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

Okowa’ll Spread Dev’t to All Deltans—Otuaro

From Bulou Kosin

Acting Governor of Delta State, Barr. (Deacon) Kingsley Burutu Otuaro says Governor Ifeanyi Okowa will not deprive any part of Delta State from the spread of development projects, stressing that the present economic recession will not derail the “prosperity for all” agenda.

Otuaro spoke, weekend, in Oleh, Isoko South council area, during a stakeholders meeting of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of Delta South Senatorial District where a vote of confidence was passed on Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and his deputy, Barr. Kingsley Otuaro, in running affairs of the state. Chairman of Delta South senatorial district of the PDP, Prince Emmanuel Amgbaduba said the meeting was convened to unite aggrieved members over the last congresses to enable the party move on in strength and deliver on its promises.

Otuaro’s assurance of development to all parts is coming against grumblings in few quarters that their areas were left out in Governor Okowa’s remarkable performance in the past one year in office. The acting governor, who sued for patience, told newsmen that having regard for Okowa’s commitment of the administration to the guidance of God, he had confidence that prosperity will spread to all corners of the state.

In the confidence vote by Hon. Solomon Funkekeme, former Deputy Speaker of the State’s House of Assembly, seconded by Mr. Solomon Areyinka, and unanimously adopted, the PDP stalwarts lauded Okowa and his deputy, Otuaro, for managing scarce resources in a recession to a harvest of projects in just one year.

Party stalwarts who attended the meeting include Comrade Macaulay Ovuozuorie, Hon. Denghan Macauley, Rtd Wing Commander Peter Biakpara, Hon. Emmanuel Egbabor, Hon. Ithiako Ikpokpo, among several others.

Oil Facility Vandalism: Ogulagha Kingdom Assures Otuaro-led C'ttee of Oil Installations Protection

By Bulou Kosin

Delta State Deputy Governor and Chairman of Advocacy Committee Against Oil Facility Vandalism, Barr. Kingsley Otuaro, says "Ogulagha Kingdom is critical to national and state economy" while tasking the kingdom to sustain it's "peaceful disposition and collaborate with government to end the recent spate of oil facility vandalism".

Speaking in like manner, Secretary of the Advocacy Committee and former Ijaw Youth Council President, Dr. Chris Ekiyor, who said Ogulagha Kingdom with its oil concerns would have been a developmental wonder if in Europe, also pleaded for support and collective vigilance to stop the bombings. He stressed the need to avoid what he said was looming war from apologists of military option.

The Otuaro-led Advocacy Committee yesterday (Wednesday) visited Ogulagha Kingdom where HRM, Joseph Timiyan, the Pere of Ogulagha Kingdom who assured the Committee: "We'll support Government to stop the vandalism. As a kingdom, we have several oil concerns namely, Forcados Terminal Crude Loading Platform,   South Bank Flow Station, North Bank Flow Station, Estuary Flow Station, Forcados/Yokri Integrated Gas Project, amongst several others. We do not harbour militancy and the oil companies operate in a conducive environment".

The royal father was, however, peeved that despite contributions of his peaceful kingdom to the national economy, the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo shunned his palace in his recent visit to the kingdom to inspect oil installations. This, he said, was coming upon sustained political marginalization over the years.

"Ogulagha Kingdom has never produced the chairman of Burutu local government area where we belong. The state government has never seen fit to appoint an Ogulagha son as Commissioner in the State over the years let alone recommendation for federal appointment. We thank the Okowa/Otuaro administration for appointing a Special Assistant from Ogulagha Kingdom. We hope we'll not continue to be marginalized", he said.

While promising to take up to appropriate quarters, the concerns of the Ogulagha Kingdom, which he acknowledged as "one of the most peaceful oil-rich kingdoms", Otuaro solicited support of the Kingdom to protect oil concerns and hence the national economy for development.

"The 2016 National Budget of 6.6trillion naira, Otuaro stressed, is predicated on borrowing, VAT and a 2.2mbd production expectation. A sustenance in bombings without collective efforts to stop same,  he explained, will worsen our already bad economic situation".

The Ogulagha Monarch, who expressed delight that it was the first time a sitting Deputy Governor would visit his Palace, prayed for the success of the Otuaro-led Advocacy Committee in its assignment.

Delta Monarch Says Army Alone Can't Secure Oil Installations

*Assures Otuaro-led Advocacy C'ttee of Support

By Bulou Kosin

Paramount ruler of Ogbe-Ijoh Kingdom in Warri South-West Local Government Area Of Delta state, HRM Couple Oromoni Mobene III, The Pere-Amakosu of Ogbe-Ijoh-Warri Kingdom has said that the military can't protect oil facilities because of lack of knowledge of Niger Delta terrain" .

