Okowa’ll Deliver On Promises—Otuaro

*says God is key to prosperity

From Bulou Kosin

Deputy Governor of Delta State, Barr. (Deacon) Kingsley Burutu Otuaro, reiterated his conviction that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa will continue to deliver on his promises despite challenging economic times and qualify for a second term in office.

Otuaro gave the assurance after Pastor Samuel John of Living Faith Church Worldwide (aka Winners Chapel), Ibusa Road, Asaba, charged politicians to make a mark in office or be disqualified for further term. They both spoke, yesterday (Tuesday), at Aboh during the 2nd edition of the annual Festival of Praise programme put together by the Ndokwa East Local Government Council and the area’s Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). The ceremony doubled as a thanksgiving service by the council chairman, Mrs. Nkechi Chukwurah who recently survived several volleys from assassins’ guns.

Pastor John had earlier commended the Ndokwa East Council for the initiative to praise God in keeping with God’s commandment. He listed the benefits of praising God to include divine blessings/ideas, presence and security that enrich, banish fear and prevents evil from befalling children of God.

Saying he was glad to have attended the “Festival of Praise” programme, Otuaro stressed that the Ndokwa East Local Council initiative was in tandem with the Okowa administration’s standard. He said: “Okowa instituted the praise to God night initiative from the beginning of this administration. We worship Almighty God every morning at the Government House chapel in Asaba and dwell on the things of the Spirit on which the success of man and society depends. We are therefore confident that by God’s grace, we’ll deliver on our electoral promises and qualify for more terms”.

“My friend, Mrs. Nkechi Chukwurah, had been having series of challenges that culminated recently in surviving 22 bullets from assassins. When I got the news of her survival, I exclaimed it could only have been God!”, Otuaro said, adding: “God made her a bullet proof”.

Otuaro who prayed for the council boss to fulfil her mission and exceed her own expectations, said life was about acknowledging God who is the key to prosperity. He thanked the massive crowd that attended the event, especially the royal fathers from various kingdoms in the area, “for gracing the event with their majestic outfits”. The Deputy Governor described the culture of praise to reverence God as “awesome, commendable and worthy of

How Inmates Allegedly Smuggle Cell Phones Into Prisons In Delta

 ***Delta Govt Summon Comptroller of Prison

Cell phones which ought to be contraband in Nigeria prisons are now prevalent in prisons in Delta state, Bigpenreports has learnt.

Dependable sources told Bigpenreports that though cell phones are banned, they are often smuggled into the prisons by inmates who allegedly connived with some dubious prison officials.

The prisoners allegedly use the phones to control the flow of drugs both in and out of the prisons premises, control activities outside the prisons as well as relate with members of their families, a source who didn’t want his name on print disclosed.

The source disclosed that some of the hardened prisoners were allegedly using the cell phones to give directives to their gang members, thus jeopardizing the security of the state.

Bigpenreports learnt that the development however came to the fore on Monday when Delta state Governor, Dr Ifeanyi  Okowa was fielding questions from journalist who sought to know what the state government was doing about the menace.

Confirming the development, Governor Okowa disclosed that the Comptroller of Prison in the state has been summoned to attend the state Security Council Meeting to explain the alleged security breach which could pose grieve danger to the state peace and security agenda.

Governor Okowa who was speaking during a media briefing to herald this year’s Democracy Day and his first year in office celebration, said that he was already aware of such issue which has since come to the knowledge of members of the state security council .

He disclosed that based on the development, an invitation has been sent to the Comptroller of Prisons in the state to attend the next State Security Council meeting.

“I got to know about the situation about a week ago, I had to find out from the Commissioner of Police and he has confirmed that some kidnappings which has occurred was controlled by some individuals in the Prison and we intend to invite the comptroller of Prisons in our next security meeting because we need to know why that is happening and why it is being allowed because it is a very dangerous trend and it is not the best for our security.”

According to him, his administration does not handle the issue of security with kid’s gloves, disclosing that on assumption of office, a 41-member Delta State Peace Building and Advisory Council comprising men and women of proven integrity and exemplary character were inaugurated to tackle the teething problem of peace and security in the state.

