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Tag: okowa

  • Shagari’s counsel on national issues will be missed —Okowa

    Shagari’s counsel on national issues will be missed —Okowa

    Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State said on Saturday that Nigeria would greatly miss the late former President Shehu Shagari’s regular counsel on national issues and mediations for peaceful coexistence.

    Okowa made this known in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Charles Aniagwu in Asaba.

    “Shagari, embarked on the distribution of seed and fertiliser to farmers to increase nationwide productivity in farming.

    “He was a legendary public servant, who dedicated his life to the service of our nation in several capacities–as minister, legislator, and finally as president.

    “Shagari’s unwavering commitment to the unity of Nigeria had been a major encouragement to many governments.

    “He made personal sacrifices to help lay the foundation for sustainable democracy in Nigeria before he was overthrown in 1983.

    “As a country, we will miss his wise counsel on national issues and peaceful co-existence especially now that the nation is entering an election year,” Okowa said.

    He added that the late Shagari worked assiduously to improve the livelihood of many poor and underprivileged people through the Green Revolution programme, which he initiated.

    “Our condolences to Nigerians, the Government and people of Sokoto State and Shagari’s family over the demise of the former president.

    “We commiserate with the entire Shagari village, the Sokoto Caliphate, and the Shagari family, over the loss of the ex-President.

    “On behalf of my family, the government and people of Delta State, I join the entire nation and the people of Sokoto State to mourn the passing of former President, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, who was President in the Second Republic,” he said.

    The governor prayed the Almighty God to receive his soul and grant his family the fortitude to bear the loss.

     

  • 2019: Ijaw, Itsekiri youths declare support for Okowa, Otuaro

    Hundreds of Ijaw and Itsekiri youths from Warri South-West council area of Delta state have vowed their resolve to return the Dr Ifeanyi Okowa/Barr. Kingsley Otuaro-led administration in next year’s election.

    The youths, under the aegis of the Warri South-West Youths for Okowa/Otuaro, comprising of various youths groups in the council area, in a statement signed by the chairman of the Warri South-West Mega Rally For Okowa/ Otuaro 2019 Planning Committee, Ambassador Edwin Aken, said they were supporting the Okowa because it is the right thing to do.

    According to the group, Governor Okowa happened to be the most youths-friendly governor in the history of Delta state, adding that it was just the right thing to do to ensure the continuity of the administration, especially as it had committed so much into the future of the state.

    To signify their support for the governor and his desire to serve a second term in office, the youths have organised a mega rally in Warri, to be held on Saturday, December 22, 2018.

    “In view of the visible achievements of His Excellency, Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Aurthur Okowa and his amiable deputy, Deacon Barr. Kingsley Burutu Otuaro in the administration of the state, we the youths of Warri South West will be coming out in our large numbers to support the re-election bid of the duo on December 22nd 2018 at the Atuwatse primary school, rice farm, Warri.

    “The Warri South-West Youths for Okowa/Otuaro rally is a coalition of different youth groups in the Local Government Area. Our coming together under this rally is to demonstrate to the world our readiness to deliver PDP in Delta state, especially the governor and his deputy.

    “Posterity will not judge us right if at this point of our existence as youths, we fail to acknowledge and cue behind what is good for us as a people. The fact cannot be contested anywhere that Okowa is the most youth friendly government since the creation of Delta as a political entity within Nigeria.

    “We have no other choice than to support the continuity of Okowa who had demonstrated over the years his unquenchable thirst for prosperity and development. Ekweme! You are truly a road master and a guru of development. Your Excellency, we can assure you that come 2019, your return to the Government House Asaba is already a done deal”, the statement said.

     

  • Ex-militants, Niger Delta youths back Okowa’s second term bid

    Ex-militants, Niger Delta youths back Okowa’s second term bid

    Ex-agitators and youths in Niger Delta have adopted Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for a second term.

    The former militants, and youths belong to the Coalition of Niger Delta Ex-militants and Youths for Atiku/Obi 2019.

    Led by Eshanekpe Israel aka Akpodoro, the group noted that Okowa deserved “even much more than a second term in office”, citing his impressive developmental initiatives in less than four years in office.