The Ogbe-Ijoh-Warri Monarch made the declaration when he played host on Thursday to the Advocacy Committee Against Oil Facility Vandalism led by the Delta State Deputy Governor, Barr. Kingsley Burutu Otuaro, which sought partnership and collaboration in ending the ongoing spate of bombings in the delta.

While condemning the spate of pipeline attacks, the Pere-Amakosu of Ogbe-Ijoh-Warri recommended the formation of Pipeline Guards, which he said should combine efforts of the locals and the Army.

Assuring the Advocacy Committee of support, Mobene III, said: 'There is no youth in the Kingdom that would go out there to commit atrocities and return without information coming to me from my youths many of who sleep freely with me in my Palace".

He advised youths across the Niger Delta that endangering oil facilities was foolish as possible oil company contracts would disappear or relocate with the companies. 

He expressed surprise that oil facilities would be vandalized within metres to the house-boats quartering the military only for the military to vent anger on innocent and defenseless Indigenes. 

The monarch however expressed concern over the recent killing of  a sand scooper by an over zealous soldier who was in their stock of extorting money from locals by intimidation instead of protecting oil installations.

“I hereby call for court-martial of the soldiers in the vicinity of the bombings who now go about causing more havoc on the Indigenes for their own dereliction of duty".

The Ogbe-Ijoh-Warri king however advised that development was key to solving the Niger Delta question, stressing that it was surprising that a school such as the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko, which should have engaged idle minds meaningfully in our area was reportedly taken away.

Speaking on the ongoing training of Amnesty beneficiaries, the Ogbe-Ijoh Monarch said; "How can you spend over 30 million naira on a trainee on a course at the Philippines that can take care of 30 persons in Nigeria?".

Saying that training was necessary to avoid relapse of militants to militancy, he said only special courses with proper training not possible in Nigeria should be done abroad.

Earlier, the state Deputy Governor who led the team to the monarch’s palace, said that with a budget hinged on borrowing, taxation and 2.2mbd production expectation, “we cannot afford more bombings and expect to advance the national economy and fulfill our electoral campaign promises”
.

Former Ijaw Youth Council President, Dr. Chris Ekiyor, and Secretary of the Advocacy Committee, reinforced need for every Ijaw Kingdom to collaborate and stand against vandalism and ward off looming danger, rationalizing: "If a man calls for rain, it falls on all". He added: "No war is won at the battlefield, but on the table of dialogue".

Some of the chiefs from the palace who spoke including; Chief Favour Izoukumor, representing Ijaw nationality on the board of DESOPADEC, women leader Madam Queen Azenetolu, youth leader Comrade Christmas Ikare and Barr. Alex Akemotubo, Chairman Ogbe-Ijoh Governing Council had expressed resolve of the Ogbe-Ijoh people to partner with government to stop vandalism of oil facilities.

Pipeline Attacks: Otuaro To Gbaramatu Youths: Peace Is Path To Development

× Youths Cry Out Over military Harassments and Oil Companies Denials

From Bulou Kosin.

Chairman of Advocacy Committee Against Oil Facility Vandalism and Deputy Governor of Delta State, Barr. Kingsley Burutu Otuaro has appealed to the youths of Gbaramatu Kingdom to rise up to protection of oil facilities in their domain whether or not they were perpetrators of vandalism, stressing that peace by any means remains the platform from which development and progress can be launched.

The Otuaro-led Advocacy Committee, yesterday (Tuesday) , visited Oporoza, headquarters of Gbaramatu Kingdom where it retired to a Town-Hall meeting with youths and ex-militants in their numbers, after conferring with HRM, Oboro-Gbaraun II, the Pere of Gbaramatu Kingdom.

The youth after youth who spoke at the Town Hall meeting, lamented that innocent citizens were being harassed by the military in occupation. A youth leader, Moses Yabrade, apparently hit the bull's eye when he recommended a path to safety of oil installations not implemented by oil companies and government.

He lamented that while the youths were willing to be involved despite their lamentable condition, there was no synergy between the government and its agencies for opting for surveillance, stressing that the arrest and incarceration of 5 persons/agents of the Pipeline Surveillance/Protection Services (PSPS) as confirmed by Chevron was a frightening experience. He advised that the Otuaro-led Advocacy Committee should help create the platform for the required synergy and work.

