May 23, 2018

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta has charged the presidents-general of ethnic nationalities in the state to engage in the maintenance of peace in their areas for investments to thrive.

Okowa made the call on Wednesday when the Urhobo Progressive Union (UPU), led by Olorogun Moses Taiga, paid him a courtesy visit in Asaba.

“We, as a government, definitely understand the importance of the Urhobo nation in the state.

“I believe that we will continue to accord respect to them and work with the UPU to ensure the needed partnership just as we will continue to work with other ethnic nationalities and their leaderships to ensure greater peace and unity in our state.

“We are very much aware of the warm relationships that we keep as a state with all ethnic nationalities because it is better for us as a people and as a state.

“Once there is peace, we are definitely going to have greater resources and also greater development, including attracting investors to our dear state.”

Okowa commended the UPU support to his administration, particularly in the area organising the communities to ensure that people live in a very peaceful atmosphere.

He said that the UPU platform enabled people to become well informed about issues and developments in the state.

“I believe that the Urhobo nation has done so well in achieving that and we have not had any great challenges apart from the land issue concerning Aladja and Ogbe-Ijaw communities which is being resolved.

“We want to also take note of the attendance of the Urhobo national day.

“ I am glad that we have such an event because it helps us as a state to communicate with our people as part of the partnership building.

“This is because every Deltan should participate in governance and the more we involve the people in the processes of governance, the more we will be able to receive their views and pass information to them and the better it will be for us as a state.”

Okowa thanked the UPU for bestowing on him the title, “Ochuko Ru Urhobo (Helper to Urhobo Nation)”, adding that it was important for Deltans to be well informed about the activities of government.

“This is why we have been holding townhall meetings with our people in various local government areas and stakeholder’s meetings.

“We have realised that it is something we need to continue because, the interactive sessions with our people has helped us to build greater confidence and greater partnerships.

“I will continue to urge other government functionaries to try to cascade this town hall meetings down to the various wards and communities, to build greater confidence and partnership between government and the people’’, Okowa said.

Earlier, Taiga said that the visit was to thank the governor for the achievements recorded by his administration in Urhoboland.

He said that due to the governor’s credible performance in Delta Central Senatorial District, they resolved to confer on him the title “Ochuko Ru Urhobo”.