    Akpodoro, the national coordinator, spoke to reporters in Abuja, yesterday, saying the endorsement came after consultations with stakeholders in the Delta project.

    He said equity based on zoning must be respected, noting that besides, Okowa had done better than his precedessors in terms of achievements, honesty, and sincerity of purpose.

    Akpodoro added that no government in the state’s history had taken such huge steps in infrastructural, human and material development, as ‘’this administration is selflessly doing’’.

    The coalition said Okowa, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) had given appointments to all without discrimination in his bid to drive an all-inclusive government, and give the people a “sense of belonging’’.

    He listed roads and bridges built by the administration across the three senatorial districts, which he noted, had massively changed the narrative.

    The coalition is a 200,000-member group drawn from the leadership of former agitators in the Federal Government’s Amnesty programme, and a large youth population.

    It warned those it described as ‘’children of anarchy’’ not to cause disaffection by flying the ethnic flag for personal interest, saying Okowa’s support base and popularity cut across tribal divide, cautioning these “rebellious” characters not to undermine the peace in the state by creating divisions.

    The group noted that the Urhobo in Delta Central and Itsekiri in the southern district had their share of governance, adding that it would be reasonable those who served eight years each, support Delta North to do same.

    Urhobo-born Akodoro, also coordinator of Urhobo Youth Forum for Change (UYFC), said the coalition had enough strength to drive the process of returning the Ika-born politician to the Government House.

    ‘’This is a PDP state and will remain so for a long time to come. We’ll deliver bulk votes to the governor from the eight Urhobo councils.

    But Akpodoro wondered why an Urhobo man would challenge a second term bid of a Delta North candidate?

    He stressed that the political class had established a zoning system, with the two districts serving 16 of eight years each.

    The North, he noted, had not even completed its four-year term, yet ‘’some selfish interests were angling to undermine a system that strengthens our brotherhood, uniting us beyond politics.’’

    “In the name of crass politics, some persons choose to play dirty deceiving themselves by wearing deceptive democratic faces, whereas they are anti-democratic elements, who have shown enough disdain for democratic norms.

    “The coalition shall be up against whoever wants to sabotage zoning, and Okowa’s friends shall be our friends while his enemies shall be our enemies, “Akpodoro said.

    He added that the group at the national level would work to enthrone Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and ex-Governor Peter Obi, to oust the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC administration.

    He said Nigerians must rise up to end the regime of debilitating hunger in the land bequeathed on Nigerians by the ineptitude of the Buhari government.

    ‘’The situation in the country was an avoidable malady brought by the deception of APC, which captured power with lies and blackmail’’.

    Buhari, he said, should be preparing his handover note.

     

  • 2019: Okowa calls for issue-based campaign as Delta PDP inaugurates campaign council

    2019: Okowa calls for issue-based campaign as Delta PDP inaugurates campaign council

    Delta State Governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, has urged members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign council to engage in issue-based campaigns, expressing confidence that the PDP has successfully executed projects that will earn it victory in the 2019 general elections.

    Governor Okowa made the call on Monday at the inauguration of the PDP campaign council by the Chairman of the party in the state, Barr. Kingsley Esiso. The ceremony took place at Asaba, and was attended by Chairman of the Council, Prof. Sam Oyovbaire and its members.

    “First, I want to thank the party for putting up this campaign council and other bodies that have been set up for the purpose of the campaign for the PDP in Delta State,” he said.

    “As we go into the campaign, it should be issue based, we are confident that there is a lot of achievements for us to campaign with which will earn us victory. Other persons may go out there to insult people and say what they do not know, don’t respond to such persons, tell the story of where we have been, where we are today and what we will do because, we have a lot of projects that if you are looking at projects to commission, we have a lot; we have commissioned several projects and there is a lot more to be commissioned,” Okowa stressed.

    Governor Okowa who disclosed that the campaign should be concentrated at the unit levels, emphasised thus, “Tell the truth to the people, if there are things you don’t understand, get information from the nearest person or put a call through because, we are not going to deceive our people, we must always tell the truth.”