"In history, violence upon violence has never produced peace. Innocent ordinary people suffer for military harassment and intimidation that has made Gbaramatu Kingdom an endangered species. Gathering and working with intelligence is better", Yabrade said, adding: "Nobody will destroy or allow the destruction of what or where he feeds from".

"If the Nigerian Gas Company (NGC) gas line was engaged to generate electricity, for instance, for the communities in its path, no community will allow such vandalism that negatively affects its comfort, without confronting the perpetrators", he continued.

Yabrade added that the Pipelines Products Marketing Company (PPMC) should re-introduce its abandoned but beautiful proposal of development award/projects for  peaceful communities, an idea he said could galvanize communities to active protection of oil facilities.

To the applause of the youths, Yabrade opined that the employment of Niger Deltans and grants of meaningful contracts in the Oil Industry could help motivate communities to protecting oil installations. He said the non engagement of people of the state in pipelines repairs contracts with non employment of youth of the area poses a serious problem for the people. He also said the Federal Government should kick-start the Export Processing Zone(EPZ) project capable of employing over 150, 000 youths.

He concluded that over 80% of pre-amnesty issues were left unattended to by Government.

The youths also expressed concern that people of the region close to the previous Goodluck Jonathan administration were being hunted, like High Chief Government Ekpemupolo aka Tompolo, who was zealously protecting oil installations from vandals.

They also recommended that the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko, be funded and allowed to kick off to  further engage the youths to meaningful ends.

The Deputy Governor, while agreeing that Gbaramatu Kingdom was 'an endangered species", noted that "war was hardly founded on justification". Otuaro stressed that it was better to pursue peace so that as leaders, even before now in the struggle, we could engage federal government to grant some of the requests you have made.

Otuaro, who told the youths that his Advocacy Committee was open to privileged information even in private, asserted: "We seek your partnership and collaboration to finding a permanent solution to the challenge. It's upon this honour you'll do to us your leaders that we'll engage the federal government to grant your requests. A dead man can't ask for light or employment".

PIPELINE VANDALISM: Gen. Boroh Declines to Accompany Otuaro-led Anti-Oil Facility Vandalism C'ttee to Creeks - Press Release

Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Gen. Paul Boroh (rtd)  said today, that he had confidence in the Delta State Advocacy Committee Against Oil Facility Vandalism headed by Deputy Governor, Barr. Kingsley Burutu Otuaro but declined to accompany the Committee to the creeks as expected.

Boroh, who hailed Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for his acumen on the constitution of the membership of the committee, was also  awaited by the people of Gbaramatu to accompany the Committee to Oporoza.  The Amnesty boss, however, left for Abuja as the Committee took to Gbaramatu Kingdom in its ongoing engagement of the oil-bearing communities to fashion out a way to discontinue the bombing of oil facilities in the state.

"We had audience with HRM, the Olu of Warri and the Agadagba of Egbema. We also had audience with youth groups and ex-militants to gather intelligence on how to end the menace", Otuaro explained to the Amnesty boss, adding: "We'll be going to Gbaramatu Kingdom shortly and will be spending the night working. We will visit Ogulagha and Ugborodo in the days ahead".

Otuaro explained that the State government would welcome any collaboration that will solve the problem of oil facility vandalism that has adversely affected the economy of the nation and Delta state.

Boroh, who himself identified members of the committee said with such membership, the committee's mission of of stopping the spate of vandalism was 90% accomplished.

Commenting on the effect of an atmosphere of insecurity on the nation, Gen Boroh said: "I had discussions with investors from Germany, Isreal, Britain amongst others but they said Nigeria especially the Warri and the Niger Delta region was not safe for business. I am happy Governor Okowa has chosen the right men to help meet the mission and change the negative impression people have of the area"

Otuaro Tasks Olu of Warri on Oil Facility Vandalism

The Deputy Governor of Delta State and Chairman of the Delta State Advocacy Committee Against Oil Facility Vandalism, Barr. Deacon Kingsley Burutu Otuaro, has called on Ogiame Ikenwoli I, the Olu of Warri, to use his exalted throne to add value to the Committee’s key assignment of ending the menace of oil and gas facilities vandalism in the state.

Otuaro, who said Governor Ifeanyi Okowa was worried by the rising spate of oil facility vandalism in the state, made the appeal when he paid a courtesy call on the Olu of Warri,  today Monday, to kick-start weeklong tour of the creeks to engage the locals on how to end the trend that has put the resources of the state at risk.

“As a nation and as a state, we are already in deep economic crisis by virtue of the fall in oil price in the world market, any further attacks on oil facility will worsen our already bad situation”, Otuaro said, adding: “This is why we have come to you as the custodian of the peoples culture and land in your kingdom to help government deepen intelligence towards stopping the bombings.

