NO SECRECY! OKOWA'S PLAN FOR DELTA REVEALED

Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has disclosed that his overarching vision for the state is to bridge critical infrastructure and create a conducive environment that encourages investments and the meaningful engagement of Deltans, especially the youths upon whom the future lies.


Okowa explained that such lofty vision which is lucidly encapsulated in the SMART Agenda is being vigorously pursued by his administration which, he said, has initiated an economic development approach aimed at integrating the entire land mass of the state through good network of roads that link communities and cities across the three senatorial districts of the state.

The Governor stated this yesterday during the fourth biennial public lecture of the Enuani Democratic League (EDL) held at Ejeme-Aniogor in Aniocha South Local Government Area of the State.

See WHY I OPTED FOR PROSPERITY MANTRA

Represented by the State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Patrick Ukah, Okowa said his administration is conscious of the challenges facing Nigeria, of which the State is not an exception, noting that his government is working assiduously to tackle the difficulties and deliver prosperity to all citizens.



Governor Ifeanyi Okowa 



His words: "Our vision is to achieve sustainable development by building necessary infrastructure and creating the conducive atmosphere that would encourage investments and the meaningful engagement of our people, especially the youths to whom the future really belongs.

"Our economic development approach aims at integrating the State through good network of roads that link communities and cities across the State. This will also include the building of a befitting State Capital. It is our goal to see that the completion of on-going projects across the length and breadth of the State is to give nerve and impetus to commerce".

He called on all Deltans to encourage investors and also contribute their quota in the task of developing the state, assuring that State Government will continue to encourage and assist genuine investors who are out to serve as agents of positive social and economic change in all communities of the State.

On the yuletide, Okowa called on Deltans to imbibe the spirit of good neighbourlines, love, understanding and peaceful coexistence, noting that there is no gain in violent exchanges.

The Governor also commended the EDL for holding tenaciously to the spirit and mission of the group which is geared towards deepening the root of democracy in the Anioma clime.

Also read TENSION AS OKOWA PERFECTS PLANS TO DEAL WITH OVER 2,000 DELTANS

In his welcome address, the President/Founder of the EDL, Hon. Collins Iwebunor observed that the festering woes of Nigeria is consequent upon a geometric growth in the number of graduates without a commensurate increase in the number of thinkers and a surge in the number of politians without a similar increase in numeric strength of actual leaders.

Iwebunor said "when the harvest was plenty, the labourers were few" adding that at present, "the wealth gave way to poverty and penury, debt and slavery". He said the sterling qualities of Okowa as typified in his commitment to leaving indelible marks in the annals of the state justify the biennial event which was held in his honour.

In a lecture entitled "The Anioma Nation and Democratic Consolidation in Delta State", a professor of History and Strategic Studies at the University of Lagos, Nkem Onyekpe urged political leaders to rise above the obnoxious divide and rule system of governance, noting that the principles of egalitarianism must be adhered to the distribution of resources and democratic dividends.

Onyekpe who admitted that the Anioma has overcomed the shackles of perceived marginalization with the emergence of Okowa, advised the Governor's kinsmen not expect the concentration of the State's resources in their domain alone, noting that the pan-Deltan initiatives of the Governor must be sustained at all times and in all circumstances.

In an interview with newsmen, the law maker representing Aniocha South constituency in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Angela Nwaka urged Deltans to continuously support the current administration which, according to her, has achieved much despite palpable economic constraints

BREAKING: OKOWA'S KINSMEN STORM HIS AGBOR RESIDENCE

No fewer than 1,000 residents of Agbor community, Ika North Local Government Area of Delta State, laid seige to the Agbor abode of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa today.





The mammoth crowd which defiled security hindrances included youths and old women who stormed the Governor's residence to demand their share of the yuletide gift.

See WHY IKA YOUTH WANT MALEKE DEAD

Our correspondent who was coincidentally at the Governor's house reports that most of the youths are commercial motorcyclists (popularly called Okada) but they abandoned their daily hustling to beg the Governor for rice and other yuletide consumables.

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Unfortunately, security personnel attached to the Governor locked them out. Nonetheless, their uproar could not allow the Governor to continue with his affairs of attending to some political stalwarts who were in serious engagements with him.

A fairly built man believed to be an aide to Okowa reportedly came out and handed an unascertained amount of money to them.

But, just like the unpopular typical Nigerian style, the disbursement of the money which was shared at N1,500 each degenerated into a heated argument.

WHY IKA YOUTH WANT MALEKE DEAD

Nigerian comedian and musical artiste Moye Idowu, aka Maleke, narrowly escaped being lynched by thugs in Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State.


The attack was said to have occurred last Wednesday after the Comedian made some 'expensive' jokes on stage about Governor Ifeanyi Okowa during the 2016 Ika Carnival held at Agbor.




Moye Idowu, aka Maleke. 



