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  • Okowa presents N71bn 2023 supplementary budget for Delta

    Okowa presents N71bn 2023 supplementary budget for Delta

    Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta on Tuesday presented N71 billion 2023 supplementary budget to the State House of Assembly for approval.

    The is contained in a letter read during plenary presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Mr Christopher Ochor in Asaba.

    Okowa said that the budget was made up of N5.6billion recurrent expenditure and N65.5 billion capital expenditure

    ”May I wish to note that there has been actual and projected increase in some fiscal receipts.

    ”Consequently, the supplementary budget has become necessary for appropriation to pay for some critical projects and activities of government as well as fund ongoing projects across the state in year 2023.

    ”In the light of the foregoing, it would be greatly appreciated if the draft 2023 Supplementary Appropriation Bill is placed before the House at it earliest convenience for consideration and passing into law,” he said.

    Consequently, the Majority Leader, Mr Ferguson Onwo moved a motion for the first reading of the budget which was unanimously adopted when put to a voice vote by the deputy speaker.

    Also during Tuesday’s plenary, the House Joint Committee on Rules, Business, Legal and Judicial Matters and Special Committee on Bills presented its report on a bill to provide for the Compulsory Treatment and Care of Victims of Gunshots in the state.

    Presenting the report, the Chairman, House Committee on Rules, Business, Legal and Judicial Matters, Mr Charles Oniyere said the joint committee worked tirelessly to deliver within the allotted time frame given to it.

    Oniyere said that after meticulous examination and scrutiny of the bill, the committee made some far reaching recommendations for the approval of the House.

    The report would be considered by the Committee of the Whole next week.

  • UI alumni hail Okowa, insist his leadership style has impacted Deltans positively

    UI alumni hail Okowa, insist his leadership style has impacted Deltans positively

    The Alumni Association of the University of Ibadan, Worldwide, has said the outgoing Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa’s transformational style of leadership has impacted lives of Deltans positively.

    The alumni also pointed out that he has distinguished himself excellently and been a good ambassador of the citadel in the course of his political and public services.

    This commendation was made in Asaba on Thursday at the association’s Public and Valedictory Lecture in honour of Okowa and his wife, Dame Edith Okowa, both alumni of the university.

    In a goodwill message delivered by the President of the association, Prof Saawua Nyityo, the Alumni congratulated Okowa on the successful completion of his two-term tenure as Governor, commending him for his meritorious service to Delta State, Nigeria and humanity.

    “You have left no one in doubt of the direction of the transformational style of leadership that has not only become a hallmark of excellence, but has positively impacted the lives of Deltans and many Nigerians politically and economically,” Nyityo wrote.

    “Your achievements which have been well documented for a better appreciation by the public, could also be said to emanate from the combination of your solid education at the University of Ibadan as well as the quality advice from the civil service and political aides; àchievements that have made your great Alma mater and the Alumni proud of you.

    “There is no doubt that your managerial astuteness, clear vision, people-oriented disposition and the burning desire to uplift humanity, endeared you to the people and propelled your achievements in the state and Nigeria generally.”

    Chairman of the Asaba Chapter of the Alumni, Barr J.I. Kagho, explained that the celebration of Okowa is for the fact that he recorded many firsts as an ambassador of the university.

    “Besides his stint at the local government level of governance, he is the first Alumnus to serve as Commissioner in three ministries consecutively, namely Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Ministry of Water Resources and Ministry of Health, first Alumnus to be appointed Secretary to the Delta State Government in a democratic dispensation and to have voluntarily resigned and contested election into the Nigeria Senate, first Alumnus to represent the State at the Senate and first Alumnus to serve as Governor of Delta State. Most importantly, he led the Peoples Democratic Party and the State to a resounding victory in the last Governorship and House of Assembly elections.

    “The Governor’s long and very eventful sojourn in politics has been of great service to humanity. By his act of service, strong leadership qualities and using the training he received at the prestigious University of Ibadan, he projected our image of sound judgement, resourcefulness, intelligence and goodwill to all manners of persons beyond boundaries. As a Chapter, we are proud of him.”

    In the preceding years, Okowa was bestowed with the award of UI Alumnus of the Year, 2018, and elected as a Trustee on the Board of the Alumni Association Trustees representing the South South geo-political zone of Nigeria.

    The valedictory lecture was chaired by Prof Sam Oyovbare with Dr Kingsley Emu as Guest Lecturer on “The Burden of Leadership.”

  • Delta Govt. raises alarm over alleged planned security breach on Saturday

    Delta Govt. raises alarm over alleged planned security breach on Saturday

    Delta Government on Friday alleged that certain individuals were planning to disrupt the Saturday’s Governorship and House of Assembly elections in the state.

    The State Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, raised the alarm on Friday at a press briefing in Asaba.

