Innocent Ojefia Blog

Am going to dispense with political correctness. Delta lines should long have been sold. It was a correct decision to sell it. Delta line is a big drain pipe. It's a good Public Relation if you can fund it but if you can't, Delta line is a dead asset. So long as it was managed by civil servants and as political patronage by politicians, Deltans are better off without it in the present form. The sell price might be an issue but having not seen the valuation report, it's hard  to say much. Then the issue of due process in terms of tendering process, was it a competitive bid or was it single sourced? Transperancy is overriding in view of emotional and political ramifications of Delta lines. Government should provide more details. Governor Uduaghan experimented a PPP arrangement with Agofure motors. It worked. Returns/revenue came to coffers of government by Agofure motors wing of Delta Lines, meanwhile Government run Delta Lines never returned a dime. Its vehicles w...

The support system in sports at its core reflects the values and consciousness of our society but most people are not mindful of that. Sports is a form of ethnicity or tribalism, a vicarious way to engage in a form of group identity and belonging. Sports is deeply tribal in the sense we root for our teams (or countries of origin) during the Olympics, international contests and tournaments like the World Cup. On the local level, we usually support the neighborhood teams, area college and professional teams especially if they are doing well. In the world, sports enthusiasm  is akin to ethnicity or tribalism. "After all, we are social animals. We depend on the tribe for our safety and well-being. When the lion attacks, as a group we've got a shot. Alone, we're lion chow. When our tribe is doing well (economically, militarily, public health , whatever...), our chances go up. When it's doing poorly, our chances go down. So, it feels good to belong to a winning ethnic g...

PORT HARCOURT — SOUTH South and South East governors have lamented neglect of the regions in the Nigerian federation. Speaking last night ahead of a meeting of governors of the region at Government House, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, the host governor, Mr Nyesom Wike who was flanked by the others in his welcome address, said it was unfortunate that the regions had been marginalised politically and economically in the country. He said seaports, federal roads and several federal infrastructure had remained seemingly abandoned, adding that the forum was to promote the common interest of the regions for development. In attendance were Chairman of the South-South and South-East Governors Forum and Akwa Ibom Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, Governor Nyesom Wike, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State, Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State and Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State. Others in attendance include acting Governor of Bayelsa State, Rear Admi...

Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa today led Deltans to glorify God at an Inter-denominational thanksgiving service to mark the 26th anniversary of the creation of Delta State at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Unity Model Parish, Delta Province 3, Headquarters, Asaba. Some Historical Excursion October 1, 1960. Nigerians cheered as the country obtained its independence from the United Kingdom. The celebrations marked the beginning of a journey, which started on a promising note.  But after over fifty years, it is right to say that the reverse is the case. Today, we still run a mono economy dependent solely on the export of oil and gas. Even as an oil producing Country we are still dependent on imported refined petroleum products.  Our infrastructures have almost all collapsed as most federal roads, which are major inter-State high-ways are in deplorable condition and the entire country. We continue to remain in darkness.  The manufacturing sect...

The Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has said the people of Delta State have a lot of reasons to celebrates 26 years of its creation. According to the Governor, "as a people, as a state and as a government, we have every reason to celebrate because, if not for any other reason, from August last year when we marked our silver jubilee to this year, there is reasonable restoration of peace, especially in our creeks where there is no longer destruction of pipelines." Governor Okowa who spoke at an interdenominational thanksgiving service at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Delta Province 3 Headquarters, Asaba stated, "though the impact of the peace that has returned to the creeks may not have been felt in our economy, because, the State did not only suffer from the effect of consistent low price of oil for more than 38 months, the longest fall in the history of the country; we were not just affected by the price going down but also by the quantum p...

Academic activities in schools across Delta State begin on Monday September 11, 2017. Accordingly, the Stat e Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education has by the announcement advised parents and guardians to ensure that pupils and students return to school on the said date. A statement by the Director of Information announced for the information of the General Public, particularly Deltans that the State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, has fixed Sunday day day September 10, 2017, as the resumption date for pupils and students in public and private Primary and Secondary schools in the State for the 2017/2018 Academic Section. It is stressed that students in boarding schools must return to school on Sunday September 10, 2017 as normal class activities will commence the next day. Chief Inspectors of Education, Head Teachers and Principals of public and private schools are enjoined to take note of the resumption date and to ensure that academic activities commence ...

