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Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa (left), his wife, Dame Edith (2nd left); Deputy Governor of Delta State, Barr. Kingsley Otuaro (2nd right); Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori (right) and Other’s, during the Interdenominational thanksgiving Service, to mark the 27th Anniversary of Delta State, in Government House Chapel Asaba, Photo: JIBUNOR SAMUEL.

The Delta State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), warmly congratulates His Excellency Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, the Executive Governor of Delta State and all Deltans across the three (3) geopolitical zones in the State, on the occasion of the 27th Anniversary of the creation of Delta State on August 27, 1991.

The felicitations by the Delta PDP was contained in a Press Statement issued and signed by the State Publicity Secretary of the party, Dr. Ifeanyi Michael Osuoza, who hailed the visionary leadership and committed advocacy campaign by the champions of the movement and agitation that eventually led to the creation of the State on August 27, 1991.

Dr. Osuoza who, in the statement, laid particular emphasis on the political and socio/economic transformation of the State since creation, stated categorically that the PDP has been the major and dominant political force in the State and for the greater part of the last 27 years, has not only transformed Delta State into one of the most attractive and well respected States amongst the comity of States in the country, but has indeed brought national and international fame and recognition for the State in the continental and global space.

According to the Delta PDP Spokesman, “Delta State was barely out of the creation blues and still in its infancy and grappling with the herculean developmental challenges associated with a newly created State from whom so much was expected as an oil-producing State, as well as being the dominant component in the parent Bendel State from which it was carved out, when the PDP took over the reins of administrative leadership of the State, just eight (8) years after its creation.

But we are proud to say that we have built a model State, which has not just become the toast of other States in the country, but has risen in leaps and bounds to attain a position of national and international prominence in all sectors and spheres of human endeavour, much to the envy, adulation and admiration of our other sister States in Nigeria”

Osuoza emphatically noted that, “the PDP’s journey in Delta State started with the indefatigable and visionary leadership of His Excellency, Chief James Onanefe Ibori who set down the development template and platform for the amazing transformation of a State, whose capital city was still looking like a semi-hamlet, by laying down a comprehensive blueprint and mapping out the definitive roadmap, for an all-inclusive developmental agenda, evenly distributed across the diverse and distinct ethnic conglomerations with their demographic extremes in the three senatorial zones.

Indeed One of the greatest achievement of the Governor Ibori led PDP administration, was the amazing feat of laying the foundation of lasting peace and bringing the process of reconciliation to a magnificent acclaim, with the resolution of the Warri crisis. Governor Ibori also achieved heroic status and cemented the place of PDP in the annals of great Nigerian political chronicles with his vibrant and courageous agenda for Resource Control, which not only elevated Delta State to the prestigious zenith of regional leadership in the oil-producing South-South region of the country, but contributed immensely towards compelling the Federal Government to enact a law setting up intervention agencies in all oil-producing States and stipulating that 15% of the derivation be set aside to attend to the developmental needs of oil-producing host communities”.

Continuing, the Delta PDP mouthpiece stated that, “Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, stepped into the saddle to continue the fantastic work which Chief Ibori had done in the first eight years and not only consolidated on the infrastructural vision, with star projects like the Asaba International Airport, the flyovers in Asaba and Warri and the ultra-modern, state-of-the-art Government House, but was to indeed put Delta on the international stage with his solid advocacy on climate change, his excellent collaborations with international partners on Small and Medium scale, Micro-credit financed enterprises and his massive support for sports which led to the emergence of the elegant Blessing Okagbare and Ese Brume in global track and field sports, as well as the monumental contributions of Delta State both in personnel and logistics towards the victory of the Super Eagles in the 2014 African Cup of Nations.

“Governor Uduaghan also thrived as a PDP sponsored and supported governor both in his election victories against formidable opponents and all through his eight years administration, with his three-point agenda namely: human capital development, infrastructural development and peace building and security agenda, which was later complemented with the “Delta beyond Oil” advocacy that established the PDP as a party with a solid global agenda and progressive developmental vision, not just for Delta State but indeed for Nigeria and the international community.”

