For the Publisher, Editorial Board and entire staff of Ika Weekly Newspapers, there is no better time to felicitate with the Executive Governor of Delta State; Senator (Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa, and all Deltans than this auspicious event of the States’ 29th anniversary.
The reason for this felicitation is predicated on the fact that ever since the time Delta State – an oil and agricultural producing State of Nigeria, situated in the region known as the South-South geo-political zone with its State’s capital city in Asaba, was carved out of the former Bendel State, Nigeria, not many believed it will grow to an enviable position among the federating states in Nigeria.
Certainly, while this calls for celebration is that as a State which was created following agitations for the creation of a separate distinct State by the peoples of the old Delta Province: the Urhobos, Itsekiri, Isoko, Ijaw (Ezon) and Ukwuani, by the then Military President, Gen Ibrahim Babangida (Rtd) and has “Asaba” a prominent town within the “Anioma” axis as capital, we have made appreciable progress in re-investment, in education, infrastructural development particularly in the coastal areas of the State, and employment generation.
Remarkably, as we celebrate, it will be important to congratulate the ex-military administrators that built the state from the scratch.
In the same token, as News organization that has covered and reported governance in the State, we must in a special way mention and commend Chief James Onanefe Ibori the Executive Governor of the State from May 29, 1999, to 2007 for his contribution towards the building of a sustainable Delta State.
As we also recognize Dr. Emmanuel Udughan, the Executive Governor of the state from 2007 to 2015, for his modest contributions to the State, we must without failing to appreciate the unequal contributions and purposeful leadership so provided by the current administration led by Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa.
Having said that, it will also be rewarding to remind the Governor of the need to redouble his effort to provide democracy dividend.
Specifically, in the areas of education, intramural development, creation of equal opportunities for all Deltans and employment generation.
We must use this occasion to remind the governor that with sound educational institutions and infrastructure, a State is as good as made, as the institutions will turn out all rounded manpower to continue with the development of the State, driven by well-thought ideas, policies projects and programmes.
Let your anniversary gift be the rededication of greater service to the people of the State.