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    “I believe that Delta State is a PDP state, I believe that we have enough projects to campaign with, so, those who are planning to rig the election should know that our votes must count,” he said while listing some of the achievements of his administration in the health sector, road construction, job creation, among others.

    He congratulated members of the campaign council and admonished them to remain united, saying, “If you go into the campaign with one mind, there is nothing that can stop us, there is a need for total reconciliation in our wards and local government areas; the candidates must be humble, in whatever they do, they must be seen as driving the process of the campaign, there must be sincerity of purpose, we must be inclusive in all that we are doing.”

    Chairman of the PDP in the state, Barr, Esiso had while inaugurating the campaign council, said, “We want grassroots-based campaign, campaign at the unit levels; we must tell our people what Governor Okowa has done in the last three years and that Deltans believe in zoning; Delta State has turn by turn zoning, the people have accepted the principles of zoning. “

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    Chairman of the campaign council, Prof. Oyovbaire, on behalf of members of the council, thanked the leadership of the PDP for choosing them to drive the campaign process.

    He observed that the performance of Governor Okowa in the past three years will make the campaign easy as Deltans are aware that they will gain more in the next four years.

  • 2019: APC has no chance in Delta, Okowa will win overwhelmingly – Delta Speaker, Oborevwori

    2019: APC has no chance in Delta, Okowa will win overwhelmingly – Delta Speaker, Oborevwori

    Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori is the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, a grassroot politician, in this interview with Gabriel Okoro spoke extensively on Delta State politics, the chances of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa returning to Government House in 2019 and other issues, excerpts.
    Q: How is Legislative Business in DTHA?
    Well, the Assembly is intact, we’re all on one page and we’re doing well. You know our major duty is to make laws and conduct our oversight functions. We are making our laws very well and performing our oversight functions.
    Q: Are there major bills pending before the House that could transform the lives of the people of Delta State?
    I don’t think there is a major bill pending right now but we’ve passed a major bill which Deltans applauded – the Deve Bill. You know,before now, if you want to carry out any development project, you see these youths coming around to extort money from contractors and developers. It was an Executive Bill and when it came, all of us came together, passed it, the governor assented to it and Deltans were very happy. It has reduced this issue of extorting money from developers.
    Even this morning, somebody sent me a text informing me that where they were carrying out a project that some youths were trying to extort money from them. I just told him to follow the process by reporting those people to the Police. As a legislature, we have done our own bit and it is the responsibility of the law enforcement agents to play their role.
    Q: Are there penalties for those who flout this law?
    Yes. There are penalties.
    Q: What are the penalties?
    There are a lot of penalties but I can’t give you details here. It’s not like before you just go and extort money from developers in the name of “deve” .There are a lot of penalties.
    Last week, we also passed two major bills namely the Public Finance Management Bill and the Audit Bill. Hopefully, very soon, we are also going to pass other bills which are currently pending at the Committee of the Whole.
    Similarly, we will also be considering the 2019 Appropriation Bill which we are likely to pass very soon.
    Q: The tenure of the Assembly would soon elapse ; as the Speaker, what legacy would you be leaving behind at the end?
    Well, for the first time, members and the Speaker are on the same page. Recently, the staff of the Assembly celebrated me because we ensured that their wardrobe allowance was paid, some arrears were paid and these allowances have become steady. So they are happy because of improved welfare for these workers. I can tell you that this is a very good legacy because before now, they used to protest and embark on strike for these things.
    But when I came in, I met with the governor and tabled the issue before him. He gave approval for the allowances to be paid and since then it has been regular.
    On January 23 when we resumed this year, for the first time in the history of the Delta State House of Assembly, my colleagues and I were celebrated by these workers.
    Q: Your former governor and boss, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan has defected from the PDP to APC. What does this mean to the politics of Delta State?
    Well, for somebody who had served the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for over sixteen year… Commissioner for four years; Secretary to the State Government for four years and a Governor for eight years…. I don’t know how he will stand on the podium to campaign against the party he has been a member all these years. I normally would not want to comment on it because those involved in this matter are my bosses. He and the current governor are still in good terms. Our national leader too, they are all working together. I don’t think that there is any cause for alarm.
    Q: You mean there is no cause for alarm when one of your key politicians is on the other side?
    He’ll come back. I have told people before, he will come back because he will even be missing his political family. That place is not his family, so he will return back. The governorship candidate of the APC in the state, Chief Great Ogboru is somebody who fought him for those eight years. He went to court for over ten times. So I don’t know the kind of friendship they will have now just because of politics.
    You know normally we agree and disagree in politics but I don’t think there is no cause for alarm. He went there on leave and he will come back.
    Q: Some people have said that the Okowa administration has performed below expectation Don’t you think that the APC might have a chance in the next election in Delta State?
    Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has done very well. I think that anyone saying otherwise is just doing propaganda. The man has worked brilliantly well. As you can see, there is peace across the state, there are no incidents of pipeline vandalism. There is no ethnic crisis. There is peace and there is development. He has gone to nearly all the Local Government Areas to hold Town Hall Meetings. This has never happened in the history of Delta State. You cannot go and hold Town Hall Meetings where you don’t have things on the ground. As he goes to those Local Governments, he goes there to inspect and commission projects.
    Usually the first day is for inspection and commissioning of projects while the second day is for the Town Hall Meeting where he comes before the people to ask: What are your issues? If what he has done is not enough and like Oliver Twist, you people need more, you ask him and he will still do. He would want to know what you actually need on a scale of preference in your place.
    But you cannot say that there is no development going on. Let somebody come out and say there is one Local Government which the governor has not touched and commissioned projects in Delta State.
    Q: From the way you’ve spoken so far, it appears you are enjoying a very cordial relationship with your governor?
    You see, let me tell you, the legislature must be on the same page with the executive arm of government especially when the executive is doing well. We don’t want the kind of situation at the National Assembly where there us no cordial relationship between them and the executive. You can see that there are a lot of issues out there.
    In our own case, we’re on the same page; we work together and that is why there is peace in Delta State.
    Q: The legislature is supposed to be a check on the executive at all times so…
    That’s what we are doing. Our relationship with the executive does not affect our oversight functions.
    Q: There’s a common complaint that state legislatures are in the pockets of the governors. Is that the case in Delta State?
    If you know Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, he’s a fine gentleman and an administrator. This is someone who has been to the Senate and knows the roles of the legislature. So he accords us our respect and we also accord him his own respect. We work together; he has never interfered in our oversight functions. So things are going very well.
    Q: Do you have any fears that the All Progressives Congress (APC) might spring a surprise against the PDP in the state next year?
    I don’t think the APC has that capability to win elections in Delta State. Let me tell you how Delta State works. Even though it is not a written agreement, there is a rotational principle in place for the governorship of the state. In Delta Central, we have taken our share of ten years. Olorogun Felix Ibru did two years and Chief James Ibori had eight years. Delta South has also done their iwn eight years through Dr Emnanuel Uduaghan and now it is the turn of Delta North. The incumbent governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa is just about to complete the first four years and for the sake of equity, justice and fair play, it is good that Delta North should have their eight years. This is my personal opinion.
    Why we in Delta Central want to support Delta North on this matter so that when it comes to the turn of Delta Central in 2023, they will also join hands to fight and ensure we get it.
    If we fight Delta North now, you will be surprised that in 2023, they can join hands with Delta South to produce a Governor from the South. So a very sensible person from Delta Central knows that for equity, Delta North should have their own fair share of eight years.
    Q: But this rotational principle is a PDP arrangement which the APC might not want to respect?
    Listen, we’re all Deltans. In the last election, all the people that voted for Okowa in Delta North were not only members of the PDP; even the opposition voted for him. So, I will tell you that it will be difficult for any person from Delta North to fight when they know that it is good for them to have him as the governor. They will vote, they will not fight him. So he will sweep the whole of Delta North; he will come and share in the votes of Delta Central and he will win Delta South because the Deputy Governor is from there.
    In 2015, he won when he had not done anything. Why do you think he will not win now when he has executed several projects? When it comes to human capital development and infrastructure, he has done very well.I see no reason why he will not just win but win overwhelmingly.
    Q: Many states governed by the main opposition party, PDP are afraid of what might happen in 2019 given the trends in recent elections in Ekiti and Osun States. Do you have such fears about the so called federal might?
    There’s no fear. You can only fear federal might when you are not popular in your state. When you’re popular they cannot manipulate the election because it is people that they use. Let me give you an example with my village; if you like bring armoured tank, even if I am not there, we will deliver. So there’s no fear. But I want to tell you one thing, power belongs to God, not man. When God says it’s your turn, there’s nothing any man can do. God has blessed the state and the Governor is a God fearing person. He believes in God. When you ‘re with God, you are majority. So, I don’t think we have any fear.
    Q: After all said and done what do you see playing out in the next election?
    It’s not about me, it’s about what Deltans want. By the grace of God, Okowa will be re-elected. Like I said, power belongs to God and I believe that Deltans are wise enough. The devil you know is better than the angel you don’t know. They’ve known Okowa and come 2019, they will return him.
    Q:What about Sheriff?
    Sheriff will win .
    Q: Are you likely to return to your present seat?
    I am not even talking about that because position is given by God. I am not talking about that because when you do well, it is your colleagues that will look for you. They will say: Come, we want you again. So it’s not man; it’s God. I was not elected as a Speaker. I was only elected to represent my constituency.