"After thrilling the crowd first with some musical dance steps at the 2016 Ika Carnival, Maleke began to crack some very expensive and mocking jokes on the state governor using some harsh words on Okowa,” an eyewitness told SaharaReporters.


“After a time some thugs working with the governor, who is from Ika, made
several attempts to stop Maleke but he continued. At this stage, their tempers started to rise", the source reportedly added.


Also read YOU'RE IRRESPONSIBLE- OKOWA'S AID BLASTS MALEKE


Further, the witness, believed to be a Police Officer, said the thugs, after reinforcing by making calls to other members of their gangs, climbed up to the stage and gripped the comedian by the shirt.




Governor Ifeanyi Okowa. 



Apparently showing no fear, Maleke continued with his performance, and perhaps out of annoyance, shouted, “Okowa is an idiot! Okowa is an idiot!”


See OKOWA CONCLUDES PLANS TO DEAL WITH OVER 2,000


At that point, he said, his boss, CSP Akintude Oyeniran, the
Divisional Police Officer of the Agbor police station, along with some of his colleagues, rushed to the stage and whisked Maleke away.


In his words, "Maleke was so lucky. If not for the swift intervention of my boss and some of my colleagues, Maleke would have been beaten to a state of
coma".


When contacted, CSP Akintude Oyeniran confirmed the story saying that his swift intervention saved the life of the
comedian.


"Yes, I saved his life just as you heard the story", the Police Boss was quoted to have said.

Hmmm... Na wa o. 

YOU'RE IRRESPONSIBLE - OKOWA'S AID BLASTS MALEKE

The Executive Assistant to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa on Events and Entertainment, Mr. Sebastian Okoh, has described the outburst of the popular comedian and musical artiste, Moye Idowu, aka Maleke, as personal and irresponsible.


Mr. Okoh disclosed that Maleke was invited to entertain the crowd through music and not to insult any leader, particularly Governor Okowa, who he described as the number one citizen of the state.




Mr. Sebastian Okoh. 



Recall that Maleke was invited for a performance during the 2016 Ika Carnival held at Agbor.

In what qualified as a twist of events, Maleke had reportedly tongue lashed Governor Okowa, publicly declaring that the Governor is an "idiot".


An angry mob had attempted to prey on him but men of the Nigerian police came to his rescue and saved him by whisker.


See also WHY IKA YOUTH WANT MALEKE DEAD


Mr.Okoh who spoke against the shocker event said it was aimed at tarnishing the good image of Governor Okowa who, according to him, is "hardworking and ebullient governor contrary to the views of Maleke".




Moye Idowu, aka Maleke. 



He said "as long as the carnival continues in the spirit of unity, peace and development, the organisers will not risk the likes of Maleke on the platform again based on his unguarded utterances".


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He expressed deeply regret for the actions, and called on the good people and friends of Ika to disregard "the unprofessional behaviour of Maleke on stage".


According to him, "In Unity, we stand, together we can make Ika move forward. Long live Ika Nation, long live Delta state, long live federal republic of Nigeria".

DELTA CONSIDERS REDUCTION OF LAND REGULARIZATION COST

With just 16 days to the expiration of the December 31 deadline issued by the State Government for the regularization of the portions of land located on the contentious Core Area two in Okpanam town, Oshimili South Local Government Area of the State, there is the likelihood that the State Government will consider a further downward review of the exercise cost.


Following serial appeals made by affected landowners during a town hall meeting attended by officials of the ministry of Lands and Surveys and owners of lands in the contentious core area two, Chief Dan Okenyi, the subsisting Commissioner of the ministry, yesterday, said he will convey the appeals of the over 2,190 land owners to the state governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa who wields the authority to approve such reduction.


See GOVT FINDS MISSING DOCUMENTS ON CORE AREA 2


Okenyi told the landlords, many of which are civil servants, pensioners, traders and clerics, that it is not within his power to reduce the N750,000 amount slated for the regularization exercise, but pointed out that the December 31 deadline may be extended if the need arises.




Chief Frank Omare 


“You have made an appeal to government and I will tell you that your message will be adequately conveyed. I don’t have the power to reduce the price but as for the extension of the deadline, let us get to December 31 first; after December 31, we will think of what to do”, he told the land owners.


Nonetheless, he appealed to the affected landlords to immediately go for their land Regularization, adding that the fast track unit of the ministry is willing to offer an installment payment arrangement for those who may not be able to pay for the exercise at a go.


Also read OKOWA CONCLUDES PLANS TO DEAL WITH OVER 2,000 DELTANS


He disclosed that against professional advice, the State Government has no intention of demolishing structures in the core Area 2, particularly in light of the lingering economic crunch, adding that while the State Government will always show a human face in its dealings, it will also make reciprocal responses to the actions of the affected land owners.


