By Owen Akenzua, Asaba

Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori has assured that his administration is committed to the security of lives and property in the State, insisting that the state was peaceful despite few security challenges in some parts of the state.

Governor Oborevwori who stated that security of lives and property remained the primary purpose of Government, thanked Deltans for their support and called for more prayers to enable the administration resolve some of the seeming intractable challenges bedeviling the state.

The Governor disclosed this when he received on courtesy visit, the State Executive of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), led by the State Chairman, Bishop Kingsley Enakhireri at Government House, Asaba, on Wednesday.

Thanking the PFN for their support and prayers, Governor Oborevwori said that God has been faithful in answering all the prayers concerning the state and assured that he would continued to be Governor for all Deltans.

He said: “On the issue of security, we are doing our best. In section 14(2b) of the 1999 Constitution, it states that, ‘the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government’ and we are doing that. We want to assure Deltans that this is just a phase and it will come and go. Continue to pray for us while we will continue to serve the people.”

On the ongoing protests in the country, Governor Oborevwori thanked PFN and other religious and cultural leaders for their contributions in making the state peaceful despite the protests.

He flayed a section of the opposition for trying to take credit for the peaceful disposition of protesters in the state, adding that it was a collective effort of all stakeholders especially prayers of the church.

“I want to thank the PFN for the role it played at this trying times of a national protest. We can see that the state is peaceful. People were expecting violence like the way it was during ENDSARS.

“But our fathers of faith prayed and all of us also resolved that we do not need crisis in Delta State. We are all working together. Today is the 7th day of the protest and you can see the State is peaceful. People are going about their normal businesses.

“I was watching one of the TV stations when somebody said that they made the peaceful ambience in Delta State during this period of national protest possible. How? When people talk at times, they talk out of ignorance.

“Our fathers of faith prayed and I have been in this state since, I didn’t go out of the state, in order to monitor the protest and we are monitoring it.

“The Civil Society organisations and other groups understand and said this time, they are not going to protest. They know that if they go into it that people will hijack it. So, people should not come to take glory. We return the glory to God Almighty.

“Some of these people talking do not even stay in the state, they don’t know what is happening,” the governor added.

On the passing of the Executive Director Projects on the board of the State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, Olorogun Taleb Tebite, Governor Oborevwori described his death as unfortunate, noting that the State Government did its best to support him during the health challenge.

“On the passing of Hon. Taleb Tebite, we cannot question God. We did our best but God chose to take him at this time. May his soul continue to rest in peace,” he said.

Earlier, Bishop Enakhireri said they visited to pledge their unalloyed and unflinching support to the administration of Governor Oborevwori and thanked him for the wisdom in managing the affairs of the State, particularly in handling the ongoing national protests in the country.

The State PFN Chairman commended the State Government for its contributions towards the completion of the PFN Secretariat at Agbarho in Ughelli North Local Government Area of the state.

He, also, used the opportunity to invite the Governor for their oncoming Annual Prayer and Thanksgiving on August 22 and also condoled with the Governor on the passing of Hon. Taleb Tebite.

FROM IKHILI EBALU, BENIN CITY

The Edo State Government on Wednesday accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of alleged plan to orchestrate civil unrest in Edo State ahead of the September 21 governorship election.

Briefing newsmen in Benin, Edo State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare said the plans by the APC to orchestrate civil unrest and cause mayhem in the State under the guise of protests and rallies in order to advance their obnoxious political agenda have been exposed.

Nehikhare noted that APC is resorting to the devious plan because they have realized the folly of presenting an unlettered and incompetent candidate for the office of a governor.

Reacting to the allegation, the APC in a statement by its Director of Publicity, Edo APC campaign council, Orobosa Omo-Ojo said
Obaseki and Ighodalo’s incessant noise is a cover up for the grand economic corruption the two friends have committed against Edo people.

“It is also a panic measure by them to curry support in the face of impending disqualification of PDP and its candidate by the Independent National Electoral Commission, over the forging of voter’s card. ” Omo-Ojo said.

Nehikhare noted that the APC has failed in their desperate resort to lies and propaganda to hoodwink Edo people ahead of the September 21 governorship election.

The statement reads in part, “Our attention has been drawn to plans by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to orchestrate civil unrest and cause mayhem in the State under the guise of protests and rallies in order to advance their obnoxious political agenda.

“The APC is resorting to this devious plan because they have realized the folly of presenting an unlettered and incompetent candidate for the office of a governor.”

“Their candidate, Monday Okpebholo, has continued to embarrass the party and his handlers in private and public fora.

“Reeling from the pains of selling a bad and unmarketable candidate and having failed in their desperate resort to lies and propaganda to hoodwink Edo people ahead of the September 21 governorship election, the only path the APC in Edo State now sees to promote their campaigns is to cause chaos and crisis in the State.” Nehikhare said.

He added that the APC plans to incite civil unrest in the State and cause chaos under the guise of riots and protests in order to disrupt the peace and stability of the State, while diverting attention from their candidate’s weaknesses and buying time to avoid debates and meaningful engagement with the people.

Nehikhare however called on all security agencies in the state, including the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), the Department of State Services (DSS), the Brigade Commander, 4 Brigade, Benin, among others, to take notice of the planned heinous plan by the APC to orchestrate civil unrest and cause mayhem in the State.

“We assure members of the public to be rest assured that the government will spare no effort within the ambits of the law to forestall this planned attack on the State and its people.

“The Edo State Government is aware of their evil plans, and will not sit idly and watch them unleash mayhem on the people and cause chaos in the State.”Nehikhare said.

The Edo State Government spokesman who urged the APC to refrain from their divisive tactics and resort to violence, tasked it to instead bring their candidate out to speak to the people, even if it is in pidgin or his local Esan dialect, and as well debate with other candidates.

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