The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State has flagged of its campaigns for the general elections billed to hold in the month of February and March this year with Governor Ifeanyi Okowa thanking the people for their support, which he says will bring about unprecedented development in the next four years.

Addressing PDP faithful who turned out in large numbers for the flag-off ceremony on Friday at the Oghara Township Stadium, Oghara, Ethiope West Local Government Area of the state, Okowa observed that his administration recorded a lot of achievements as a result of the support and cooperation of Deltans.

The governor said: “I thank all Deltans for the votes cast for us in 2015, together, we have crossed the very difficult times, our collective efforts have been recognised nationally and internationally, we have delivered on our promises. As we move into the next level, we will continue to grow prosperity, but, I cannot do it alone, working with you, all Deltans, we will build a stronger Delta that we will be proud of and others will emulate; what we need is cooperation and peaceful environment.”

Continuing, he said: “From the Presidency to the House of Assembly, we will have to deliver all our candidates; I offer myself for debate because, it is not enough for All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate to come out and say he wants to be governor and relying on thugs or run to Lagos after every election.”

Governor Okowa, who laced his speech with Pidgin English, emphasised: “I am going into the election, together with all Deltans and we will win in every local government area of the state, Deltans are happy; Delta State is a peaceful state; let us take the message from house to house, talk to everybody, so that before the election, all Deltans will belong to the PDP, tell them about what we have done, what we are doing and what we will do.

“When we said we were going to create jobs, people thought we were joking but, through the Job Creation office, we have created over 20,000 jobs, we are organising business fare for beneficiaries of our entrepreneurial programmes, we have revamped technical colleges, all the courses in our polytechnics have been accredited, because of peace, our state has moved from number four t to number one in oil production; this is the only state in the federation that has awarded more than 350 road projects, we are constructing drainages to check flood and in the course of this year, we will start drainage projects in Effurun/Warri axis of which we have made budgetary provision for to the tune of N3 billion; we have constructed over 4, 738 classrooms; we have awarded contract for the renovation of the Teaching hospital; we are the first state in the country to start health insurance scheme of which we have captured the formal sector and already enrolling the informal sector,”

All those who spoke at the rally gave reasons why Deltans will re-elect Governor Okowa. They include Deputy Governor Kingsley Otuaro, former Governor James Ibori, former Deputy Governors Amos Utuama and Benjamin Elue, Senator Patrick Osakwe, Senator Stella Omu, Dr Rolland Orisejafor, Dr Steve Oru, Chairman of the Campaign Council, Prof. Sam Oyovbaire, Director General of the Campaign Council, Rt. Hon. Solomon Funkekeme, and Chairman of the party in the state, Barr. Kingsley Esiso.

Barr. Otuaro said: “The time has come again for us to do it the way we have been doing since 1999.”

“The re-election of Governor Okowa is our challenge; I have no question in my mind that you (Governor Okowa) have done very well, I can say that without equivocation, you have done exceedingly well; you are competent, capable, knowledgeable and have the capacity to govern the state for another four years; you (Governor Okowa) deserve another term, I am indeed very pleased with you, your achievements,” Chief Ibori.

Prof. Utuama said: “We are here to affirm our support for the candidates of the PDP” while and Chief Elue: “There has been a foundation of power rotation and good governance in Delta State, let us go to our different units, our wards to work for PDP, I can assure you that victory is ours.”

Senator Patrick Osakwe described the support for Governor Okowa as “a mass movement”.

Senator Omu stated that Governor Okowa “is a master of good governance, master of road construction who has been tested and will be re-elected for us to continue to enjoy peace.”

On his part, Dr Orisejafor said: “I am here to declare that in agreement with all Deltans, the governor has done very well, today, we are testifying that he has delivered on his promises and has done extremely well; several factors are behind him and he will be re-elected.”

Rt. Hon. Solomon had in a welcome address said: “We are here to celebrate God; our Governor has done well and we are here to appeal to Deltans to vote for all the candidates of the PDP.”

Prof. Oyovbaire stated: “There is no vacancy in Government House, Asaba; I have never seen a rally of this magnitude, thank God all Deltans are here; the man for whom we are gathered is a man of integrity, PDP will be back to Aso Rock.”

Chairman of the party in the state, Barr. Kingsley Esiso, called for support for all the candidates of the PDP, saying the party has solutions to the problems of the country.

The high point of the event attended by Nollywood stars, representatives of National Association of Nigerian Students and other interest groups was the presentation of flags to the candidates of the party for the Senatorial, House of Representatives and House of Assembly seats.

•Photo by Bripin Enarusai shows Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa (2nd left), his wife, Dame Edith (3rd left), Deputy Governor, Barr. Kingsley Otuaro (2nd right), his wife, Engr. Ebiere (on the extreme right), and the State PDP Chairman, Barr. Kingsley Esiso, during the official flag-off of the State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at Oghara, Ethiope West LGA.

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