In his reaction, the Olu of Warri noted: “I will send my chiefs to all nooks and crannies to help resolve the problem”, adding: “The fact that the Governor had to send you, his deputy, to the creeks, shows that the thing is touching”.

The Olu recalled that it was first the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) and now it is the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) whose activities have had the economy crippled and hampering government capacity to deliver projects to the people.

“What are they avenging? Vengeance belongs to God. Man’s vengeance is limited”, the Olu wondered, lamenting that “the spate of vandalism was giving the state a bad name”.

Sounding fatherly, the Olu said he remembered that the Deputy Governor, Barr. Otuaro, a son of Warri, joined other Nigerians to grace his coronation, and should always feel free to come to his palace even outside times like this.

Immediately after visiting the Olu of Warri, the Advocacy Committee moved, via Koko, to visit the Agadagba (King) of Egbema Kingdom at Ogbudugbudu community, in Warri North local government area of the state. The committee subsequently engaged select youth leaders in Ogbudugbudu community with a view to fashioning ways to end the worrisome menace of oil facility vandalism.

 The committee, will on Tuesday, continue its advocacy tour to the creeks of Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South-West local government area.

Otuaro Pledges Commitment Of Delta Govt To Partner Federal Ministry Of Women Affairs, Social Dev On Its Responsibilities

Delta State Deputy Governor, Barrister Kingsley Otuaro has pledged the willingness of the State Government to partner and collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development (FMWASD) in the provisions of better services and enabling environment for the survival, proper development, protection and participation of the teeming women, children, persons living with disabilities, the elderly and other vulnerable groups in the State.

The Deputy Governor, flanked by the Commissioners for Women Affairs and Information, Rev. Ishola Williams and Mr. Patrick Ukah and other top government functionaries in the State, made the pledge on Wednesday, May 11, 2016, in Asaba, when he received on courtesy call the Honourable Minister of the Ministry, Senator Aisha Jummai Alhassan and her entourage on the occasion of her advocacy visit to the State.

Barr. Otuaro noted that government and governance is all about enhancing her citizenry, especially the children and women and this can easily be achieved through partnership with relevant organizations and enacting and implementing laws that will help them.

He commended the visitors for chosen Delta State as one of the states in Nigeria to carry out their advocacy on issues which are critical to the development of the State and Nigeria in general.

Earlier, the Federal Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Senator Aisha Jummai Alhassan, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary (PS) of the Ministry, Binta Adamu Bello, stated that the Ministry has the mandate for promoting and protecting the rights of the vulnerable groups (women, children and persons living with various forms of disabilities) and integrating their concerns into national development.

The Honourable Minister disclosed that Nigeria remains the largest country in Sub-Saharan Africa with a population of over 160 million people, out of which 49.10% are women, with the total number of the vulnerable groups constituting about 70% of the entire population.

Senator Alhassan pointed out that issues concerning women, children and other vulnerable groups are listed in the concurrent list of the Nigerian constitution adding; "this is to say that their issues are handled by the federal and state governments and which underscores the important role that states play in the actualization of the mandate.

"It is in recognition of your key role on these issues, that I am on this advocacy visit to your State to solicit for your support for the actualization of my Ministry's concerns at empowering our women, children, and other vulnerable groups in the State, knowing fully well that the current situation and conditions of these group doing not reflect the state of our national development", she asserted

Senator Aisha Alhassan appealed to the Delta State Government for the Implementation of the Child Right Law; Violence Against Women, Orphans and Vulnerable children, National Priority Agenda on Vulnerable children, Nigeria Children's Parliament, Improved Maternal and Child Health and Women Economic Empowerment.

Other requests made by the Minister are Women Increased participation in politics and decision making, Implementation of the National Gender Policy, its strategic framework and the establishment of Gender data bank; Harmful traditional practices that affects women and children; Care, development and integration of Persons with Disabilities; Increased budgetary allocation for issues relating to women, children and other socially disadvantaged groups.

She also prayed for Women Organization and their role in Development and promotion of Child Welfare issues; and Empowerment and job retraining activities for activities for the elderly in the State.

The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development submitted that we will greatly limit our chances of achieving national and sustainable development, if we do not make conscious and sustained efforts to tackle gender disparity in the country.

Delta Deputy Gov, Otuaro Urged Minister To Ensure Speedy Completion Of Ongoing N'Delta Projects

Delta State Deputy Governor, Barrister Kingsley Burutu Otuaro has appealed to the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs to speed up the completion of all ongoing and abandoned projects in the region so as to add value to the developmental life of the people.

