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

Senate summons Itse Sagay over comments on NASS

By Olaotan Falade

The Senate on Wednesday summoned the Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Anti-corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay, over his comments that the upper chamber was full of people with questionable characters.

TheNewsGuru.com reports that Sagay had on Tuesday while reacting to the Senate’s refusal to confirm the 27 Resident Electoral Committees (REC) nominees sent by President Muhammadu Buhari said the upper chamber was full of ‘childish and irresponsible’ people.

Enraged by the comment, the Deputy Senate Leader Bala ibn Na’allah, during Wednesday’s plenary raised a Point of Order, calling the attention of senators to comments in a national daily credited to  the Sagay.

The however unanimously agreed to invite Sagay over the said comments questioning the character of National Assembly (Senate) members.

Sagay, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, stated that Buhari would not be cowed by the Senate’s action, which he described as an affront on the Presidency.

He said: “That action is childish and irresponsible. Do they think Buhari is a man that can easily be threatened? My God! How can people of such character occupy the highest legislative office in the country? Nigeria is finished.

“It is a great mistake and they will regret it.”

Asked what appropriate action Buhari could take, Sagay explained that the President could continue to appoint people in acting capacity where necessary.

He said the refusal to confirm the RECs was of no effect since officials of the INEC had been acting as RECs for over a year.

Sagay added: “Where the Senate is required to approve a person for a particular position and they refuse to do it, the person could continue to act depending on the nature of the appointment.

“However, if the nominee is coming from another sector, just like in the case of the RECs, it means they cannot act. However, people below that rank in INEC can continue to act as RECs all over the country as it has been done.

“What this action means is that the Senate is being occupied by the most unserious set of Nigerians in history. Nigeria is currently at its lowest level because we have people who have no sense of responsibility, who have no feeling and are there for just vanity and are ready to bring down the country in order to feel important, it is the worst case of abuse ever.

“Let them do what they want, they will regret it.”

·         Source: The News Guru

Anti-corruption: PDP slams EFCC for inviting Oshiomhole to talk about holiness

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo state has slammed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for inviting former Edo state governor, Adams Oshiomhole, as a guest speaker to the National Anti-Corruption Stakeholders’ Summit.

Adams Oshiomhole

According to the PDP, the invitation of Oshiomhole showed that the country had a long way to go in the fight against corruption, Daily Post reports. PDP slams EFCC for inviting Oshiomhole to talk about.

 In a statement by Chris Nehikhare, Edo PDP publicity secretary, the party wondered why Oshiomhole, who has over 15 pending petitions against him was invited “to give a talk on holiness and sainthood”. Nehikhare said the PDP is ready to tender relevant documents to prove its case against Oshiomhole if EFCC commenced investigation.

He said: “Oshiomhole has till this moment not told Edo people about the $54m he collected from the federal government in December 2014. Edo people and Nigerians only got to hear of that money because NNPC books were audited. The only good thing that can come out of the just concluded seminar is for Oshiomhole to submit himself for full scale investigation.

 ”There can be no better way to start the anti-corruption war than inviting Oshiomhole to answer for his financial crime against the state. We join others to urge EFFC to swing into action. No need for glamorous talk shows of anti-corruption with tainted characters. God help Nigeria.”

 Meanwhile, NAIJ.com has gathered that Oshiomhole recently gave reasons why President Muhammadu Buhari will be conveniently re-elected, if he seeks for a second term in office when the 2019 elections come around. He said the Buhari-led administration would have further consolidated on its numerous giant strides by 2019.

·         Source: Naij.com