  • Okowa orders clampdown on ‘Yahoo Boys’ over students’ death

    Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State has ordered for a clampdown on internet fraudsters popularly known as “Yahoo Boys.”

    This followed the murder of a student of the Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, Elo Ogege by suspected ritualists masquerading as “Yahoo Boys.”

    In a statement on Monday in Asaba, Okowa said: “On behalf of the government and people of Delta State, it is with a heavy heart that I write to express our profound commiserations to the family of Elozino Ogege, the Isoko nation, her friends, both within and outside the university community.

    “I am glad that the security agencies have made serious progress in the investigation into the murder and l can assure Deltans and Nigerians that justice will be served on the perpetrators of this dastard act.”

    He added that “As a government whose primary responsibility is the protection of lives and property, as well as the welfare of her citizens, I urge Deltans and Nigerians to partner with the government and report to security agencies the activities of these gangs with a view to assisting the society to get rid of such dangerous groups. Never again as a people shall we condone the activities of these known criminals as we all seem to agree that “enough is enough.”

  • Okowa lauds Deltans for supporting PDP, tasks them ahead of 2019 elections

    Delta State Governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, on Friday received more defectors from other political parties to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta South Senatorial District.

    Receiving the returnees at a well-attended meeting in Warri, Governor Okowa observed that since 1999, Deltans have continued to keep faith with the PDP and the strength of the party has increased ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    Former governorship candidate of the MPPP, Chief Afro Biukeme, former member of the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon Misan Ukubeyinje, former Delta South Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Senior Apostle Yemi Omaghomi, Chief Efe Happy, Col Ideh Rtd, Chief Omolubi Omowunmi, Comrade Nathaniel Ovedhe, Ikede Onome Joseph, Femi Uwhawha, among other leaders of different political parties, led their followers to join the PDP at the meeting.

    Elated Governor Okowa, who spoke through his Deputy, Barr. Kingsley Otuaro, said: “I thank you all for the painstaking efforts you have made over time, contributing to the victories we have always had in the PDP since inception.”

    The governor called on all members of the PDP to increase the tempo of the door-to-door sensitisation of registered voters within their various units to ensure that everybody collects their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs).

    He urged Deltans to vote for all the candidates of the PDP in the forthcoming general elections, noting that the PDP will always have the interest of the people at heart.

    Chairman of the PDP in the state, Olorogun Kingsley Esiso, who joined Governor Okowa to receive the decampees, thanked party leaders from the district for making it possible for those who are remaining in opposition political parties to return to the PDP

    He urged party faithful to remain resolute as PDP in the state led by Governor Okowa will win in all the offices in the 2019 general elections.