 “They (Delta State Peace Building and Advisory Council) have been very active in working to implement policies and programmes to increase public safety in Delta State.

“Our strategy is to strengthen, sustain and create the institutions and structures that enable peaceful co-existence among diverse ethnic groups and communities; we are committed to seeing that our cities, towns and communities become places where people feel safe to work, live and do business, he added.
Speaking on the menace of Fulani herdsmen, Governor Okowa disclosed that his administration has taken proactive measures to curb the menace.

“We have been talking about it at the national level; also at the state level a committee has been set up which is made up of the SSG, Police, SSS, Civil Defence, our communities and some Fulani leaders because, we want to ensure that there is an identification of the herdsmen groups that we have in our localities and to create an interface between them and our communities so that together the communities and the herdsmen can work to identify the criminal elements and ensure that those criminals are made to face the law.

“We have gone to the extent of appointing a Special Adviser on the Fulani herdsmen who has been helping us to reach out to the various groups in the state, even to the leadership of the Fulanis that bring in these cattle to the state.”

The governor also spoke about the spate of pipeline vandalism in the state saying that currently, an Advocacy Peace Committee headed by the Deputy Governor Barr. Kingsley Otuaro has been traversing the length and breadth of the riverine communities to hold talks with traditional rulers, community and youth leaders on the need for peace in the region adding; “we are confident of positive outcomes from these interactions”.

He said that on assumption of office, his administration had in collaboration with the local government councils had organised a well-attended One-Day Stakeholders Summit on “Vandalisation of Oil and Gas Facilities” on Wednesday, January 31, 2016, at the Petroleum Training Institute Conference Centre in Effurun, Warri .

Labour Strike Ground Activities In Govt House Asaba

Activities at the Government House Asaba, Delta state were grounded as members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Delta state chapter protest hike in fuel price.

It was leant that the state chapter of NLC had mobilized its members to protest the recent removal of fuel subsidy which gave rise to the increase in pump price of petrol to N145.

First Vice Chairman of the state chapter of NLC, who led the protesting workers to Government House, Comrade Jonathan Jemiregbe said that the only panacea to the indefinite strike was for the Federal Government to reverse its unilateral decision.

“We are here to execute the labour ordered industrial strike. The Governor (Ifeanyi Okowa) should by this peaceful demonstration know that the strike has been brought to bear in Delta state.

“Government offices are now under key and lock. The strike is not directed against the state but against the Federal Government.

On the restrain order secured by the Federal Government, Jemiregbe said, “Yes, we disobeyed the court order because the order was obnoxiously obtained.

“President Muhammadu Buhari himself has acknowledged that the judiciary is his headache. The law says the two parties must argue the matter before such order can be granted. That did not happen in this regard.

“This is a government that is not sensitive to the plights of Nigerians. It unilaterally increased electricity tariff, as if that was not enough, it went ahead to increase the pump price of petrol, we say no to this”, Jemiregbe said.

The protesters were addressed by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s Chief of Staff, Hon Tam Brisibe who apologized that his boss was in a crucial security meeting and commended them for conducting their affairs with honour, assuring them that their grouse would be addressed.

The unions which participated in the protest march included; Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU), as well as Academic Staff Union of Polytecnics (ASUP).

The protesters trooped out as early as 7am at the popular Traffic-Light Junction in Asaba, where they marched through the streets of Asaba to Government House.

Chanting solidarity songs, the unionist vowed not to return to work unless the Federal Government revert to the old pump price and discontinue with the high electricity tariff.

Some of the inscription bore by the workers are; “Nigeria Jaga-Jaga, Everything Scatter, Scatter”, “Electricity Na Wayo-Wayo”, “Food No Dey, Water No Dey, Light No Dey”, “Labour Say No to High Electricity Tariff”, “We Need Employment, Not Fuel Hike”, “Labour Say No to Fuel Hike”, “Buhari Heal Us, Don’t Kill Us” and “Election Na Wayo-Wayo”.

Okowa Supports Federal Government’s Oil Sector Reforms

DELTA State Governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has thrown his weight behind the reforms being carried out by the Federal Government in the oil sector.

