this trend can no longer be tolerated, I regret to inform you that your service as Executive Assistant, Communication, is no more required and your appointment is hereby terminated.

    “Accordingly, I am to request that you take necessary steps to hand over all government properties in your possession to the Permanent Secretary, Directorate of Government House and Protocol forthwith”.

    TNG reports trouble started when Oghenesivbe took to social media to express his displeasure against Okowa. Although, he later took down the Facebook post.

  • Oghenesivbe: After dancing naked in public, Gov Okowa’s aide pipes low

    Oghenesivbe: After dancing naked in public, Gov Okowa’s aide pipes low

    After beating the drums of war, playing discordant tunes, and dancing naked in the marketplace, Olorogun (Barr) Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, Executive Assistant to Delta State Governor on Communications has backtracked on his earlier stance.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Oghenesivbe had threatened to resign from the Governor Okowa’s administration if requests he submitted to the Governor were not acceded to.

    However, he has deleted the lengthy post he shared on Facebook on the matter, while pouring praise on the State Governor and appreciating some persons for intervening in the matter.

    “Respect Is Reciprocal. I wish to deeply appreciate important personalities who called to show concern over my plight and their kind words.

    “I can tell you for free that my boss, the Platinum Governor of Delta State, still have genuine senior government officials, friends and associates who truly love him; prominent among them are; Chief Gabriel OGBECHIE, Chairman/CEO of Rain Oil, Dr Kingsley Emu, Chief Economic Adviser to the Governor, Hon Charles Aniagwu, Honourable Commissioner for Information, Chairman and Director General of Asaba Capital Territory Development Agency; Chief Ighoyota Amori and Hon Evangelist Joan Mrakpor, First Member of Delta State Pilgrims and Welfare Board/Catholic Priest, Very Rev Fr. Chris EKABO, and many others

    “I deeply appreciate your love and concern over my lingering plight. On your interventions, I humble myself to take down my posts and wait patiently for better days ahead in the coming days,” Oghenesivbe stated.

    Earlier, Oghenesivbe had stated that there were some greedy tribal bigots in the Okowa administration who have been influencing him [Okowa] to either pretend not to recognise his [Oghenesivbe] huge efforts in the discharge of assigned responsibilities or to ignore it completely.

    Okowa’s Eac made the disclosure in an exclusive interview with a national radio in Lagos on Sunday morning, 26th December, saying that resigning his appointment as Eacgovdelta will definitely come last if Okowa fail to do the needful by attending to his little and reasonable official requests tabled before the governor and the state government, wherein he copied appropriate senior government officials.

    Reflecting on his five years in Okowa administration as EACGOV, Oghenesivbe, a member of the International Communication Association, m.ica, and Rotary Club of Asaba Central Distinguished Service Award recipient, further disclosed that he helped a great deal in media management through repelling of critical media attacks on the governor and the government by deploying strategic political communication strategies which had enabled the governor to have the conducive environment and peace of mind to deliver dividends of democracy to the good people of Delta State, from 2017 till date and still counting.

    Oghenesivbe told his highly heterogeneous audiences nationwide via the national network radio interview that he had to reject an offer by President Mohammadu Buhari and the APC National Government in 2017, appointing him as the Board Chairman of the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology, NITT, Zaria, so as to provide uncommon media management services that would enable the governor to govern the state with little or no media attacks from the major opposition party and his detractors.

    Lamenting his decision over the NITT juicy job, Oghenesivbe said Okowa failed to do for him what he did for his colleagues from Delta North Senatorial District, for deliberately refusing to elevate his official status being the only senior communication aide from Delta Central Senatorial District, maybe due to the negative influence of some tribal bigots who do not want a non Ika to dominate the media space in Okowa administration.

    He noted that the same envious tribal bigots senior government officials within the system prevented media aides of the governor from attending the State Government sponsored capacity building programme, Delcom 2021 organised by the office of EACGOVDELTA, adding that they refused to slow down in their collective efforts to silence him in Okowa administration.

    He said after four years of service, Okowa elevated his colleagues in the media, orientation and information units with juicy packages, but failed to elevate him after nearly five years of excellent service as Executive Assistant on Communications, taking all the media bullets and public insults for Okowa and the administration as a result of his unblemished loyalty, commitment and absolute dedication to duty and in the defense of government and the governor’s reputation.

    “My boss, His Excellency the governor of Delta State is a good man, but there are some envious and crooked tribal bigots around him, influencing his actions and inactions towards me despite the huge efforts that I have made to safeguard the media space for government and the governor through regular deployment of strategic political communication and information management strategies in the past five years.

    “As an active Eacgov and senior government official, I have no official car, no Secretary and no media assistants attached to my office, no driver. And no provision in my package to employ personal assistant, and I have to do everything all by myself but my other colleagues enjoys all of these facilities.

    “Two streets in my town of Kokori; Okpe street and Agbonmeyerin Street, which my boss, the governor agreed to construct and rehabilitate are left unattended to. The Scope for the roads have been done by Ministry of Works and long submitted for approval but all efforts made to commence work failed but other roads projects were approved and work have since commenced in other districts.

    “The Okpe street and Agbonmiyerin streets are very strategic in Kokori Town and my people will be very happy that in my time as EACGOVDELTA and in Okowa’s tenure, these two popular streets we tired, and the credit will go to the governor; but the file has been kept in view and I am not happy about it because I am aware of other developments elsewhere via some other appointees in the state. What is good for the goose is also good for the gander.

    “I introduced the Delta State Communication Capacity Building Workshop, (Delcom) to further train media appointees of government, media partners in the state, social media influencers and bloggers, and this strategic effort had converted over three hundred persons to support and project government programmes and achievements in the media space and still counting. I had to bring on board some notable media persons from the opposition parties to assist in projecting Okowa administration and the government.

    “I have been working under strange conditions which I do not want to mention here, and majority of the people believe that the governor has been funding my office heavily with millions of Naira, whereas the reverse is the case. I am really tired of peanuts here and there that won’t reduce stress in my official duties.

    “I do not want to speak negatively about a government I have laboured day and night to defend publicly, made enemies with people we had no personal misunderstanding except for doing my job to protect and sustain the integrity of the governor and government reputation, a rare loyalty feat that my colleagues could not offer the governor and the government.

    “In all of these, I swallowed lots of insults and abuses from Okowa detractors and media team of the major opposition party, the APC, but my boss, the Governor, have not been able to find adequate time to do the needful by elevating my official status to balance the equation in line with the principles of equity, justice and good conscience.

    “A good governor should necessarily be the governor for all Deltans in words, in actions and inactions. I have no doubts in my mind that governor Okowa will finish strong, but in finishing strong he would need to do adequate justice, and apply good conscience to all concerned.

    “Resigning will be my last option and I pray and hope that the Holy Spirit and those who truly love the Governor as well as genuine Stakeholders in his administration will prevail on him to ignore the deceptive tactics of some tribal bigots and dirty schemers around him, and to use his God given Christian mind to positively consider my little and reasonable requests,” Oghenesivbe said.