Delta at 26: Okowa Calls for Support for Buhari, Nigerian Unity  

 By Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba

Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has called on Nigerians to continue to support President Muhammadu Buhari and pray for the unity of the country because “that is the generally accepted way to go for the progress and development of the nation.”

Okowa also thanked all stakeholders in the state and Nigeria at large for their peace efforts.

“We thank God for the return of the president to the country. Death is not a thing that one can wish any one, and the return of President Buhari deserves to be celebrated because Nigerians have come to realise that it is better for us to remain united as a people,” Okowa said.

Speaking at an interdenominational thanksgiving service at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in Asaba, the governor said: “Though the impact of the peace that has returned to the creeks may not have been felt in our economy because the state did not only suffer from the effect of consistent low price of oil for more than 38 months, we were not just affected by the price going down and the quantum produced but, there is hope that it will be better.”

Okowa further stated that “as a people, a state and a government, we have every reason to celebrate because if not for any other reason, from August last year when we marked our silver jubilee to this year, there is reasonable restoration of peace, especially in our creeks where there is no longer destruction of pipelines.

“We are grateful to the church for the prayers, we are thankful to the youths for sheathing their swords, we also thank our traditional rulers for their interventions, and to all those who worked for peace to return to our state, we say, thank you.

“This is a time for us to think. We should submit ourselves to the fact that everyone has a role to play, and we must be ready to offer leadership in one way or the other; we must continue to provide leadership in our homes and communities; each and every one of us is important in building a new Nigeria.”

Delivering a sermon at the occasion, Rev. Jonathan Ihwighwu called for support for Okowa’s administration, and urged parents to instill the right morals in their children for a better society to be achieved.