On his part, the Director General of Special Programmes in the State, Chief Frank Omare cautioned against the tendency of personalising his official duties, noting that he had always acted in tandem with the letters of his engagement.


Check GOVT GOES TOUGH ON LAND ENCROACHMENT


Omare disclosed that he has held no fewer than 11 dialogue meetings with the affected land lords since the last three months, explaining that the serial meetings are pointers to the desire of the State Government to apply diplomacy in handling the issue.


Some of the landlords who spoke at the event appealed to Governor Okowa to approve a further reduction in the cost of the Regularization exercise and also called for more time for them to meet up with its financial demand.

HOW DELTA SAVED 10.6M CHILDREN FROM KILLER DISEASES, BLINDNESS IN SIX YRS

The Permanent Secretary, Delta State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. (Mrs) Minnie Oseji, has revealed that the Maternal Newborn and Child Health Week (MNCHW) initiative in the state has reduced the susceptibility rate of a total of 10,633,034 children to childhood killer diseases and visionary impairment.

Oseji said that since the last six years, the State had implemented 13 rounds of the MNCHW through which Vitamin A supplement was given to children between the ages of six to 59 months with the result that their immune systems were boosted to resist debilitating ailments, including blindness.

See GOVT TO ASSIST OBIARUKU STORM VICTIMS

The Permanent Secretary made the revelation in Asaba on Tuesday, during a one-day high level sensitization meeting with relevant stakeholders on the prospect of leveraging resources for MNCHW implementation in the three senatorial districts of the state.

“Between 2010 and 2016, Delta State has implemented thirteen (13) rounds of MNCHW and during this period, a total of 10,633,034 children (6-59 months old) have received Vitamin A Supplementation to boost their immunity against childhood killer diseases as well as protect their vision”, she said.

“We have been able to get a very high coverage of Vitamin A. Vitamin A contributes to keeping our children healthy and also improves their sights. In those days, one of the complications in many children who had measles was deficiency of Vitamin; this could lead to night blindness or cornea ulcer.

“But because many of our children have been receiving Vitamin A regularly for several years, even if they do get measles, it no longer lead to complication in sight or other debilitating diseases. It also boosts immunity against diarrhea and respiratory infections. We are happy that Delta State has a very high coverage of Vitamin A”, Oseji added in an interview.

Read also IBORI LISTS CHALLENGES OF DEVT

She averred that many people have benefited from the health education of the MNCHW, particularly in the areas of exclusive breastfeeding, but lamented that about 27 per cent of nursing mothers still breastfeed their babies for less than 12 months, while 59 per cent of them introduce complimentary feeds to their babies before they are six months old.

She urged all breastfeeding mothers to adopt the two years breastfeeding period as medically advised, explaining that adequately breastfed children have higher disease resistance levels than their poorly breastfed counterparts.

Representative of the United Nations International Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Expanded Programme on Immunization (UPI), Ms. Joy Oji observed that the international agency had religiously provided its counterpart funds for the MNCHW, disclosing that the 100 per cent funding earlier provided by UNICEF has snowballed into 25 per cent because the subsisting agency funding approach of the programme is giving way to that of ownership funding in which much commitment is required from benefiting states.

The author, Joshua Erubami, could be reached through 08065108405 or Erubami26@gmail.com

CORE AREA 2, MANY UNANSWERED QUESTIONS

There is no smoke without fire- Ancient African sage

Situation reports on the activities of the Chief Frank Omare led Task Force on the Regularization of lands in Core Area 2 in Okpanam town of Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State have, among others, revealed two shocking facts in recent times.

The first being that for a fairly period running into years now, some individuals and groups have allegedly vended out Delta State Government owned lands at the Okpanam axis to no fewer than 2,190 buyers without the due consent and approval of the state government- the supposed lawful owner of the said pieces of land.

The second stunning, dazzling and startling revelation is the rippling disclosure that 95 percent of all these buyers, representing about 2,081 of the total land owners, are not indigenes of Delta State.

Both issues, as you may know, are stack facts which are not only biting on our very faces, but also inspiring and tingling to the probing ability of whoever gets to know of them.

On the first concern, Omare, in a press briefing held at the Government House, Asaba, explained that all the land owners- 1,540 of which have landed properties- were issued demand notices requesting them to, as a matter of urgency, visit the state ministry of Lands and Survey to regularize all documents relating to the ownership and development of lands in the state and, particularly, in that area.

He said the state government is appealing to all the affected persons to do the needful since it is not in the interest of government to demolish structures, especially in light of the festering economic downturn prevalent in the country. Upon such timely visit to the ministry, all affected persons are expected to regularize such documents as Certificate of Occupancy (C of O), approved survey plan as well as building plan.