    “Let me thank our party leaders for making this occasion possible, and let me also assure you all that in PDP we all have equal rights irrespective of when you joined the party,” Chief Esiso said.

    Earlier in a welcome address, the Chairman of the PDP, Delta South Senatorial District, Chief Emman Amgbaduba, urged party faithful to be united and committed to the party to enable them re-elect Governor Okowa and other candidates of the party in the 2019 general elections.

    He noted that PDP is a party for all Deltans and urged the returnees and the new entrants to work assiduously for the victory of the party in the coming elections.

    “Governor Okowa is from Delta North Senatorial district and this is their turn to produce the governor for another term; beyond coming from Delta North, he has performed creditably well in all parts of the state even as we ask for more roads and schools in our Senatorial District,” he said.

    Other leaders who spoke at the event include former Secretary to the Delta State Government, Comrade Ovuozourie Macaulay, Dr Joseph Otumara, Chief Emmanuel Okumagba among others.

    They resolved to work for the re-election of Governor Okowa.

  • S/Africa vs Nigeria: Gov. Okowa to splash dollars on Eagles

    S/Africa vs Nigeria: Gov. Okowa to splash dollars on Eagles

    Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state on Tuesday evening pledged to reward the Super Eagles with $25,000 for every goal scored in their crucial 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against South Africa.

    The two sides will go head-to-head on Saturday, 17 November, at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg in a top-of-the-table showdown.

    Nigeria lead Group E on nine points, one better than Bafana Bafana, which stunned the Eagles 2-0 in Uyo in the first leg last year.

    Gernot Rohr’s men will hope to make it four consecutive wins in the group after overcoming Seychelles 3-0 on the road, and getting the better of Libya back-to-back in a 4-0 and 3-2 triumph.

    And as part of measures aimed at ensuring victory for the team in South Africa, the Delta governor paid a surprise visit to the team on Tuesday at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba, where they are training for the game.

    ”Delta State Governor, His Excellency @GovIfeanyiOkowa was a surprise guest at our training session at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba, this evening, promising the team a cash reward of $25k for every goal scored vs South Africa on Saturday,” a tweet on the Super Eagles handle read.