Speaking when he received the management of Warri Refinery and Petro-Chemical Company (WRPC) led by the company’s Chief Operating Officer (Refineries), Mr. Anibor Kragha on Wednesday in Asaba, the Governor observed that though, the reforms would cause immediate pains for Nigerians, the long-term benefits cannot be quantified.

According to him, “if the refineries succeed, Nigeria succeeds and different states succeed because the importation of fuel has impacted negatively on the revenue of government; all the state governments are in support of the liberalisation of down-stream oil sector of the economy because, we are caught in the web as the price of oil is very low and there are no foreign exchange to continue to import fuel.”

“I sympathize with all Nigerians, we did not anticipate this situation, I believe the Federal Government will find ways to cushion the effects of the liberalisation but, above all, there are lessons to be learnt from the situation; we need to diversify our economy as quickly as possible,” he stated, adding, “the restructuring of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the liberalisation of the down-stream oil sector if followed through thoroughly will impact positively on the economy and create jobs for the citizenry.”

Governor Okowa used the occasion to decry activities of pipeline vandals, observing that while such had negative effect on the environment and the resources of the country, activities of economic saboteurs have affected negatively the oil production.

He said, “an advocacy committee led by the Deputy Governor is currently on sensitization visit to oil-bearing communities for the people to protect the piplelines and government property in their areas.”

The Governor called for partnership between his administration and WRPC to tackle the menace of tankers on the roads, disclosing that though, the state government has provided a park for the tankers, it has been observed that it could only accommodate about 20 per cent of the tankers which has given room for a bigger park to be constructed.

Earlier, Mr Kragha thanked Governor Okowa’s administration for its commitment towards providing the enabling environment for business to thrive in the state.

Otuaro Urges Gbaramatu-Ijaw to Be Patient with Buhari, Okowa

Delta State Deputy Governor, Barr. (Deacon) Kingsley Burutu Otuaro has advised the people of Gbaramatu Kingdom to sustain the peace and prayerfully wait on President Mohammadu Buhari to deliver dividends of democracy.

Otuaro gave the admonition January 6, 2016 during visits to Okerenkoko, Oporoza amongst other places in Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South-West Local Government Area to engage the people on the need for peace for the Okowa-led administration to deliver more projects in the area.

At Okerenkoko, Otuaro used the opportunity to inspect preliminary works at the state government-sponsored road project in the community.

The Deputy Governor charged Roadwell Construction Company, contractors to the road project in Okerenkoko community to expedite action for early completion. At Oporoza, headquarters of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Otuaro also expressed the Okowa-led administration's readiness to deliver dividends of democracy to all parts of the state and sued for the present enabling peace in the area to continue.

While assuring community support for Governor Ifeanyi Okowa over prompt delivery of promised prosperity programmes/SMART Agenda, Chairman of Okerenkoko community, Chief James Tangbowei, in his response, thanked the Deputy Governor for his peace moves and for finding time to see the extent of the road project.

2016 Budget Passage Scandal Rocks Delta Assembly As DESOPADEC MD Threatens To Resign Over Speaker's Harassment

The Delta state House of Assembly led by controversial Speaker, Monday Igbuya is currently embroiled in a 2016 budget passage scandal running into several billions of naira.

Reliable sources at the Assembly who confided on Bigpenreports alleged that several government agencies and ministries in the state are seriously under pressure by the House of Assembly leadership to grease their palm before the budget would be pass.

The source claimed that the Speaker had given the agencies/ministries options to either give a percentage of their overall budget as honorarium to House members or agree to a certain terms in the award of contracts to House members before their 2016 budget which is presently under screening could be pass into law.

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa had late last year presented N265 billion budget proposal for the 2016 fiscal year to the Delta State House of Assembly, thus setting the stage for agencies/ministries to commence the budget defence procedures of the House.

Dependable sources said that in all the ministries and parastatals, the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), which is currently under intense pressure by the House leadership was allocated the lion share of N28 billion; while education is allocated N10.1 billion; the state job and wealth creation scheme is allocated the sum of N2.296 billion. Others sector of the economy like transport sub-sector got, N15.421 billion and the Health sector receives N5.9 billion.

