- Â Assures something being done about herdsmen menace
Omon-Julius Onabu and Sylvester Idowu in Asaba
Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has expressed confidence that he will be re-elected governor in 2019, together with his current deputy, Mr. Kingsley Otuaro.
Okowa made that assertion at the first quarterly media interactive session in 2018 at the Government House Asaba yesterday.
He said every part of the state has been fairly covered in the distribution of infrastructures and other projects by his administration, including about a hundred completed road projects and other ongoing projects.
He said the outcome of the January 6, 2018 council polls amply demonstrated the predominance of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, saying that the people are solidly behind him in his re-election bid.
Okowa, who said a total of N720 million was used by DSIEC in the conduct of the council election, commended the competence and commitment of Otuaro, hence he will again be his running mate in 2019.
On Fulani herdsmen menace, the governor assured that necessary steps were being taken to tackle their excesses in the state.
He however, urged the federal government to expedite action towards establishment of specific policy direction to permanently address the challenge posed by nomadic herdsmen in the country, which he noted has made nonsense of the country’s aspiration to increase agricultural production.
There was anxiety over disclosure by Okowa that some herdsmen were forcing farmers in some communities in Ughelli to pay toll to herdsmen, who have occupied their farm areas, before they could access or enter their farms.
The governor made the startling revelation last week when the new Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone ‘5’, Mr. Rasheed Akintunde, paid him a courtesy visit at Government House Asaba.
On the lingering communal crisis between Aladja (Udu Local Government Area) and Ogbe-Ijoh in Warri South-West Local Government Area, Okowa revealed that the state government has decided to share the disputed land between the two feuding communities.
He commended the deputy governor, Otuaro, members of the different security and reconciliation committees, traditional rulers and youths for their cooperation to end the crisis, which had claimed several lives and wasted property worth billions of naira.
Responding to a question on the alleged takeover of land belonging to Umutu community in Ukwuani Local Government Area by the Edo State government, Okowa explained that the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice has been directed to liaise with Umutu community concerning the matter which is before the court.
Moreover, he assured that the state government was putting a lot of pressure on contractors handling the multiple storm drainage projects within Asaba metropolis as well as the renovation of Stephen Keshi stadium Asaba and upgrading of the Asaba International Airport.
Okowa expressed hope that work on the stadium and the airport would be completed in time for the Senior African Athletics Championship, which will be hosted in Asaba, where athletes from about 100 countries are expected to participate in August this year.
