NO DTS 2263: PDP REASSURES OF GOV OKOWA’S COMMITMENT TO YOUTHS
NO DTS 2264: OML 34 STAKEHOLDERS KICK AGAINST EXTENSION OF MOU WITH NPDC
NO DTS 2265: ENDSARS PROTESTS: OWA MONARCH SUES FOR PEACE
Editor: Churchill Oyowe
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NO DTS 2263: ASABA, NIGERIA, SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2020
PDP REASSURES OF GOV OKOWA’S COMMITMENT TO YOUTHS
The People’s Democratic Party has reassured of the readiness of the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa administration to do more for the youths in Delta state.
The party in a statement by the Delta State Chapter Publicity Secretary, Dr Ifeanyi Osuoza, said that the state had commenced a credible process of integrating youths in governance, explaining that it was a deliberate step at righting the wrong done to the youths.
According to PDP, the process would ensure that the older generation of leaders handover governance and leadership to what it described as “well-groomed and experienced youth that would take the state to higher levels in the coming years.”
While saying that the step by the state governor was cheery, the party expressed optimism that the youths in the state would be pleased with it.
The party called on youths in the state to avail themselves of the gains of the jobs and wealth creation programmes by making themselves available for vocational training and skills acquisitions.
It argued that such devotion from the youth would make it possible for them to become gainfully employed through the Youth Agriculture Empowerment Programme (YAGEP) and the Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP).
The PDP stated that the Bureau for Job and Wealth Creation was available and willing to respond to any enquiries on how to get placed in any programme of their choice.
The party applauded youths in Delta State, describing them as diligent, hard-working, and responsible, adding that It was to their credit that Delta youths never engaged in mindless destruction of property, saying that the PDP was proud of them.
“Given the latest development of the youth protest, he (Governor Okowa) is ready to do more, he told the youths during the Town Hall meeting.
“For us in the PDP, this is very cheering news and we believe that our youths should also be pleased with it.
“It is against this background that we are reiterating the call of Governor Okowa on the youths to avail themselves of the gains of the jobs and wealth creation programmes by making themselves available for vocational training and skills acquisitions that will finally make it possible for them to become gainfully employed through the YAGEP and STEP programmes.
“The Bureau for Job and Wealth Creation is available and willing to respond to any enquiries as to how to get placed in any programme of your choice.
“We applaud our youths in Delta State; diligent, hard-working, and responsible youths. It is to the credit of Delta Youths that they never engaged in mindless destruction of properties. We in PDP are proud of our youths in Delta State,” the statement said.
The PDP commended Governor Okowa for holding town hall meetings with the youths of the state, noting that it attested to the openness of heart of the governor and his soft spot for the youths.
The party recalled that the youths in Delta joined their colleagues across the country to hold the #ENDSARS protests, through which they called attention to their plights in the hands of the disbanded police Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) to the governing authorities at all levels.
According to the party, the protests were peaceful before mischief-makers introduced miscreants to infiltrate, hijack and unleash violence that led to widespread destruction, arson, looting, and the Lekki shooting of unarmed youths by men believed to be soldiers.
It noted that Governor Okowa had shown a disposition that pointed to the fact that the youths by their protests and demands had issues that should be addressed by those in authority.
The party stated that the governor was foremost in the setting up of panel of inquiry to look into allegations of misdeeds against aggrieved members of the public by the police.
“The Governor has not rested on his oars since then. He recently embarked on a town hall meeting with the youths of the State. Of course, it is acknowledged that Town Hall meetings are proper avenues for officials to hear the people’s views on issues that affect the public. Someone once said that Town Hall meetings “are a way for Local and National politicians to meet with their constituents either to hear from them on topics of interest or to discuss specific upcoming legislation or regulation.
“So far, the interactions between the Governor and the youths at the two-day town hall meetings have been fruitful. Governor Okowa has heard from the youths and they have heard him respond to issues raised by them.
“He also called attention to the many programmes of the State Government put in place to address issues of unemployment, including policies of Government for job creation and wealth creation, skill acquisition, starter packs, and business loans financing windows. It is no gainsaying that the Okowa-led PDP administration is youth-friendly as can be seen in the many placements of youths both in the cabinet and other Departments and Agencies of Government,” the party further stated.
NO DTS 2264: ASABA, NIGERIA, SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2020
OML 34 STAKEHOLDERS KICK AGAINST EXTENSION OF MOU WITH NPDC
By Ambrose Ologide
Stakeholders in communities under OML 34 have kicked against an alleged plan of extension of memoranda of understanding (MoU) with Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC).
A spoke person of the stakeholders, Mr Lucky Ejenavwo in his address at a press conference in Otu – Jeremi, headquarters of Ughelli South Local Government Area at the weekend, alleged that a particular chief (names withheld) had lobbied president generals and secretary generals of communities under OML 34 to extend the MoU between them and NPDC for another two years.
While stressing that there had never been an extension of MoU between the affected communities and NPDC right from inception, Mr Lucky Ejenavwo appealed to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, through the Delta State Committee on Peace Building and Conflict Resolution, to prevail on NPDC not to extend the period of the MoU
He admonished that an extension of the period of MoU was not in the overall interest of the communities under OML 34 and therefore could trigger avoidable crisis.
“What was done in the past, was that, after the lifespan of an MoU, NPDC and the communities under OML 34 would meet and negotiate a new MoU,” he stressed.
He stated that stakeholders had vowed to resist an extension of period of the MoU, adding: “That is why we are appealing to our peace loving and listening governor to prevail on NPDC not to extend the period of the MoU.”
NO DTS 2265: ASABA, NIGERIA, SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2020
ENDSARS PROTESTS: OWA MONARCH SUES FOR PEACE
By Christian Ogoh
The Obi of Owa in Ika North East Local Government Area, HRM (Dr) Emmanuel Efeizomor ll, has called on youths in Delta State to be agents of peace and development.
The appeal was contained in a communique signed by the obi and made available to newsmen after a stakeholders meeting held at his palace in Owa Oyibu.
According to the communique, the palace appreciated the peaceful manner in which the ENDSARS protests were conducted by some youths before it was hijacked by hoodlums.
The Owa monarch, who is also the Chairman of Delta State Traditional Rulers Council, charged youths to give the federal government time to reflect on the issues they raised with a view to proffering solutions to them.
While condemning the senseless destruction perpetrated by hoodlums across the country, Obi said, “I want to commiserate with the families that lost their loved ones during the protest and also sympathize with the Government and Nigerians who either lost their properties or suffered inconveniences during the period.”
In his remarks, the Chairman of Ika North East Local Government Council, Hon. Victor Ebonka, commended the Delta State Government, led by Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, for constituting a judicial panel of enquiry to look into the plights of victims of police brutality and other human right violations.
Hon. Eborka urged Deltans to continue to have confidence in Governor Okowa’s aptness to remedy the situation through the said panel and other matters in the state.