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Delta State Governor, Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, has described former governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, as a true man of the people who exhibited genuine commitment to the business of governance and left behind worthy legacies for the people to cherish.

Oborevwori also gave approval for naming of the Old Lagos-Asaba Road cutting across Ika North-East and Ika South local government areas after Okowa.

Oborevwori said that the fact that Dr Okowa could be treated to a heroic reception by his own kit-and-kin bore eloquent testimony to the perception and apprection of his impactful leadership in the last night years he was in the saddle as Delta State Governor, saying some leaders could hardly face their own people on exiting public office.

The governor, who made the remarks at a grand reception in honour of Dr Okowa, held at the Owa Model College, Boji-Boji Owa, Ika North-East Local Government Area of the state, promised to build on the lofty achievements of his predecessor by ruling with the fear of God and ensuring equitable distribution of projects and positions across the state.

While commending the Ika ethnic nationality for organising the reception in honour of their illustrious son and former governor, Oborevwori said: “You have done very well for the people of Delta State and your eight years in the saddle have been very wonderful and impactful on the lives of our people.

“There is nothing as good as your people celebrating you, because some people will finish serving in public office and they cannot return home. But here you are being celebrated and given a hero’s welcome by your people and Deltans have come in their large numbers to honour you today in appreciation of your good deeds.

“I want to appreciate the Ika nation for organising this hosting in your honour and I appeal to Deltans to extend same love and support shown you to our administration.”

The governor, who graced the occasion with his wife, Tobore Oborevwori, and his Deputy, Sir Monday Onyeme, lauded Okowa for his vast experience in leadership, public administration, saying he has been inspired by his leadership style.

“The immediate past Governor is very experienced in governance and leadership and I learnt a lot from him in the last eight years.

“I want to serve you people and to be a Governor for all Deltans. I will be fair to you all in everything we are going to do in this administration,” Oborevwori said.

In his remarks, Dr Okowa thanked the Ika nation and Deltans for the honour done him and his family and expressed appreciation to everyone who that had been part of his administration’s success story, even as he urged them to extend the same support to his successor, Governor Oborevwori.

Okowa said: “Am truly very excited to be back home and to be received in this manner and I must thank you all for honouring me and my family.

“Coming home in this way gives me a lot of peace and joy because when your people receive you the manner they have received us, it gives us a lot of comfort because it shows that we can return home anytime.

“Throughout my eight years Ika nation was very peaceful and that gave me the opportunity to perform my duties very well and I must thank our youths and all stakeholders for the peace we are enjoying across the state.

“Let me appreciate all Deltans for their prayers and support and I owe you all gratitude because Delta has continued to prove its worth in the comity of states in this nation.

“I thank God for the support we got from all elected and appointed public officials. We are proud to have done the best we could given the circumstances that we found ourselves but we were able to impact on the lives of our people,” he said.

He urged the people to extend support to the Oborevwori administration to advance the state through its M.O.R.E. agenda.

“You have shown me love please extend same to Sheriff Oborevwori. He has promised us that he is going to do more and am convinced in my heart that he is prepared for the job.”

Speaking to newsmen during the ceremony, the immediate past Executive Assistant on Communications to Governor Okowa, Dr Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe Esq, said that governor Okowa’s legacies in Delta State will be remembered for decades to come. “Okowa’s footprints dot the entire landscape of Delta; he practically reduced poverty to its bearest minimum through result-oriented human capital development, job and wealth creation by establishing multifaceted vocational training and skills acquisition centres across the three senatorial districts. “Thousands of Delta Youth and women were catapulted from the labour market through the Rysa, Step, Yagep and Project GEST programmes, provided funding and starter packs for all beneficiaries and the programmes were effectively managed by the Bureau for Job Creation, Ministries of Youth and Girl Child, respectively. “Okowa also provided for the widows across the state on a monthly basis. They got welfare packages and monthly stipends to put food on their tables.

Welcoming guests earlier, Chairman Planning Committee for the reception, Hon. Nduka Irabor, said that Ika people decided to honour immediate past governor for his outstanding accomplishments in the administration of the state and for making Ika nation and the entire Delta proud, commending Deltans for coming out massively to honour Dr Okowa and his wife at the grand ceremony.

Highpoint of the event was Governor Oborevwori giving approval for naming of the Old Lagos-Asaba Road cutting across Ika North-East and Ika South local government areas after Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, as requested by the two local council chairmen, Hon Victor Ebonka and Hon Sunny Tatabuzuogu. (THISDAY)

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