By Festus Ahon

ASABA—Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State and the Speaker of the state’s House of Assembly, Mr. Sheriff Oborevwori, yesterday, said the people of the state have lots of reasons to celebrate.

Speaking at an interdenominational thanksgiving service at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Delta Province 3 Headquarters, Asaba, Governor Okowa said: “As a people, as a state and as a government, we have every reason to celebrate because from August last year, when we marked our silver jubilee, to this year, there is a reasonable restoration of peace, especially in our creeks, where there is no more destruction of pipelines.

“Though the impact of the peace that had returned to the creeks may not have been felt in our economy because the state suffers the effect of a consistently low price of oil for more than 38 months and the quantum produced, there is hope that it will be better. “We are grateful to the church for the prayers, we are thankful to the youths for sheathing their swords, we thank our traditional rulers for their interventions and to all those who worked for peace to return to our state, we say thank you.”

The Speaker
Also, the Speaker, Mr. Oborevwori, congratulated the people of the state, saying the state had made tremendous progress at 26. Oborevwori, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Dennis Otu, implored Deltans to continue to support the administration of Governor Okowa in his effort to make the state better for all.

He said: “Our dear Delta State has made tremendous progress in the last 26 years of its creation. Development has spread to all parts of the state and this has reduced the cry of marginalisation by communities in the state.

“The strength of Delta State today at 26 years is our unity and so I am using this occasion of our anniversary to implore Deltans to continue to live in peace with one another. “We cannot afford to fail our founding fathers. We should maintain the existing ethnic harmony in the state as this is the only way to attract more investors to the state.”

Vanguardngr