Omare, however, specifically warned that: “at the expiration of the 90 days (ultimatum which had long started counting), government must be government because we cannot allow people to keep taking laws into their hands; if you have any issue, go and sort it out in the Ministry of Lands and Surveys and you will be cleared. But if you are not cleared there, then you can come to this office (Taskforce on Regularization of Government Lands) and you will be cleared”.

Well, that is the natural import of the ongoing debate regarding the moral wisdom encysted in the state government’s decision to realign the portion of land in the core area 2 after a fairly long period of leaving it in abeyance. This, nonetheless, is in spite of the fact that a room for a 30 percent off cost was magnanimously approved by the governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa. That is not my concern.

Since the commencement of the recovery exercise on lost government lands, my (usually mischievous you may say) seventh sense had continued to wonder on the issue and wander around what it actually portends for a giant and richly blessed state as Delta, the very finger of the Almighty creator. In all honesty, I am still at a loss, perplexity and bewilderment as to how the mammoth 2,190 land buyers successfully acquired their various parcels of land without having any positive reason to look back and reconsider the genuineness of whoever sold out such portions of land to them.

This is just as I am being continually pricked by the nibbling but consistent question of how people (Deltans in this case) comfortably and conveniently dispose of immobile assets (whether theirs or otherwise) to people without actually giving it a second thought.

If the state government actually acquired the said parcel of land constituting the core area 2, then it is only natural that it is in possession of the relevant documents transferring the ownership of that area it acquired in a legitimate manner. With that, the state government, through its ministry of Lands and Surveys and other relevant organs, could have reined on whoever trespassed into it and halted whichever construction process that was initiated by intruders.

All these should have happened long ago, long before when the first structure in that area was completely built!
Unfortunately as it seems, nothing was done all through the fairly long period that one can truly remember. In fact, some of the affected persons confidently hinted that there was no time when any government official (particularly those from the lands and surveys ministry, department, agency and taskforce) requested them to halt their acquisition and development of lands in the area under contention.

A very glaring question then is, how did the state government succeed at losing such a large expanse of land without anyone asking and probing into the issue since the recent past?

The only inferable reason from the ensuing chasm, if such claims are anything to go by, is that the officials in charge of government lands had sordidly shown much indifference to the overt acts of encroachment and trespass. And if that is actually the case, then it will only be totally just and fair for the land recovery taskforce to critically investigate why concerned government officials allegedly closed their eyes to the core area 2 encroachment saga.

It is very true and glaring that the state government is quite considerate and humanely thoughtful in its efforts to reclaim its lost property, but in the light of the festering economic slump which has incessantly widened the hole in the pockets and purses of citizens, every single naira and kobo means much to whoever owns it. Even if the 2,190 land owners plunged in the core area 2 saga are to pay (in naira terms) for the reclamation of their lands and the consolidated safety of their immobile structures, it is still very important for the body in charge of government lands to provide convincing explanations regarding the long period of deadness- as it relates to its actions- over the matter.

On the flip side of the issue, one needs to consider the frightening unfolding that a whopping 95 percent of all the 2,190 landlords entrapped in the core area 2 question are non indigenes of Delta State. On the topmost surface of this alarming matter, it is admissible that having a considerably large number of non indigenes in an area simply reflects how hospitable and accommodating that area is. Ditto in Delta State, uniquely reputed as Nigeria’s big heart, it is only usual that people from the other 35 states of the federation easily saunter in to seek greener pastures in both its public and private sectors.

Nevertheless, it is quite disturbing that the indigenes of the state are losing the core aspect of the state to outsiders. Reason? It is simple. In periods of war, just as in times of troubled economy and other indices of measuring the security and independence of a geographical area, the capital territory of any group of people remains the major pointer to their hopes and source of inspirations to press forward in whatever their agitations and collective dreams are. Once such territory becomes captured without any suitable terrain for relocation, the government of such territory inevitably collapses and surrenders.

Thank the Almighty Creator for our dear state which is not and is never likely to be at war. But it is quite unhealthy that the state government is not just losing its lands, but also losing them to outsiders. This is not to suggest that non indigenes should not be incorporated in the scheme of things in the state, but it is a clarion call for Deltans to brace up in the task of actively participating in the ownership and development of the state, particularly the state capital territory.

Development and urbanization naturally engenders the influx of guests in an area, but the original owners of the land must prop up their own veritable measures of keeping with the dictates of such exponential growth and geometric expansion. Delta State, particularly Asaba, is growing, hence Deltans must be active drivers of this growth; they must maximize whatever potentials the land presents.

In the paraphrased message of erstwhile governor James Ibori to his kinsmen, Deltans must remain part of the driving engine of the change and development taking place in Asaba and the state generally; we must invest in the town; we must set up our own shops, hostels, hotels, schools and industries. On this, we must march in step and be at par with the guests among us so that we will not be left behind in matters of investment and ownership in the state.

SOURCE: JOSHUA ERUBAMI