Delta lawmakers ask Okowa to probe Ekpan, Ifiekporo naval killings

Lawmakers at the Delta state House of Assembly, Asaba this morning at plenary called on Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to urgently set up a public inquiry to investigate the killing of two youths at the reifinery jetty in Ekpan and Ifiekporo communities in Warri South 1 constituency.

Governor Okowa

The call was sequel to a motion of urgent public importance brought to the Assembly chambers by Honourable Efe Ofobruku, representing Uvwie constituency.

A a unanimous vote vote, after the question was put, the lawmakers passed the motion calling on Governor Okowa to urgently set up an inquiry to investigate the judicial killing of the harmless and unarmed youths by a trigger happy naval rating.

Raising the matter when called to debate, Ofobruku said: “It is with a broken heart that I rise to speak on the ordeal face by the people of my constituency in the killing of Chris Gbogidi and one other at the refinery jetty in Ekpan and Ifiekporo in Warri South 1.”

He said the people of the community had mandated the youths to make a case with the contractor to in a meeting for the purpose of employing some of the youths in executing the project. “At the end of the meeting, a trigger happy naval rating came out of the naval boat and opened fire on the harmless youths, felling two of them who died, and critically injuring several who are now in critical conditions battling for survival.

“Our security personnel are paid by the people through government. There is no security agent employed to kill Nigerians. I condemn this act; it is wicked and callous. Shall we keep quiet and allow security personnel to continue to kill our people?” Ofobruku declared.

Hon. Johnson Erijo, who made an amendment to the motion in his contribution said: “It is sad. We have read on the pages of newspaper of the terrible event that happened. There is no responsible government that will sit down while its citizens are being killed, and in this case unjustly, because of its extra judicial nature. The Governor should set up a judicial panel to investigate the extra judicial killing.”

Hon. Daniel Mayuku said in his contribution: “I rise to lend my voice in support of this motion. This matter is very urgent. The state government should do something to appease these people. The persons killed are not riffraffs, they are well educated youths with masters degrees.”

Hon. Izeze urged the House to send a strong message to the Armed Forces telling them that the right to life is sacrosanct. “The naval rating involved is a meddlesome interloper . He had no business in the matter that took him there, and so, his action is not justified,” Izeze said.

Princes (Mrs) Pat Ajudua (Oshimili North) said: “Mr. Speaker, I lend my voice against the wicked act of the naval rating. I speak as a mother , who have giving breast to suckling children and therefore understands the pain of losing to young handsome men with the potentials of becoming presidents, now being cut short in their primes.”

The Deputy Majority leader, lamenting the situation said: “You don’t just go and destroy life, because you cannot create life. Life is sacred before the state.  It is therefore wrong for a trigger happy naval rating to take laws into his hands,” he said, adding: “I support this motion and urge my colleagues to support it so that justice will be done.”

A lawmaker from Ughelli constituency said: :”The naval rating’s action was callous. We are not in a banana republic where security agent will take another person’s life.  They should be made to pay compensation to the families of those unjustly killed and pay compensation in addition to off=setting the hospital bills of those injured. 

INMC journalists urge DTSG to create legal frame work to guide road construction, maintenance

Journalists of the Indigenous Newspaper/Magazine Chapel (INMC) of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Asaba this morning called on the Delta state Government to create a legal frame work to guide road construction and maintenance in the state.

Chairman of the INMC, Comrade Bartholomew Ozah made the call when he led members of the chapel on a courtesy call on the Commissioner for Works, Chief James Augoye.

Ozah who acknowledged and commended the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa administration for the impressive efforts engaged so far that has led to the completion of more than 50 roads across the State within two years of the administration providing a legal frame work to guide construction and maintenance of roads, said such a legal frame work should be judiciously followed by the Ministry of Works and road construction firms in the state.

He observing that well constructed roads add to the aesthetic value of the environment, Comrade Ozah said: “The construction companies should be compelled to use approved international standard of bitumen and asphalt to construct roads so as to avoid unwanted and unwarranted pot holes on our roads.

“The telecommunication companies cutting the roads to lay their cables should be directed to use durable materials to cover the spot defaced. Often times, they are interested in cutting the roads into two without proper covering of the spot open. In turn, that gradually leads to heavy pot holes that threaten the movement of cars on our roads.”

Besides, Ozah also argued that if Delta State must have durable and beautiful roads, those in the project monitoring department of the Ministry should not compromise standards on road construction. “In fact, Delta deserves good roads no matter the geographical location. Often times, it has been said that it is difficult and expensive to construct roads in the Delta region thereby inflating contracts of construction of roads. But the truth is that real specifications are not followed. There are areas that have worst terrains than Delta State in Nigeria, yet have the best roads,” Comrade Ozah said.

In his response, the Works Commissioner, Chief James Augoye, with whom was the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Engr. Fred Edafavour,  expressed gratitude to the grassroots journalists for the visit, pointing out especially that as a government, the importance of community media cannot be over-emphasised because they are the media that are closed to the people.