  • 317 Roads: Why Okowa is Called Roadmaster

    317 Roads: Why Okowa is Called Roadmaster

    By Barth Ozah
    If there is one area in which the administration of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has excelled, it is in the development of road and physical infrastructure in Delta State. The robust momentum in this sector received further boost in the 2019 budget proposals presented by Okowa to the Delta State House of Assembly on Wednesday, October 17, 2018. Road and rural infrastructure took the lion share of N79.6b out of the proposed N367, 095,083,451.
    You could see the nod of approval and commendation of many persons in the hallowed chamber of the Assembly when the Governor announced that his administration has embarked on the construction/rehabilitation of 317 roads across the State. “Our road projects portfolio since May 2015,” according to him, “is 317 projects comprising 1,000km of roads and 344km of drains valued at over N243bn. Out of this number, 135 projects covering 405km of roads and 159km of drainage channels (alongside roads) have been completed.
    “Worthy of mention are the roads that have been embarked upon in riverine communities with their difficult terrain. In particular, I will like to cite the Main Axial Road and Okerenkoko Township roads in Warri South West Local Government Areas as some of the flagship projects of this administration. There is also the on-going rehabilitation and Asphalt Overlay of the 19.7km Obutobo 1 –Obutobo11 – Sokebolou – Yokori road in Burutu Local Government Area. These projects have excited the residents of these communities and underscore our resolve to break new frontiers and bring development to every part of the State no matter how remote.”
    Even the die-hard critic cannot but acknowledge Governor Okowa’s efforts in ensuring that roads in the state are receiving the desired attention they deserve. Some of the major road projects that readily come to mind are the 10.8km km Okpare-Umolo-Ovwodokpor-Kiagbodo road in Ughelli South and Burutu LGAs, Jeddo-Ughoton road in Okpe LGA and Construction of Access road to Eagle Heights University, Oteri Township road in Ughelli North LGA and Okpe-Olomu/Otor-Orere Olomu road Ughelli South LGA.
    There are others such as the expansion and rehabilitation of sections of Oghara Junction to Otefe Road in Ethiope West LGA Oghara, access road to Jesse town, access road to Ugbuwangue new layout, construction of Okuomowa road to Osubi to link Efekpo lane, the construction of Ekete main road, off DSC Expressway, the rehabilitation of Ekreravwe/Orhoakpor/Isiokolo Road in Ethiope East LGA, Abraka Township Roads Phase 1, and the reconstructed 8.5km Ughelli-Afiesere-Ofuoma road in Ughelli North LGA.
    In Asaba, roads like the Cable Point Dual Carriageway and several township roads have given the state capital a befitting face lift. Residents now have alternative routes as against the usual hiccups that characterised the main access road, the Nnebisi road. The recently commissioned Kwale -Ogume- Obiaruku and Ozoro -Oleh roads have greatly enhanced the economic activities of the people of those areas. High transportation fares coupled with excruciating pains of having to ply deplorable roads are becoming a thing of the past.
    Also worthy of note is that the State Government has worked hard to shore up Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), to complement receipts from the Federation Account Allocation Committee. The IGR of the State has witnessed steady improvements after the downturn occasioned by the economic crisis in 2014 and the relocation of some oil multinationals like Shell Petroleum Development Company, Nigeria Petroleum Development Company, Pan Ocean Oil Corporation, and other oil servicing companies from the State. In 2016 and 2017, IGR of the State stood at N44bn and N51bn respectively. As at the end of the first half of 2018, the sum of N31.2bn has been generated.
    In his budget address, the Governor attributed the improvement to reforms embarked upon by his administration in tax collection and administration. According to Okowa, these reforms included “expanding the tax payers’ base, fortifying enforcement/regulatory measures, introduction of e-Receipt and Central Billing System aimed at blocking leakages, as well as other fiscal management reforms. As a result of these measures, the tax agent database for the formal sector rose from 1,800 to 7,200. Also, the database of taxpayers in the informal sector jumped from about 5,000 to 336,061.”
    The Governor also used the opportunity of the budget presentation to highlight his administration’s achievements in human capital development. The first of these is the enterprise development programmes of the Government, which he said was conceived “to build a knowledge economy, equip our people with the skill sets to create jobs and wealth, stimulate the growth of Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises and enhance the business competitiveness of the State.” It is now on record that 15,041 persons have been trained and established in their choice enterprises by the Okowa administration.
    In addition, The Governor disclosed that “the SEEFOR project “has provided direct employment for over 8,455 youths and indirect employment for about 5,000 persons in the State. In addition 733 youths were trained on short-term vocational enterprises under Technical, Vocational, Educational and Agricultural Training (TVEAT), in a project co-founded by the State.”
    The Governor was quick to remind his audience that “these figures do not include the multiplied thousands of direct and indirect private sector jobs created through our massive investment in road and physical infrastructure, agricultural value chain support schemes, microcredit, contributory health insurance, technical education, public environmental works and other socio-economic initiatives.”
    In an age when skills acquisition has become the norm, technical and vocational education continues to receive priority attention from the Okowa administration. Following the infrastructural upgrade and proper equipping of the six technical colleges in the State, enrolment into the colleges has more than doubled, jumping from 2, 424 in 2015 to 4,979 in 2018. Meanwhile, full accreditation has been obtained for all programmes in the six technical colleges from the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).
    It was clear from the budget presentation that Governor Okowa is keeping faith with the promises he made during his electioneering campaigns in 2014/2015. Undoubtedly, he is preparing the ground for a strong, diversified and inclusive economy in Delta State.