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday met with the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo and state governors at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The meeting, which took place in the Council Chamber, started immediately after the President observed his jumaat prayer in a mosque beside his office. Some of the Muslim governors also joined the President for the prayer.  During the meeting, which included governors from all the major political parties, the President commended Osinbajo for running the country with intellect in his absence. He said: “I have just addressed members of APC and PDP senior officials that came to welcome me back. I thank you very much for the national approach in your leadership, those who are leader at political level and those who are chief executives in their respective states. “I had so much time to watch television, especially NTA 24. I heard so much information about the states. I am very pleased with the states, you are all doing your best and yo...

President Muhammadu Buhari, Friday, met with the executives of the All Progressives Congress, APC, party and the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Among those who attended the meeting were PDP members  whose delegation was led by its national caretaker committee chairman, Ahmed Makarfi. The APC’s delegation was led by its national chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun. Makarfi, at the meeting told Buhari that PDP “will give you a good run for your money and constantly keepin g you on your toes as we all strive to make this country better.” Makarfi gave the statement when he assured the President that PDP will play its role of opposition decently and responsively. President Buhari, in the meeting, had told the APC and PDP executives that the meeting was not a political gathering but signified unity of Nigeria. He said opposition does not mean hostility or antagonism because democracy which Nigeria practices recognises a...

Only a society that takes to self-destruct plunges into lies and propaganda over just about everything, such that it never really considers for a second an adventure that seeks to obliterate the toils of her founding fathers in a bid to score needless points to earn the next available dishonest gratification, even at the expense of the future. The desperation of APC Delta State is not only leaving a sour taste in the mouth, but is dealing our collective heritage of good brotherliness an embarrassing blow, which points that the biblical prodigal character may have found its way to our society, challenging every sane disposition of unity we ever prided in. At a time, unity and strength of character should serve as our guiding principle, the unpatriotic act of shooting ourselves in the thigh has become our greatest undoing, especially now that we have tended to grow a voracious appetite for power beyond acceptable standards of free choice and good conscience. The avoidable skir...

  AS consolidation on the gains of the last Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Non-Elective Congress in Abuja continues, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta) Ayo Fayose (Ekiti) Nyesom Wike (Rivers) and Secretary, PDP Caretaker Committee, Senator Ben Obi converged on Asaba enroute Anambra for the PDP governorship primaries. Speaking after the brief meeting at the Asaba international Airport, Chairman PDP Governors Forum, Mr. Ayo Fayose assured members of the party of fairness, transparency and Justice in party affairs. He said that the leadership of the party is re-strategizing to ensure success in future elections, assuring that the unity and reconciliation of party members would bring political gains in 2019. “This is a new beginning for our party, it is part of the effort of our party to ensure due process and that everybody gets justice, with the calibre of men in this our National Committee you can be rest assured of transparency, justice and fairness.” He said. Governor Fayos...

The Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa today received the National Committee for the Anambra PDP Governorship Primaries, at Asaba Airport, enroute Awka for the PDP Governorship Primary in Anambra State. The team used the opportunity to meet and brainstorm on the continued commitment to consolidated on the gains from the PDP non-elective convention and repositioning of the party towards 2019. The team included the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, Governor of Ekiti State and Chairman, PDP Governor's Forum, Ayodele Fayose, National Secretary PDP, Senator Ben Obi and the Former Deputy Speaker, House  of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Austine Okpara.

My dear citizens, I am very grateful to God and to all Nigerians for their prayers. I am pleased to be back on home soil among my brothers and sisters. 2. In the course of my stay in the United Kingdom, I have been kept in daily touch with events at home. Nigerians are robust and lively in discussing their affairs, but I was d to notice that some of the comments, especially in the social media have crossed our national red lines by daring to question our collective existence as a nation. This is a step too far. 3. In 2003 after I joined partisan politics, the late Chief Emeka Ojukwu came and stayed as my guest in my hometown Daura. Over two days we discussed in great depth till late into the night and analyzed the problems of Nigeria. We both came to the conclusion that the country must remain one and united. 4. Nigeria's unity is settled and not negotiable. We shall not allow irresponsible elements to start trouble and when things get bad they run away and sad...