    According to him, the strong intelligent information revealed that certain actors in the state have procured military uniforms and are planning to deploy the people in disguise  to disrupt the elections.

    “As a government, we have the responsibility to take steps to protect our people as they proceed to the ballot to cast their votes.

    “We have it on a strong intelligence that certain persons have procured military uniforms to clothe some persons, who will parade themselves as security personnel on the election day.

    “This is with a view to undermined the electioneering process on Saturday.

    “We are using this opportunity to inform the military, the Nigeria Police, the Nigeria Civil Defence Corps and other paramilitary agencies not to allow their officers to be used by these persons.

    “They should look out for those individuals who are not one of the  security agents that may have volunteered themselves for use.”

    He noted that elections was democratic process and a contest between people, adding that the best way to have free and fair elections was for the voters to freely exercise their fancies in favour of their choice candidates without intimidation.

    Aniagwu urged the security agencies to up their games to provide security for the voters during the elections and after.

  • Guber Poll: Okowa berates opposition candidate, says lies can’t make you governor

    Guber Poll: Okowa berates opposition candidate, says lies can’t make you governor

    Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta, has berated an opposition governorship candidate for the March 11 Governorship elections in the state for alleging that his (Okowa) administration borrowed N850 billion.

    The governor, who did not name the candidate, debunked the claim as a lie, saying that a governor’s seat is a decent office and that only the truth would take any aspirant there.

    Okowa stated this on Tuesday while playing host to executive members of Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), who paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, Asaba.

    The governor, while congratulating executive members of the union on their successful emergence and inauguration, said his appointees, including sons and daughters of Urhobo nation, had worked with him to stabilise governance in the state.

    “They (political appointees) have all worked hard with me to be able to stabilise this government and achieve what we have achieved.

    “It is my duty to truly thank them for the various roles that they have played.

    “The only thing that I find very funny is that now people are beginning to spread lies.

    “Recently, one of your sons who is also a candidate in the forthcoming election, has been spreading a lot of lies about the government borrowing about N850 billion, that is a lie.

    “Somebody do not need to lie to their people just to attain the office of governor.

    “The office of a governor is a decent office and a position of responsibility and integrity, therefore, anyone who aspires to be there must be one who is ready to speak truth to the people.

    “You do not need to lie to the people just because you want the votes of the people. Anyone who does that is not worthy to be the governor of Delta State,” he said.

    The governor called on various ethnic nationalities in the state to maintain peace and unity in the course of the March 11 Governorship and State House of Assembly elections in the country.

    He particularly called on sons and daughters of Urhobo nation to continue to promote peace as the nation transit from one government to the other.

    “We request that as we transit from one government to the other, that you do the best you can to try and call on the sons and daughters of Urhobo nation to maintain peace in the course of the elections.

    “I also want to urge you to remember that as the leadership of the apex body of the Urhobo nation, the UPU, it is a strong duty of yours to relate with other ethnic nationalities to ensure that working together, we are able to protect and strengthen the peace that we now enjoy in Delta.

    “In the last eight years, it has been a very good story for us. Our ethnic groups have tried to bond together and I want to urge you to do all you can to relate with other ethnic nationalities.

    “Peace is very important to us. We don’t wait until things get bad before we start building peace. We can work towards building peace by ensuring that there is inclusiveness in government.

    “I am glad that the Urhobo House is where it is today and I thank God for the relationship that enabled us to support the project and that the funds were put to good use,” Okowa said.

    He, however,  expressed the hope of having a good working relationship with them in the remaining two months plus.

    Earlier, the President-General of UPU, Ese Owe, who led executive members of the union on the courtesy visit, said that they were in Government House to formally introduce themselves to him.

    He expressed appreciation to the governor for the opportunity given to Urhobo sons and daughters to contribute their quota to the development of the state through the appointment he (Okowa) gave to them in various capacities.

  • Atiku, Ayu, Okowa lead PDP protest at INEC office + Photos

    Atiku, Ayu, Okowa lead PDP protest at INEC office + Photos

    The presidential candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, PDP National Chairman, Sen. Iyorchia Ayu, and the party’s vice-presidential candidate and Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, apparently trying to right the wrongs of INEC are marching to headquarters of electoral body in Abuja.

    are currently leading a protest to the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja.

    The party had, in a statement on Sunday, announced that its leaders will on Monday, March 6, 2023, protest at the INEC headquarters over the outcome of the February 25 presidential election.

    This is not the first time the PDP will be protesting the outcome of a presidential election.

    The opposition party protested at the INEC headquarters in 2019 against the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    See photos below:

  • PDP denies purported audio of Atiku, Okowa, Tambuwal planning how to rig

    PDP denies purported audio of Atiku, Okowa, Tambuwal planning how to rig

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has denied a simulated audio recording purported to be the voices of its Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and two others planning to rig the elections.