  • Osinbajo, Okowa canvass credible media coverage of 2019 elections

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the Governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, on Thursday urged the Nigerian media to retain its credibility as an unbiased umpire in the coverage of the ongoing 2019 elections processes.
    They made the call at the 14th edition of the All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC) holding in Asaba, the Delta State capital.
    According to Mr. Osinbajo, “The journalism profession has always been at a greater risk than other professions; freedom of expression has always given people the right to use any information, but, there was some actions by some regulatory parliaments that created obstacles for all newcomers except for renowned professionals and this created some restrictions; but today, all that is gone and who is to blame for the death of this profession?
    “The first culprit is technology; its inheritable evil also has the capacity for overwhelming good as we need technology in every aspect of our livelihood; the second and most important culprit is the professional himself,” he said, observing, “over time, we have lost the trust of the public, because, what do people want? People want the truth, objectivity – they want clear analysis of events.”
    He continued, “there was a time when someone would say, ‘I read it in the Times’ because, whatever was written then was absolutely meant to be the truth but today, skeptics will ask you “who sponsored this story?’ Most of the investigative reports are reported by the social media such as blogs, television channels and so forth; The Guild, as we all agree, is a society of gate-keepers to whom belongs the responsibility of defining the efforts, the norms, the ethics of this profession; upon you is also the burden of setting the acceptable rules, the conventions and practices of the profession; this gathering is made greater in a society where corruption is the order of the day and where there is constant fight, and the burden of The Guild is to ensure that your rules and regulations are enforced and kept as it is a self-regulatory profession.”
    Governor Okowa had in an address observed that the independence, objectivity and credibility of the media was being undermined by media practitioners engaging in public relations consultancy services to politicians, dearth of investigative journalism and inadequate remuneration for journalists in their places of work.
    He said, “Media practitioners who are known to be engaged as public relations consultants to politicians/public office holders compromises the editorial independence, fairness and objectivity of the press; by the time a professional journalist goes on social media to be advocating for or defending a particular candidate/public figure, he cannot be trusted to report fairly and impartially on matters concerning that person.
    “This is a clear and present danger to the journalism profession and one that this body should strive to contain as quickly as possible, especially as we approach the 2019 general elections. I must point out that there is still too much hear-say reporting. Too often, reporters base their stories on what people say or allege without bothering to crosscheck the facts; as a result, politicians/political office holders are forced to defend themselves against sometimes very wild, outlandish allegations; reputations have been ruined, careers destroyed and families torn apart because of such reporting.”
    Governor Okowa, who described the Nigerian press as one of the freest in the world with a rich, enviable history of crusading against corruption, bad governance and despotic leadership, noted that “a situation where a reporter is unsure of his next pay cheque does not augur well for the growth of the profession as it exposes them to undue influences from politicians and public office holders; survival is a basic instinct of man and a person whose survival is threatened could care less about integrity and fairness.”
    He added, “We need our journalists to report the truth no matter whose ox is gored but they cannot do that with boldness, confidence and assurance if their welfare is in jeopardy. “
    Mr. Okowa said the theme for the conference, ‘Credible Elections, Sustainable Democracy and the Role of the Media,’ was “relevant at this point in time, especially in the light of the recently concluded party primaries.
    “Indeed, the choice of the theme aptly reflects the concern of all Nigerians for a free, fair, transparent and credible 2019 elections for sustainable democracy,” he said.
    “Democracy requires the exercise of political power to promote the public good or welfare of the people, accountability and transparency in governance and the existence of viable opposition parties for it to be sustainable. One of the biggest steps we took towards ensuring sustainable democracy in Nigeria was when in 2015 the ruling PDP at the federal level conducted an election, lost and handed over to the opposition APC; this was a scenario previously thought impossible but when that happened, to the chagrin of critics and naysayers, a solid foundation was laid for sustainable democracy in Nigeria.
    “The current APC-led Federal Government must build on this foundation and resist the temptation to repress the opposition and militarise the electoral process; to do otherwise would have terrible repercussions on this democracy that many have fought and died for.”
    Earlier, the chairman of the occasion, Tonie Iredia, a former director-general of the Nigerian Television Authority, had in a welcome speech, urged the media to make everyone accountable for what he does.
    “As journalists, we should stand in the forefront and do what the journalists are supposed to do – setting the agenda, we should engage in developmental journalism,” he told his colleagues.
    The President, Nigerian Guild of Editors, Funke Egbemode, welcomed participants while also urging all Nigerians to be actively involved in making the right choices regarding those who will lead the country beginning May 29, 2019.