He commended the INMC chairman for the mention given to some of the road works done by the Okowa administration, saying: “For you to have accurately enumerated some of these projects shows how well informed you are.

Augoye acknowledged the importance of a legal framework to guide road construction and maintenance in Delta State, but pointed out that indeed, there is need for legislation, which is what the state government is working on currently. “The legal frame work is very key. Outside agreement there is no other legal instrument to use to enforce compliance,” the commissioner said.

Augoye also explained that in the absence legislation that the government has put in place measures it currently uses to enforce compliance by contractors road construction and maintenance standards, and bring an end to failed road projects in the state.

Some of the measures are that all contractors must work according to specifications, and that the Ministry officials engage in periodic inspection of the roads under construction or maintenance. “I also visit sites,” he said.

Second, contractor are directed that before laterite is laid, lab test must be conducted on the type of soil being used at the University of Benin. “The contractor for the Ukwunzu road project actually went to UNIBEN to do the test. We decided that laterite should be mixed with sharp sand, and this has been working,” Augoye said.

Third, he said: “For defaults on any road project, we sanction our staff supervising the project and the contractor when we notice cracks on the first layer of laterite. The measures are helping us.”

Besides, Augoye also said revealed that even Governor Okowa has decided that he would not pay a contractor unless he has done satisfactory work.

For telecommunication companies cutting the roads he said measures are being taken against them, but pleaded with the journalists to help disseminate information to call attention to places where telecommunication companies are cutting through roads and distorting them.  

Okowa not disturbed by 2017, says Aniagwu

Chief Press Secretary to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, Mr. Charles Aniagwu says his boss is currently engrossed with the duty of fulfilling his campaign promises of prosperity for all Deltans and so, will not be disturbed by the talks about 2019.

Mr. Charles Ehiedu Aniagwu

Aniagwu who visited the Senator Ifeanyi Okowa Conference Hall of the Indigenous Newspaper/Magazine Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Asaba on Monday, 3/4/2017, where he fielded questions from journalists said: “What we are concerned about is how to address the delivery of the Governor’s 5-point agenda. We have been able to provide jobs; the kind of job that does not require an applicant to write applications for employment.

“No! It is providing opportunity for people to be empowered to become entrepreneurs, and become employers of labour, and this is being done,” he said, pointing out that many persons are getting gainfully employed thereby.

He announced also that the Okowa government has been able to see to in collaboration with the Federal government brought about cessation of hostilities in the state by militants in the oil producing areas.

Aniagwu also called attention to the fact that relevant reforms in the educational institution is being carried out both in the tertiary, basic and secondary education sectors, and that everything is being done to upgrade the cottage hospitals and increase the medical staffs including doctors.

On Okpanam Road Asaba he said: “Okpanam Road is getting some improvement, although we are not yet where we should be, but we are no longer we were in terms of the terrible nature of that road.

“You can see that with the recent rain , the flood vanished within minutes after the rain. The governor is committed to the passion of making the state batter than he met it.” 

Okowa sets up Prerogative of Mercy panel

·       Harps On Rehabilitation Of Ex-inmates

Governor  Ifeanyi Okowa pf Delta State  has inaugurated a seven- man Advisory Council On The Prerogative Of Mercy with a charge to proffer ways of reintegrating  ex-inmates into the society.

Speaking in Asaba Thursday [30-03-17], the Governor said that the Advisory Council should ,apart from granting pardon to convicts, come up with a  workable plan for the rehabilitation of ex-inmates once they are released.

Governor Okowa in red cap, with members of Prerogative of Mercy panel.

Those inaugurated were Chief  Patrick Okpakpor [Chairman];  Dr. Samuel Efetobor; Barr. Kress Njuokuemeni; Hon. (Mrs.) Irene Imilar; John Okoriko Esq; Paulina Egbon, Representative, Nigerian Prisons Services [members], while Rosemary  Monye (Mrs.)would serve as  secretary.

According to him, “it is in line with the constitutional provision and consistent with our pursuit of a justice system that is fair and equitable that the Delta State Advisory Council On The Prerogative Of Mercy is being inaugurated. Beyond granting pardon to convicts, it is my hope and expectation that the Council will also come up with a template for the rehabilitation of this people once they are released, it is needful that we come up with a workable plan of how these ex-inmates can be engaged to facilitate their reintegration into the mainstream of society”

Okowa explained that “Over the years, the Prerogative of Mercy has helped to decongest our overcrowded prisons nationwide, currently, there are 3,442 inmates in our prisons in Agbor, Kwale, Ogwashi-Uku, Sapele and Warri, this figure includes convicted felons and those awaiting trial. An additional 1,000 plus persons were convicted by the Delta State Judiciary but serving their various sentences in prisons in other parts of the Federation”.

While commending the chairman and members of the Council on their appointment, Okowa urged them to carry out their duty diligently as enshrined in the constitution.