Bigpenreports was told that DESOPADEC which is one among the agency of the state government where politicians scramble after juices contracts is currently under the grip of former governor Chief James Ibori who had influenced the appointment of his protege as Managing Director.

Sources revealed that the Managing Director of DESOPADEC, Olorogun Williams Makinde, who the source said was surprised about how things were being run by the House leadership has threatened to resign his position in the commission following the quibble between him and Igbuya over the commission's  budget.

Makinde's aide who confided on Bigpenreports said that the MD was miffed by how Igbuya have been mounting pressure on him that giving honorarium before budget passage was a normal thing that ministries and agencies do and that DESOPADEC was not an exception.

Sources said that Makinde, a protege of former governor of the state, Chief James Onanefe Ibori had gone as far as London to personally report the development to Ibori who is serving jail term at the UK prison for money laundering offences.

The source said that Makinde, who was a  former PDP national treasurer, and Executive Director Finance and Administration at the Daar Communication Group, had complained to Ibori to call Igbuya to order otherwise he was prepared to resign from the position if doing Igbuya's bid was the only option for DESOPADEC budget to be passed.

"Makinde see it as a slap on him and Ibori for Igbuya, a political tout who by coincidence ascended leadership of the House to be demanding percentage of DESOPADEC budget before it could be pass", the source said.

The source who said that he was however not aware if Governor Ifeanyi Okowa was aware of the development which is currently generating some ripples, however said that former governor Ibori had waded into the matter.

"The pressure from the speaker, Mr. Monday Igbuya was becoming unbearable for him so he decided to call Ibori and travel to London to complain to him to call Igbuya to order.

"Makinde is loyal to Ibori and so if there is any arrangement like that it must come from Ibori or his approval must be sought.

"Igbuya cannot just start ordering Makinde to agree on this kind of thing without Ibori's consent you know.

"Currently, I don't know if the governor is aware of the matter but I am sure the governor would be offended if it is brought to his notice", the source added.

All efforts by Bigpenreports to get comments from the media aides of the Speaker, Mr. Felix Ekwu who promised to get across to his boss and the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, Mr. Henry Ovie Ebireri proved abortive as at the time of filing this report.

SMART Agenda: Okowa Commends His Deputy Over Progress Recorded

Delta State Governor, Senator Ifyeanyi Okowa, has commended his Deputy, Barr. (Deacon) Kingsley Burutu Otuaro for his immense contributions toward the actualization of the administration's prosperity programmes via the "SMART" Agenda.

Okowa who spoke in Warri on a new year day visit to his Deputy, however expressed optimism that the impact of the SMART Agenda will be more visible in 2016.

On hand at the residence of the deputy governor to welcome Governor Okowa, were Otuaro's wife, Engr. (Mrs.) Ebierin Otuaro, Senator James Manager, Commissioners, Political Appointees from Delta South and Central senatorial districts as well as Chief Sheriff Oboroweri.

Senator Okowa said the foundation of his administration's master plan has been laid in the last 6 months through the concerted efforts of his deputy and other members of the prosperity team and expressed hope that the state will witness unprecedented transformation in 2016.

He stressed that the dwindling oil price in the international market will not derail his set target for the state.

He reiterated that the restructuring of the Delta state Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, was a deliberate effort to allow the commission bring development to the areas where oil exploration and exploitation were being carried out.

As part of effort to enhance security and  restructure the education sub-sector in the state, Senator Okowa said a summit  of stakeholders will hold soon.

Otuaro in his speech said that the Okowa administration will fulfill all electioneering promises because it is sitting on the divine hands of God.

Barr. Otuaro said the  bills sent to the State House of Assembly by the Governor after few days in office, the youth entrepreneurial programmes, and other steps taken  to address the socio-economic and infrastructural deficit were clear indications that the state was on course.

Otuaro also assured Okowa of the support of Delta South Senatorial District for the administration while promising Deltans that their basic needs will continue to receive prompt attention from the government.