– Blank NEWS Online (NIGERIA) – By Albert OGRAKA:
Delta State Governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has emerged the Chairman, South-South Governors’ Forum.
Dependable clues obtained by Blank NEWS Online revealed that Governor Okowa was selected after elaborate consultations to take over from the outgoing Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, who concluded his two-term in office on Friday, February 14.
A statement by Dickson’s Special Adviser on Public Affairs, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, congratulated Okowa and called on the governors to extend the same cooperation the outgoing governor enjoyed to Okowa.
He noted that the forum could only collectively proffer solutions to the myriad of challenges confronting the South-South region if the governors worked as a team.
Earlier, Delta Governor, Sen. (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa, congratulated Bayelsa Governor, Senator Douye Diri and his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, on their successful inauguration in office on Friday.
Diri, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was announced winner of the Nov. 16, 2019 governorship election in the state, following Thursday’s Supreme Court disqualification of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates in the election over certificates forgery.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Olisa Ifeajika, in Asaba, on Friday, Okowa described the emergence of Diri as “an act of God” and called on protesting people of Bayelsa to sheathe their sword and give peace a chance.
He stated that he understood the pains of the people, because the apex court’s ruling shattered their choices but urged them to leave everything in the hand of God, assuring that Senator Douye Diri will not disappoint Bayelsans.
“It is heart-warming to see you emerge as Governor of Bayelsa against all odds and I am grateful to the Supreme Court and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for doing the right things as required by the laws of our land.
“We have also been inundated with news of violent protests trailing your emergence as Governor, and
I appeal to the good people of Bayelsa to take the ruling as an ‘act of God’ and give peace a chance, knowing sincerely that you will not disappoint them,” he said.
The governor urged Diri to immediately commence the process of reconciliation and bridge-building within and outside the PDP, saying that he should be “governor for all Bayelsans’’.
He advised the governor to adopt peace and unity as prime components of his mantra, insisting that Bayelsa deserved good leadership “which I am certain you will provide’’.
“On behalf of the government and people of Delta, I congratulate you my brother Governor, Senator Douye Diri and your deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, on your successful assumption of office as Governor and Deputy Governor of Bayelsa respectively.”
“It is my prayer that God will grant you wisdom, knowledge and the needed resources to attend to your campaign promises to Bayelsans,” he added.
