Okowa Extends Hand of Fellowship to Other Parties

• As new Delta IPAC Chairman pledges to forge unity

By Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba

Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has expressed desire to work in harmony with members of other political parties in the state in the interest of peace, good governance and development of the state.

He noted that he is a strong advocate of viable opposition as a veritable instrument for enriching the democratic process and thereby putting the government on its toes at all times towards the desired service delivery to the people.

Speaking when the newly elected officers of the state chapter of the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) paid him a courtesy at the Government House in Asaba at the weekend, Okowa said his doors are always opened to leaders of the other political parties as this provides apple opportunity for cross-fertilization of ideas.

The governor, who spoke through his Special Adviser on Political Matters, Chief Festus Ochonogor, congratulated the new Chairman of IPAC, Chief Fred Obi, and expressed delight that the IPAC, in conjunction with Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was able to conduct a free and fair election devoid of any form of rancour.

 

Okowa charged the new executive members to work harmoniously towards attaining the target of “making the system better for all of us and to improve governance of the state.”

 

He said his approval of a grant of N30 million in December 2016 further demonstrated his belief in opening up the democratic space and collaboration with members of other parties, urging them to make peace their watchword.

 

“The imperative of peace and good governance cannot be over-emphasised,” Okowa said, adding: “If we are stable politically, it will help everybody. However, criticism that is not constructive might make the government distracted and lose focus.”

 

Responding, Obi assured the governor of the readiness of his council to work in harmony with the government and eschew all forms of confrontation.

 

He also pleaded to unite the body to include women in the committees that would be set up to oversee various aspects of IPAC’s activities since no women was elected into the new executive body.

 

 

 

Elections into the difference positions were held in Asaba last Thursday with Chief Fred Obi of the Progressive People’s Alliance (PPA) clinching the chairmanship position with a total of 18 votes.

 

Obi beat two other contestants, Val Chichi of United Democratic Party (UDP) and Julius Bobi of the Democratic People’s Party (DPP), to second and third positions with 15 and 4 votes respectively.

 

The event took place at the conference hall of the INEC in Asaba.

 

Declaring the results of the election, National Chairman of Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN), Hon. Eyiowavawi Razak, who chaired the electoral committee, charged the new executive members to work harmoniously in moving the body forward by carrying every member along.

 

The position of Deputy Chairman went to Peters Emuakpoje of the Independent Democrats (ID) with 20 votes while Mrs. Oluremi Mohamed of the Peoples Democratic Congress (PDC) scored 18 votes.

 

Dr. Clarke Anthony of Green Party of Nigeria (GPN) won the position of the Secretary with 19 votes, beating Lawson Ewubare of the National Conscience Party (NCP) who scored 17 votes while two votes were declared void.

 

Deputy Secretary position was won by   Uche Peter with 18 votes while his contender, Nicholas Oyawiri of Young Progressive Party (YPP) scored 17 votes.  Emeka Umerah of Action Alliance (AA) stepped down for Mr. Festus Ofume of Young Democratic Party (YDP) for the position of treasurer.

 

The position of the Financial Secretary was won by Olie Felix, National Unity Party (NUP) with 18 votes while Sylvester Umudjane of Better Nigeria Progressive Party (BNPP) scored 17 votes. The position of  Publicity Secretary won by Hon. Michael Nwanze of Democratic People’s Congress scored 17 votes while Prince Jude Eze of KOWA got 16 votes

 

The new Chairman of IPAC, Obi, soon after he was declared winner, assured the members of IPAC of one united front, and promised to work with all to move the association to an enviable height.

Earlier, Executive Secretary of INEC, Delta State, Mrs. Rose Oriaran-Anthony, represented by Head of Administration and Procurement, Sir Felix Enabor, commended the immediate past executive body, saying history was going to be made in electing the officers to pilot the council affairs for the next phase.