    The party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba in Abuja on Friday, called on Nigerians and the international community “to utterly disregard the simulated audio“.

    Ologunagba described the purported audio claimed to be the voices of Abubakar, his running mate, Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa and the  Director-General of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, Gov. Aminu Tambuwal, as “another pathetical fabrication“.

    He alleged that the fake audio recording was evidently part of the design of the All Progressives Congress (APC) which recruited hackers to produce and circulate fake media materials.

    He said the aim was to demonise the PDP and its candidate before Nigerians, ahead of the polls.

    “From the manipulated sound speed and pitch, it is clear that the recording was computer-created and simulated to blackmail our leaders and deceive unsuspecting members of the public.

    “It is laughable for the APC to want Nigerians to believe that Abubakar, Okowa and Tambuwal who know themselves, can be calling their own names in a conversation as heard in the fake audio recording.

    “Such further betrays the recording as an amateur simulation work,“ Ologunagba said in the statement.

    He said the attempt to fool Nigerians by using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to clone and mimic the voices of the PDP leaders had failed.

    He said that Nigerians were smart enough to detect the distorted wave forms and sound pitch that typify an AI-simulated speech.

    “The fact is that no matter how hard falsehood attempts to thrive, the truth will always prevail,“ he said.

    Ologunagba said that PDP was ready for Saturday elections and would not be deterred or distracted by such audio manipulation.

    He urged security agencies to take urgent steps to track down the makers of the fake audio material and make them face the wrath of the law.

  • Okpe Christian Assembly members vow to vote Atiku, Okowa, Oborevwori, other PDP candidates+Photos

    Okpe Christian Assembly members vow to vote Atiku, Okowa, Oborevwori, other PDP candidates+Photos

    Members of the Okpe Christian Assembly have vowed to deliver the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, the Delta State Governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, his running mate, the State PDP Governorship Candidate and speaker Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, his running mate, Sir Monday Onyeme and other candidates of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general elections.

    Archbishop Godday Iboyi who led members of the Okpe Christian Assembly to the Osubi residence of the Gubernatorial Candidate, Rt Hon Oborevwori, on Saturday, February 18, 2023, posited that the people of Okpe Kingdom cannot produce a Governor and a Senator at the same time, saying that the choice of Rt Hon Oborevwori who represents Okpe State Constituency in the State House of Assembly was the choice of the entire Okpe people.

    He said that all efforts are being made to ensure the victory of Atiku-Okowa, Hon Oborevwori, Sir Monday Onyeme and other candidates of the PDP.

    He said; “We cannot have Okpe son as a Governor and at the same time produce a Senator. In our time, we are going to have an Okpe son as a Governor. We have been praying for you and we will continue to do so. We are going to vote for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for President and Vice President respectively, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori for Governor and Sir Monday Onyeme as the Deputy Governor. We are equally going to vote for Chief Ighoyota Amori for Senate to represent Delta Central Senatorial District and all other candidates of the PDP”.

    “We want to let you know that we are solidly behind you. Your victory and that of the other candidates of the PDP is sure. You will occupy Government House, Asaba. We are doing what we are doing because of our love for you and the PDP”.

    Responding, Rt Hon Oborevwori who is also the National Deputy Chairman of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, lauded them for the visit and all that they have been doing to support his Governorship ambition and all the Candidates of the PDP.

  • Izeze commisrates with Okowa over death of security aides

    Izeze commisrates with Okowa over death of security aides

    Member Representing Ughelli South State Constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly, Comrade Reuben Izeze has condoled Governor Ifeanyi Okowa on the gruesome murder of three of his security aides.

    Izeze in a condolence message to the Governor, the Delta Police Command and members of the deceased families, the lawmaker condemned the dastard act and called on the police authorities to fish out their assailants and bring them to justice.

    The Comrade lawmaker said the deceased officers particularly Inspector Jude Obuh would be greatly missed for his impressive service as the EOD officer at the 6th Assembly.

    “On behalf of my family and the good people of Ughelli South State Constituency, I mourn the passing of three police officers attached to the EOD Unit in Government House Asaba.

    “I commiserate with our dear Governor and Vice Presidential Candidate of our great party Sen. Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, the State Commissioner of Police, and families of the deceased police officers who lost their lives in the hands of unknown gunmen at Ihiala-Orlu Road yesterday.

    “It is my prayer that God will grant their souls eternal repose and give fortitude to the families and friends who mourn their demise.

    “Once more my condolences to the families and may their souls rest in peace,” Izeze prayed.

  • Okowa mourns security aides eliminated by gunmen in Anambra

    Okowa mourns security aides eliminated by gunmen in Anambra

    Vice-Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Governor of Delta, Ifeanyi Okowa has commiserated with the Delta Police Command and families of police officers killed by unknown gunmen in Anambra State.

