Delta State Governor, Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has called on Deltans to be positive about the state's development by playing their roles to ensure that the state attains an enviable height.

Okowa made the call on Sunday during an inter-denominational thanksgiving service held at St. Philip’s Anglican Church, Asaba as part of activities to commemorate the silver jubilee celebration of the state’s creation.

According to him, “We need to cooperate for us to succeed because things are very tough. By partnering together, we will be able to surmount our challenges.

“For our state to move forward, everyone has a role to play, your role may be different from mine, but, we have to play positive roles for our state to succeed,” the governor said, adding, “our individual and collective efforts matter a lot because our state which used to receive N20 billion and more is now receiving N3 billion as allocation from the federation account and salaries of workers is still above N6 billion.”

He used the occasion to call on those engaging in vandalism of pipelines to have a rethink disclosing, “for every pipeline you blow up, it is affecting the revenue of our state.”

While expressing confidence that the outcome of the silver jubilee celebration will put the state on a progressive course, Governor Okowa thanked those who sponsored the celebration observing that but for the sponsors, the state would not have had the economic summit.

Delivering a sermon at the service, the Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Delta State chapter, Rev. Gideon Oyibo said, Deltans have every reason to celebrate 25 years of existence, noting: “What we have in Delta State today is more than what we had in 1991, but, must challenge ourselves to achieve the Delta State of our dream.

“If the glory of Delta State must be restored, personal interest, ethnic interest, religious interest must be put aside for corporate interest, as we match forward to achieve the state of our dream. There is no senatorial district that can lay claim to the ownership of the state, it is not owned by a political party, Delta State is about Delta State, it is only our commitment that will restore the Delta State of our dream and the prudent management of resources,” he said.

Governor Okowa took the first reading, his deputy took the second reading at service which was attended by past governors, deputy governors, captains of industries, members of the National Assembly, elected and other political office holders in the state.

•Photo shows Governor Okowa.

Update news