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Okowa urges unity as Delta marks 24th anniversary

By Hendrix Oliomogbe, Asaba
28 August 2015   |   12:19 am
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has urged the people of Delta State to be more united and committed to the development of the state and the country. Okowa, who spoke in Asaba at an inter-denominational service held at St. Philip’s Anglican Church to mark the creation of the state 24 years ago, remarked that the people deserved…
Okowa

Okowa

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has urged the people of Delta State to be more united and committed to the development of the state and the country.

Okowa, who spoke in Asaba at an inter-denominational service held at St. Philip’s Anglican Church to mark the creation of the state 24 years ago, remarked that the people deserved to celebrate more than two decades of oneness, peaceful co-existence and progress. He appealed to the people to engage more on actions that will strengthen their unity.

“This is the time to build peace in our state, it is time for us to be more united for the common good of all Deltans,” the Governor said, assuring that his administration is open to constructive criticism and suggestions on the way forward for the state in the interest of all.

According to the governor, the fear of God by the people would bring about speedy development and unity. “Wherever you find yourself, you should learn to fear God and keep his commandments as it is the only way to excel.

“If l and all office holders fear God, nobody needs to tell you to be dedicated, you don’t need to be fraudulent, you don’t need to condone ghost workers. Times are hard but if we fear God, we will be able to manage our lean resources for the development of our state and of our people.”

Okowa disclosed that the dwindling revenue from oil resources has thrown up a new challenge for government in the country on the need to diversify the economy.

“The Lord is teaching us a lesson that we cannot depend on oil alone for revenue. We are developing other resources of the state, we have inaugurated the youth empowerment programme at Songhai-Delta, Amukpe and I want to assure you that the Songhai-Delta cannot be idle throughout my tenure. The graduates from the empowerment programmes will become entrepreneurs and employers of labour because the youths need to be re-directed to become employers of labour.”

The governor called on the people not to relent in partnering with his administration to deliver democratic dividends. “l have always asked God to help me take decisions for the greater good of the state, because for every decision you take some people will be happy others will be sad, but l believe that our decisions will always serve the general interest of the people.”

In a sermon, Bishop Justus Mogekwu of the Anglican Communion and Rev. Gideon Oyibo, chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Delta State branch, said the fear of God should be the bedrock of everybody in position of leadership so that the prosperity for all Deltans initiative can be achieved.

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