    The officers, Inspectors Lucky Aleh; Celestine Nwadiokwu and Jude Obuh were attached to the Explosives Ordinance Disposal EOD Unit in Government House, Asaba.

    They were ambushed and killed around 1.30pm yesterday Friday, Feb. 10, by unknown gunmen along Ihiala-Orlu Road enroute Umuahia on official duty.

    State Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu who briefed journalists on the sad incident said the late officers would be greatly missed for their contributions to the peace and development of Delta.

    He described the unfortunate killing of the officers as barbaric and unacceptable in a country seeking to be united again for peace and development .

    “We bring you the sad news of our very gallant officers who have helped us in maintaining peace in our state attached to the Explosives Ordinance Disposal EOD Unit in Government House, Asaba.

    “The officers met their untimely death while they were proceeding as advanced team for the PDP National Campaign Rally in Abia, unfortunately this particular team veered off from the convoy and took another route different from where the convoy was taking.

    “They were ambushed along the Ihiala-Orlu Road enroute Umuahia by non-state actors who eventually killed three of them in police uniform while the one on mufti escaped.

    “We have recovered their corpse and we have also reached out to their families,”

    He said some accounts of the unfortunate incident trending on social media was untrue adding that the state government delayed announcing their untimely death because efforts were being made to reach out to their families before making the announcement.

    He called on security agencies in the country to fish out the killers and bring them to book so that Nigerians can once again live peacefully in any part of the country.

    “What is happening in parts of this country today, particularly in the South East, is not healthy for our development as a country because the elections are very very close.

    “The security we are asking for are not just for the purpose of the elections. It is also something that everybody wants. We should be able to have security at every given time; that way, we would have development.

    “We must also plead with our brothers and sisters who may have taken guns on the account of what they see as agitation to know that the best way to help our people, is to allow peace to reign. That way development will take place in the South East.

    “Our people in the South East are very very industrious, they are commerce oriented and have developed love for one another over the years.

    “We will plead with these our brothers to allow this kind of love that permeated the atmosphere in the time past in the South East, to continue to pervade that environment.

    “That way, they are able to ensure that government will bring development to them and also able to ensure that private sector investments would thrive.

    “It is unfortunate that these our gallant officers, just like many others have also lost their lives in the past, have lost their lives on account of the activities of individuals who describe themselves today as ‘unknown gunmen’.

    “We are pleading with them to sheath their swords and begin to allow that love of which the people of the South East have been known for over the years. So that as a people, we will continue to coexist.

    “We pray the good Lord Almighty to accept the souls of these our loved ones, three of them, that have passed on due to no fault of theirs.

    “We also pray that God gives their families the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss; even as we seek justice on their behalf, both as a government, as a state and as a people.

    “We ask their immediate families to take heart. Only God understands situations like this and we know that God will not allow them die in vain because it was in the course of duty and service to our dear country.

    “But even if it was not in the course of duty, nobody deserves to die the way these our brothers have been killed.

    “As a government in Delta, we will be with their families in this their trying moments and we will also take steps to seek justice on their behalf by impressing it upon security agencies to take steps to unravel those who have caused this pain that is in our heart today,” Aniagwu stated.

  • INSECURITY: Gunmen ambush Delta State Gov, Okowa’s Security operatives in Anambra, 3 casualties recorded

    INSECURITY: Gunmen ambush Delta State Gov, Okowa’s Security operatives in Anambra, 3 casualties recorded

    Insecurity at its peak in South East Nigeria as three policemen from the Department of Explosive Ordinance Device, (EoD) from the Delta State Police Command, Asaba, attached to the state government house, Asaba, have been killed by some gunmen.

    This development reportedly occurred on Friday in the Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State on the governor’s way to Abia State.

    Giving the names of the three deceased police officers as Inspectors Lucky Aleh, Celestine Nwadiokwu and Jude Obuh, a police officer attached to the Anambra State command disclosed that the three officers who were part of the advance party of the PDP vice presidential candidate and governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, to Abia state were attacked and killed by gunmen about 1.30pm at Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State and their vehicle set ablaze.

    Reliable reports said that two of the killed police officers were indigenes of Agbor, Delta state.

    “Four officers were in the vehicle but one was on mufti (not on uniform); so he was free while the three in uniform were killed. The Escort commander from the Government House, Asaba, was sent to bring their corpses and deposit in a mortuary in Asaba,” a Government House source revealed.

    Contacted on the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO), of Anambra State command, Ikenga Tochukeu, confirmed the incident, adding that, “We got distress calls and we: rushed to the scene of the incident.

    “The policemen who were killed are from the Delta state command and were on transit as at the time of the incident. But I can assure you that the state commissioner of police, Anambra is very poised to bringing to book the criminals behind the dastardly act.”

    As at the time of filing in this report, the Delta State Government house and the state police command were said as to have been thrown into mourning mood over the incident.

    Source: Sahara reporters