Dr. Osuoza, who further underlined the political dominance of the PDP in Delta over the years, averred categorically that, “Our cerebral, dynamic, astute, peace-loving and God-fearing amiable Governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, the Ekwueme of the Universe, did not only win his election as governor with the largest number of votes in the political history of governorship elections in Delta State, to buttress the fact that Deltans truly loved PDP, but has improved on the development template and platforms set down by his predecessors and solidly consolidated on the achievements on ground through the brilliant and articulate SMART Agenda which means; Strategic Wealth creation projects and provision of jobs for all Deltans; Meaningful peacebuilding platforms aimed at political and social harmony; Agricultural reforms and accelerated industrialization; Relevant Health and Education policies; Transformed environment through urban renewal”.

Highlighting the mercurial accomplishments of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, whom he described as a miracle worker given the miraculous way he has continued to pay workers salaries regularly and turning the fortunes of Delta around from suffocating recession to unparalleled and increased revenue generation in just three years, Dr. Osuoza noted that, “Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has remained faithful to our SMART Agenda as a manifesto of the PDP.

“The completion and ongoing construction of over 300 urban and rural roads that traverses the three senatorial districts in the State; the rehabilitation and furnishing of over 3,500 classrooms in our primary and secondary schools across the State, the facelifts given to some of our hospitals and health institutions and facilities, as well as the serious urban renewal programmes geared towards giving our cities a “SMART” modern look, have been greatly applauded by Deltans and these, in addition to the comprehensive storm drainage projects being constructed in Asaba and environs to check the menace and devastating effects of flooding in the State capital territory, have all been outstanding and glowing testimonies to the visionary leadership which the PDP, through the indefatigable Governor Okowa, has provided for Delta and Deltans.

Waxing confidently on the job creation initiatives of the Dr. Okowa led PDP administration and describing it as the biggest human capacity building initiative to be rolled out by any administration, the PDP Publicity pointsman said, “As a Party in control of the administration of Delta State, we in the PDP were quite disturbed by the growing unemployment rate in the Country and we did not hesitate to fully throw our support behind the decision of our dear Governor and leader to launch the initiatives including the YAGEP, STEP, GEEP, PPSP, and WESAP, which have now expanded the economic opportunities available to young Deltans and created no less than 20,000 direct and indirect jobs for our Delta youths”.

Osuoza, who praised the brave and courageous Peacebuilding initiatives so far embarked on by the present PDP administration under the steady leadership of Governor Okowa, celebrated the unity, peaceful co-existence and togetherness in Delta State, despite the existing challenges, as one of the major achievements of the PDP administration in the 27 years of the history of Delta State.

“The fact that we are still one united Delta State is not only a resounding testimony in keeping the vision and expectations of our founding fathers alive, but it indeed provides us ample reason to celebrate. It is our hope and prayer just as our leader Governor Okowa has anticipated, that we will leapfrog from where we are now to where we want to be in the nearest future”.

“The dogged and relentless pursuit of peace by successive PDP administrations through investments in meaningful peacebuilding initiatives has not only yielded so much gains, especially in recent times when the calming of restiveness in the Niger Delta through the mutually satisfactory peace initiatives of Governor Okowa which contributed greatly in helping the Federal Government come out of recession, but was manifestly demonstrated with the successful hosting of the Confederation of African Athletics CAA Senior Athletics championships in Asaba from August 1-5 2018, which confirmed beyond all doubts that Delta State is indeed a home of peace, security and hospitality”.

The Delta State PDP which also congratulated its leaders and elected officeholders over the years, across the three geo-political zones, with special mention of the election-winning party Chairmen; Captain Pius Sinebe, Elder Emmanuel Ogidi, Barr. Peter Nwaoboshi and Chief Edwin Uzor, also expressed its unreserved and profound gratitude to all Deltans, including the traditional institutions, the clergy, the physically challenged, the youths and market women and all our brothers and sisters, who have been with us, stood by us, supported us and ensured that we were provided with the opportunity to build on the vision of our founding fathers by ensuring that we have remained the main political platform to continue to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people and fulfil the agenda of prosperity for all Deltans.

“Delta is a PDP State and shall remain a PDP State and we thank Deltans for the support our successive governments have enjoyed from the people for the better part of the 27 years of our State.

“We congratulate Delta State and Deltans on the attainment of 27 eventful, dramatic, exciting and highly fruitful years and we urge Deltans to continue to support the PDP and the excellent administration of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, (Ekwueme) as he tirelessly and conscientiously continues to make Delta State proud, solid and well respected in Nigeria”.

“Delta no dey carry last. Congratulations and Happy 27th Anniversary to all Deltans”.