Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, had said that peace has returned to Okuama community, stressing that the incident of March 14 was a one-off which has been handled maturely by all the stakeholders concerned.
He disclosed this Tuesday when he received participants of the Senior Executive Course 46 of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru-Jos, led by Air Vice Marshal David Solomon on courtesy call at Government House, Asaba.
The Governor charged NIPSS to provide a veritable roadmap for policies that would mitigate the challenges currently confronting Nigeria.
“Your coming to Delta shows that the state is peaceful; not minding what happened on March 14, the Okuama incident.
“We have handled it and the Military had had a lot of restraints. As we speak today, the Military have pulled out of Okuama and we have established an Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in that place.
“But that does not mean that those involved will be set free. It is just that the innocent people will not continue to have problem with the Military”, he said.
He said: “The importance of your institute is anchored on fostering critical thinking that will encourage training and developing professionals in policy analysis, strategic planning and leadership.
“Being a high level center for informed research, reflection and dialogue, the country looks up to you to provide a road map for true policy initiatives and execution.
“The lnstitute remains our country’s foremost thinking cap in developing a group of high class technocrats. It has also contributed to deepening democracy both in Nigeria and other African countries by providing a platform for learning and sharing of ideas.
“You are, therefore, saddled with the responsibility of managing policies and strategies that will shape Nigeria and indeed, Africa.
“Delta is a state that believes in continuity and I have promised Deltans that I am going to do more for them.
“I want to assure you that coming to Delta State is a good choice and all the information you need will be provided.”
Earlier, the team leader, Air Vice Marshal David Solomon, who spoke on behalf of the Director- General of the Institute, Prof. Ayo Omotayo, said the lnstitute was conceived as a high level institution with the primary objective of serving as the nation’s foremost policy think tank and developing a crop of top class leaders of high intellectual capacity.
He commended Governor Oborevwori for consolidating the tempo of sustainable socio-economic growth and development of the state by continuing from where his predecessor stopped, just as he expressed appreciation to the state government for the warm reception accorded them since their arrival in the state.
