Former Head of State and Chairman National Peace Committee, General Abdulsalami Abubakar,has commended Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for his contributions to peace and development of Delta.

Abubakar gave the commendation on Thursday while addressing newsmen at Government House, Asaba, shortly after a courtesy call on the Governor.

The former Head of State, who was in company with the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Bishop Matthew Kukah, said that they were in Asaba en route Awka ahead of Saturday's Governorship election in Anambra.

He commended Deltans for sustaining the peace in the state which, he noted, had enabled the governor to carry out developmental projects in the nooks and crannies of the state.

He said: “Bishop Matthew Kukah and I are coming from Awka. You know that Saturday is the Governorship election in Anambra, and in our duty as the National Peace Committee, we went there to sign a peace accord with the contestants.

“We felt that it would be out of place if we came through Asaba without coming to see the Governor of Delta.

“I must commend Governor Okowa sincerely because when you come to Asaba, if you are away for about two to three months when you come you will see quite a lot of changes and development.

“I want to congratulate the Governor for the good work he is doing and also for the peace in the state.

“It is necessary that for any progress to be made there must be peace so I must thank the people of Delta for keeping the peace and allowing the Governor to do what he is doing in terms of development and so on.”

On Anambra election, Abubakar urged the people to maintain peace, knowing that there could only be a winner at a time.

“As we always say, there must be peace because if there is no peace, there will be no country, there will be no state and there will be no election.

“So it is absolutely necessary to ensure that there is peace and for the contestants, they must know that there can only be a winner, and they must take the outcome of the election in good faith if the election is free and fair they must accept the result.

“If they have any misgiving, there are channels in the courts to seek redress, so my appeal to the people of Anambra is to come out and vote for the candidate of their choice and for the candidates to accept the outcome of Saturday’s election if it is free and fair,” he added.

•PHOTO: Former Head of State and Chairman, National Peace Committee, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (middle), answering questions from journalists shortly after a meeting with Delta Governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa (right), in Government House, Asaba, on Thursday. On the left is the Bishop, Catholic Diocese of Sokoto and member of the National Peace Committee, Bishop Matthew Kukah,(left). PHOTO: BRIPIN ENARUSAI

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