Responding on behalf of the members, Chief Okpakpor thanked Governor Okowa for their appointment and assured him that they would give quality advice to him in the course of their duty.

Fallen Principals: DOPF mourns with Okowa, ANCOPSS

·     Describes demise of school heads as unfortunate

Asaba: The Delta Online Publishers Forum (DOPF) has described the recent death of Three Secondary School Principals and a Vice Principal, as an unfortunate incident, even as they commiserate with the State Governor and the body of principals in the state, over the tragic loss.

In a statement signed by the Chairman of the group, Mr. Emmanuel Enebeli and the Secretary, Mr. Shedrack Onitsha, the Forum described the death of the teachers, as unfortunate, as they were on their way to finding a solution to the industrial action that led to suspension of academic activities in all public schools in the state.

“We commiserate with His Excellency, Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa and the entire body of Teachers and Principals in the State, over the demise of four secondary school principals in a ghastly motor accident along Benin/Sapele road on their way to a meeting in Kwale, Delta state, to resolve an industrial action, embarked upon by Primary/Secondary School teachers in the State.

"We also send our heartfelt condolences to the families and schools that lost their principals and vice principal, the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and the All Nigeria Conference of Principals of Secondary School (ANCOPSS), Delta State chapters and pray that those still in the hospital as a result of the accident be granted quick and divine recovery", the statement quoted.

DOPF, while commending Governor Okowa for his personal intervention to accelerate the resolution of the dispute, however, urged that Government should embark on urgent moves to secure the future of Nigerian education by providing the necessary materials and funding to ensure that the educational system in the state does not fail.

They equally charged the government to employ “Alternative Dispute Resolution” ADR, processes in resolving subsequent industrial actions, especially in the long drawn issue of primary schools teachers salaries and promotion arrears, by discussing with the relevant Federal agencies to find a lasting solution to the problem.

Solomon Okowa scores a hat-trick, set to launch 3 books

Movie producer, writer, publisher and business man, Mr. Solomon Okowa, younger brother of the Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa will on Sunday, April 9^th, 2017 score a hat-trick as he places three solid books in the public domain for launch at the Orchid Hotel, DBS Road, Asaba.

Mr. Solomon Okowa

The books are: “The Mirror of God: This is Who I am”; “Saved for a purpose”, and “Tears f Power”. They were all written at different times, and form some of the about six books written by him.

Asked what inspired him to write the books, he said “The Mirror of God: This is Who I Am “is an expression of the experiences he went through in life, and by which he came to identify his DNA, encapsulated in Who I Am.

"Saved for a Purpose", one of the books for launch. 

He said the book is basically a true leadership book that is based on biblical perspective. It is a concept in which the author believes that leaders are meant to portray the quality of true leadership from examples set by the greatest leader of mankind, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Mr. Okowa said “Saved For A Purpose,” is a summary of his true life story, which inspiration came from the motor accident he had, while “Tears of Power,” is a motivational book specially for women, children and politicians. “I was inspired to write the book by the situation I found our women in, in the society. It’s true life story of a woman in the United States of America who I felt that her story can motivate our women here in Nigeria to enhance their lives.

Solomon Okowa,  who holds a degree in Business Administration, associate degree in Business management and diploma in script writing, and  who hails from Owa Alero in Ika North East of Delta State said interestingly “Tears of Power” will soon come on cinema; it also has an audio version that comes in a CD that can be played in the car and at home.

Ambode inherited huge debt, performed well, yet does not make noise, says Tinubu

By Olaotan Falade

 -

Former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday said Governor Akinwunmi Ambode had managed the resources of the state prudently despite having met a huge debt profile on assumption of office in 2015.

Tinubu, who also doubles as the national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, stated that 22 months into his administration, Ambode had put up a “sterling performance.”

He spoke on Wednesday at the opening of some construction projects in the Alimosho area of Lagos State to commemorate his 65th birthday.

Tinubu, who inaugurated the projects in company of Ambode and other top executives of the state described the facilities – a network of roads, a link bridge and a health centre – as a reflection of Ambode’s performance.

In his words: “I was worried when you (Ambode) took over; not about your credibility, character or capacity, but because however wise or smart a man is, if there are no resources to back the ideas, production will be zero; progress will be zero.

“When you took over, I know  you inherited a burden of debt. The debt profile of Lagos was high. I was wondering how you would reengineer and face the challenges to make progress.

“Today, I can see your report card; you have scored well, and you have shown prudency, especially in the judicious use of resources of the state.”

Tinubu also lauded the government’s plan to transform Oshodi into a world-class bus terminus from what used to be a haven for criminals.

“Oshodi used to be a den of robbers, but what is going on there now is developmental activities for the benefit of the entire country.

“Ambode is very quiet, very peaceful, not a noise maker; but he is delivering on the job. Today, you have given me a good birthday present. This is a great opportunity for me to be very proud again,” Tinubu said.

* Source: The News Guru