Governor Ifeanyi Okowa on Tuesday, urged Deltans to pray for the Will of God to be done in the state ahead of the 2023 governorship election in the state.
Okowa made the call at a thanksgiving service at the Government House Chapel, Asaba, for the blessings of God upon him, his family and the
State in 2021 and for greater divine attention on them and the State in 2022.
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He cautioned political stakeholders on the need to concentrate on governance and not be distracted ahead of the 2023 general elections.
“Let us approach the next few months with oneness of love. Towards the end of every administration, there are usually distractions here and there.
“We are not stopping people from playing politics but we need to realise that there is a purpose and we must remain loyal and committed to governance until May 29, 2023.
‘’This is a year of politics and as politicians we cannot avoid it; pray with us, pray for us and pray about the state.
“Whatever positions we are contesting for, let us seek the face of God because if you genuinely pray God will reveal His will for you.
“As a man, I will also try to avoid people pushing me to a direction that God is not pleased with because if God has made a choice and we go in the wrong direction, it will not augur well for the state.
“But one thing is sure, whoever will succeed me must be one who keeps the fire in this altar burning, and God must direct me on the choice of the person
“I can never take the place of God in deciding who will succeed me; I will pray for God to direct me and not man, so that I don’t go in the wrong direction,” he stated.
The governor, therefore, appealed to politicians and other stakeholders who love the state to pray for the oneness and unity in the state, and particularly for him, to enable God to make necessary revelations to him on the choice of his successor, saying we must all pray, including those contesting for positions.
He urged leaders in authority to have faith in God as He alone could direct their affairs.
According to the governor, who was flanked by his wife, Edith, we recognise as a family and as Governor of Delta, that for all the grace of God in the past year and for all the achievements we have made that we must return to say thank you Lord.
“In so doing we are asking for greater blessings and there is no doubt that since 2015 when we assumed office, the hand of God has been strong in this state.
“Going forward, I need no one to tell anyone that the hand of God has been very strong and gracious in our affairs.
“We are now in our seventh year and it is a good thing to give thanks unto God, because if we rest our faith in God we will be able to do all things; we will be able to show love and empathy to the people.
“In governance, until you touch the lives of people you have done nothing and a life in governance without God is a governance for self because it is not for the people,” he said.
He urged Deltans to pray for him to finish strong, adding that “finishing strong is about being able to reach out to the people to lay the foundation that people can build upon.
“Many communities want to honour us and thank us for what we have done for them. But, each time I tell them that you have voted for us and whatever we have been able to achieve we give thanks to God.”
Okowa appealed to all persons in government to pay special attention to the things of God, counseling that “if you are to succeed in what you are doing, you must abide in God.
“As a family we will continue to abide in God because by His grace we are able to continue and finish strong to His glory.
“It is our belief that God will provide the resources and the men to accomplish all that we have started.”
Chaplain of the Chapel, Ven. Charles Osemenam, in his sermon, urged Christians to put their trust in the Lord as God revealed His secrets to those that fear him.
He advised the people to renew their lives in God, saying that being born again was one of God’s secrets that only those in new birth enjoyed.
The cleric urged people in authority to fear God as citizens could only rejoice when the righteous were in authority.
Deputy Governor of the state, Mr Kingsley Otuaro, some members of House of Representatives, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Chief Sheriff Oborevwori, Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Kingsley Esiso, traditional rulers and other top government functionaries attended the service.
Okowa assures on early completion of Koka flyover
Governor of Delta, Sen. (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa has said that the ongoing construction of Koka flyover and interchange in Asaba, the State capital, would be completed before the end of 2022.
Okowa gave the assurance while speaking to newsmen shortly after inspecting the project on Tuesday.
The state government last year began the construction of the flyover along the Benin Onitsha Expressway to ease traffic gridlock along the Koka Junction corridor.
The governor said he was desirous to inaugurate the project this year adding that he would work with the contractors to ensure early completion of the project.
“The contractors started work here a few weeks ago and with the explanations we have got a lot of work is already being done.
“One good thing about the contracting firm CCECC is that they try to work ahead of time because we can see the drilling work going on and they are also casting the beams already.
“We are told that they have casted 30 out of the 96 beams that they required and they have already drilled 16 of the piles that they are supposed to drill and that means that work is progressing.
“They have given us January 2023 delivery date, but I have also told them that am not comfortable with that because I would like to have the project inaugurated during my time.
“January 2023 there will be a lot of campaigns and we may not have time to talk about inauguration of projects so we are trying to work up a process that will enable them work day and night to fastrack the project.
“I believe that with the quality and capacity of the contractors, they can definitely finish the interchange in the course of this year so that it does not spill over into next year.
“The dualisation coming from Ogwashi-Uku to Ibusa and Asaba will be completed in the next few months and it will definitely put pressure on this interchange so there is the need to ensure an early finish so that we don’t have a chaotic situation here,” he stated.
He thanked the contractors for the job done so far while hoping that they will speed up to make up for any lost time during the yuletide.
He said his administration would stay on course to ensure that the project is inaugurated within the year.
“All our projects including this one are very dear to me and we will continue to inspect more projects.
“One good thing about inspection of projects is that it gives you a first hand knowledge of what is being done and you able to ask questions from both the ministries and the contractors and they are able to give you timelines and what they hope to achieve.
“So indirectly am also putting both the contractor and the ministry on pressure to finish on time but finish with quality work and that is the first and most important thing to me.
“While i play politics, I will not forget that Deltans actually voted me to serve them so until the very last day of 28th of May, 2023, I will focus on that aspect of service to the people, I will not allow politics to distract me,” the governor stated.
Delta govt donates 5 amoured carriers to army, police
Delta Government on Wednesday handed over 5 armoured personnel carriers to the 63 Brigade, Nigerian Army and the state police command to strengthen their operations.
Presenting the armoured vehicles shortly after the State Security Council Meeting held at Government House, Asaba, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa said three of the security vehicles were for the Army while two were for the Police.
He expressed appreciation to the various security commands in the state for the work that they have been doing to consolidate on the peace and security in the state.
According to him, the various security commands have been doing so well to keep Delta State peaceful, pointing out that it was his hope that the state government’s gesture would add up to the vehicular needs that will enable them carry out their operations.
“We have just risen from a Security Council Meeting where we discussed a lot of issues concerning the security of the state.
“And we also expressed our appreciations to the various commands for the work that they have been doing to consolidate on the peace that we have in our state.
“In furtherance of the various logistics provisions for the Army and the Police, this afternoon, we are handing over two Armoured Personnel Carriers specially built for the Army.
“One had also been previously delivered to the Army making it three for the 63 Brigade and two had earlier been delivered to the Police, making it a total of five Amoured Personnel Carriers.
“So, we are glad that at this point in time in this early part of the year, that the remaining two to the 63 Brigade have been delivered.
“We do hope that in the course of the year, we will be in a position to also provide other logistic needs for the various commands.
“They have been doing so well to keep Delta State peaceful and we are very grateful and we hope that this will add up to the vehicular needs that will enable them carry out their operations,” the governor said.
Highlight of the ceremony was the handing of keys of the Amoured Personnel Carriers for the Army to the 63 Brigade Commander, Brig. General Abdulraman Idris and State Commissioner of Police, Mr Mohammed Ari.