The Deputy Governor made the appeal on Thursday, April 27, 2016, in Asaba, when he received the Honourable Minister of State, Niger Delta Affairs, Prof. Claudius Omoleye Daramola who paid him a courtesy visit during his projects inspection tour.

Barrister Otuaro lamented the slowed down to the target completion date of most projects designed to develop the region and urged the Ministry to improve efforts in completing the projects that will uplift the people.

He disclosed that the State Government SMART Agenda has a monitoring team that give feedbacks to the State Government in every areas which help them to know the areas they are not doing well which all centered to adding value to the peoples life.

In his remarks, the Minister of State, Niger Delta Affairs, Prof. Omoleye Daramola noted that the place of Delta State in the struggle for justice for the people of Niger Delta Region before now cannot be over emphasized.

"This apparently informed the creation of this interventionist Ministry in 2009 to address the developmental challenges facing the people of the Region and subsequent proclamation of the Amnesty for ex militants in the Region" Prof. Daramola stated.

He assured the Delta State Deputy Governor that the current policy in place is a complete departure from the past, as the ministry intend to involve all stakeholders in project identification, formulation and execution to ensure their buy-in. Adding that this was only way to avoid incessant stoppage of work, due to some unwholesome activities of the youths and community leaders in the Region.

Prof. Daramola disclosed that the Ministry has over forty ongoing projects covering a wide range of communities within Delta State alone. They include land reclamation and shoreline protection, erosion control and canalization, sand filling and dredging, skill acquisition centers, Housing schemes, Management training for some ex- agitators, dualization of the East/West road (Warri/Kaiama) roads. Others include construction of cassava processing plants and fish farming.

Otuaro Urges Delta NLC to Sustain Industrial Harmony

Organized Labour has been admonished to always first exhaust all possibilities for peaceful resolution if it must embark on disruptive industrial action.

The Delta State Deputy Governor, Barr. Kingsley Burutu Otuaro gave the advise,  weekend, at a one-day seminar in Asaba by Stakeholders of Labour with the theme: "Industrial Labour Relations in Contemporary  Nigeria: Issues and Challenges".

Otuaro, who was represented at the event by his Senior Special Assistant on Chieftaincy Affairs, Dr. Peter Emaziye, said "development fosters better where there is peace and harmony". Otuaro commended and asked for sustenance of the cooperation by the Delta State branch of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) with the State Government for continued growth of the state.

Reiterating government's concern for the unemployed via its YAGEP and STEP programmes amongst others, Otuaro said the Okowa-led administration was Labour friendly as attested to by the earlier speech of David Ofoyeno, the Delta State NLC Chairman.

Before declaring the seminar open, Otuaro expressed hope that discussions at the seminar would resolve challenges of Labour towards fostering greater harmony between government and organized labour for greater productivity.

Ofoyeno had said NLC's cordial relationship with the Delta State Government was informed by the transparency of Governor Okowa who, he said,  would do better with increased financial resources available to the State. He tasked Okowa to urgently look into alternative internally generated revenue sources to boost the state's capacity for more development projects.

Why Nigeria Is Still Together-Otuaro

Deputy Governor of Delta State, Barr.(Deacon) Kingsley Burutu Otuaro has said the reason Nigeria remained one entity till date is due to prayers of worshippers of Almighty God and advised culture of prayers to continue.

Otuaro made the assertion yesterday in Asaba while declaring open the 36th National Prayer Conference of the Intercessors Fellowship of Nigeria (IFN) holding from 7 to 10 of January, 2016 at St. Peter's Anglican Church (Bishop's Court), Asaba.

According to him; "The reason our country Nigeria is still one indivisible, indissoluble entity is as a result of Intercessors.

"I make bold to say this. It is not because of the economic astutness of anyone nor the political sagacity of any politician in our democracy.

"I therefore urge you to continue to pray for the nation, especially in these trying times", Otuaro said.

While thanking the body for its perseverance in prayers, the Deputy Governor said it was comforting to know, as revealed in an earlier speech by the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the IFN, Barr. Emeka Nwankpa that the prayer body had been around for about forty years.

Nwankpa, while explaining the mission of the IFN said it was to mobilise prayers and intercession for the church, the nation and its leaders.

The IFN, he added, seeks to establish prayer cells in every town, city and state as well as train responsible servant leaders for public life.

He said that transforming the royal traditional institution into godly custodians of the land and culture and to raise and discipline the upcoming generation to take responsibility for Nigeria are other objectives of the body.

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.