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| Hilary Ibegbulem |
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| Sir Peter Idion |
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| Fred Ofume |
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| Ika Landlords and Landladies |
"As a young boy, my parents desired to give me the best in life. They worked hard. In fact, in order that they might give me the best, they created a vacuum by exposing me to the care of strangers.
Not too long into the journey of my life, I had started smoking and was exposed to so many bad things at the early stage of my innocent life.
Though, my parents never knew anything. All these vices affected my life adversely. I stopped been a promising child. I became a source of sorrow to my parents. My father gave up on me while my mother would look at me and burst into tears. Neighbours made sure that their children kept a distance. I also lost all hope of ever making any success in life.
Thank God, my story changed when I stumbled on Hon. Sunny Ogwu, when he newly assumed office as SUBEB Chairman, Delta State, Nigeria. A man who knows how its hurts. He was skilled in mending the hopeless pieces of my yielded life. He gave me what no one had given me and I had a great peace.
He helped me, encouraged me and gave me the love that I had lacked. He advised me and asked me to go and acquire skill that can help me to be a man and also combat the challenges of life.
He encouraged me to apply for YAGEP Program and expedited on it just to make sure that my name is shortlisted. Through YAGEP, I learnt a skill that is not only feeding me and my immediate family but my relatives that abandoned me.
When my family members saw that I was cool headed and enhanced financially, they started coming close to me again not just for love but with their financial demands. They are holding me in high esteem in the family.
The Convener of Bridge Builders, a political pressure group within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ika South Local Government Chapter, Mr. Peter Idion has applauded the Delta State Government for taking a pro-active measure aimed at resuscitating the hitherto ailing Delta Line Transport Company through the partial privatization of the company.
Idion who was speaking during an enlarged meeting of the Bridge Builders whose membership cuts across all the political wards in the area, said that the decision of the state government to partner with God Is Good Motors, a reputable transport company, in repositioning Delta Line for enhanced productivity was quite germane, “considering the fact that the company has not done well despite government’s huge investment in it.”
According to him, government has no business running a transport company, adding that, Delta Line has, over the years, faced serious challenges resulting in outright decline of its service delivery due to poor management, poor work ethics and personal aggrandizement.
He disclosed that the state government had intermittently invested millions of naira to salvage the company, pointing out that a few years ago, 200 buses were procured for the company, “but unfortunately, most of the vehicles have either disappeared or are in state of disrepair."
Speaking further, Mr Idion explained that NLC can not manage Delta line because union is not experienced to run transportation company. "Take the instance of the buses donated by Chief Obasanjo and Jonathan regime. What happened to the buses till date? While some private transport companies are still on course. It's beyond mere saying I have N2 billion. Where is the evidence to show you have the money? Anybody who does not support what the government has done must be insane as it concerns delta line, he queried
The convener while congratulating the state government for reversing the increase on the payment of school fees by DELSU management, he said, " It shows that Gov Okowa is a listening Governor. Gov Okowa is a compassionate human being".
On the payment of retirement benefits to retirees in the state, Idion who is, also, a Senior Special Assistant to Delta State governor on Community Relations, said “going by the statistics released recently by the Chairman, State Bureau of Pensions, Mrs. Christiana Siakpere, the Okowa administration has done well as over N2.7 billion has so far been paid to 418 retirees in this 2017 fiscal year in the face of the present economic situation in the country.
He, therefore, urged retirees who were yet to get their retirement benefits to exercise patience with the government as they would certainly get their entitlements.
Also speaking during the meeting which was held at Mr. Idion’s residence in Agbor, the Chairman of the Bridge Builders, Hon. Chuks Emuebie said that Deltans were very comfortable with the faithful implementation of the SMART Agenda of the Okowa’s administration in the state, adding that more people from the opposition party in different parts of the state were decamping enmasse to the Peoples Democratic Party because of the way the PDP government is piloting the affairs of the state.
We read with dismay how Barr. Festus Ofume and his Young Democratic Party (YDP), Delta State chapter lied against our group, _Bridge Builders_ while attempting to shift attention from some allegations levelled against him by one Delta Igoruh in a publication with the above caption.
Ordinarily, we would have ignored his infantile ways of diverting issues that need public knowledge but for the attention of the public, particularly Deltans, we wish to put the record straight.
It is unfortunate that while leaders and loyal Ika South People’s Democratic Party (PDP) members are struggling to sustain the new love and unity in the peace brought by our amiable governor, Sen. (Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa, some people could still be working underneath to scuttle the peace in the party by resolving to sponsoring of lies just to achieve selfish political goals.
For record purpose, we want to state here that we are not Delta Igoruh that did the said publication neither are we part of _Delta Decides_ where the publication was posted. We wonder what could be the motive of such concocted lies aimed at misinforming the public especially Deltans.
We also wish to state clearly that the antics of sponsors of the lies reported have again failed woefully in his (Ofume’s) bid to resort to mischief-making, blackmail and feeding the public with lies just to frustrate the newly found love in the Ika South PDP family and in Delta general. We in Ika South PDP are focused and no amount of lies can derail us again.
The truth is that Barr. Ofume lacks respect and if we don't know his late father, Hon. Jumbo Ofume, people would have questioned his upbringing. It is so sad that he could be talking about a man that has spent so much money for the youth of Ika South. Barr. Ofume told us that he collected money even when he is not a delegate but he (Ofume) didn't tell us how much this man in question have been spending his personal money for the people. The man he tried to dent his image has empowered people of Ika South since 1999. His kindness is not in doubt all over the local government. How much is delegate money compared to what he has been spending for people? We must give respect to whom it is due. The truth is that people love him because of his character and personality unlike a young Barr. Ofume that is a houseboy to an ‘big’ man in Abuja. This man he tried to insult is a tested man that has been financing PDP since 1999.
We are again calling on leaders and members of our great party particularly in Ika South and Delta State in general to disregard those wicked lies and join hands with our party leaders in preaching the gospel of prosperity which is one of our principles so we can face other challenges ahead of the party.
Aigboje Godstime
Media Assistant
The Chairman of Bridge Builders, Hon Chuks Emuebie has disclosed that their group is out to mobilize the people of Ika south for the reelection of Delta State governor, Sen(Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa
Mr Emuebie stated this on Monday at the residence of the convener, Sir Peter Idion in Agbor during the group's weekly meeting.
While thanking the members for the successful hosting of the prayers session where prayers were offered for Gov Okowa with his executives, Hon Emuebie advised members to get ready for the town hall meetings and interactive session with the NUT, NULGE, NLC, Market women.
On his part, the Ika south local Govt Chairman, Hon Fred Ofume who is a leader in the group gave the vote of thanks. Hon Ofume said he is very proud of the group as he also told the group members that Bridge Builders was not set up for chairmanship or councilor Local government primaries elections, rather principally set up for Gov Okowa 2019.
Hon. Johnson Erijo Princess Judith Tamara Akiri. No doubt, Prince Johnson Erijo's appointment as the Delta State Chief of Staff was wide...
