Date Published: 08/29/10

DESOPADEC: I won't fall for any intimidation -Uduaghan

PRESS RELEASE

Delta State Governor Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan has vowed not to succumb to any form of intimidation in his determination to reposition DESOPADEC to enable due process reign in the organization.

The Governor who was speaking at a Thanksgiving Service by the State to mark the 19th Anniversary of the creation of the State at the weekend in Ekpan, said no amount of pressure would stop the State Government from laying a solid framework for DESOPADEC to operate properly.

Dr Uduaghan said a group of people have been threatening fire and brimstone and warned that DESOPADEC is owned by the State Government and no group or individual has power to control it other than the State Government.

He said an organization should have guidelines for operation and should have promotion and retirement procedures, explaining that the committee inaugurated recently would set up a new framework that would be beneficial to workers and the stkeholders.

His words “we are determined to set up a good frame work on which DESOPADEC could stand on and operate and nobody can stop us because we are determined”.

Calling on those who have issues to iron out with the State Government on DESOPADEC to come forward and dialogue adding that he was ready to discuss with any group.

He enjoined workers in the organization to cooperate with the committee set up to restructure the body because the committee is made up of Permanent Secretaries who are there to lay foundation for an enduring service career.

The Governor who used the occasion to express appreciation to the Federal Government over the Local Content Bill, said when operational the Bill would add value to the economic wellbeing of Deltans.

Dr Uduaghan promised to set up a committee that would study the technical aspect of the Bill and advise the State on how to make it beneficial to all Deltans.

He commended the National Assembly and President Goodluck Jonathan for the bold step taken over the Local Content Bill, promising to ensure that the State would fully key into the new law.

The Governor who expressed concern over the continued strike by Medical Doctors in the State regretted that the strike has already taken its toll on patients.

Dr Uduaghan therefore appealed to Traditional Rulers and the clergy to intervene and make doctors see the urgent need to call off the strike and return to the negotiating table.

He said there was no State in the Federation that has started paying the new medical salary structure and urged the doctors to call off the strike and continue with negotiations.

Continuing, the Governor said “the doctors’ strike is affecting the health care delivery of the State Government and I want to appeal to our Royal Fathers and men of God to help us talk to the doctors to call off the strike”.

The Governor gave assurance that as a medical doctor he would not toy with the welfare of his colleagues.

SUNNY MUKOLO

(PRO)

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PRESS RELEASE

Delta State Government has awarded contracts running into several billions of naira for the construction and rehabilitation of roads as well as for the control of erosion across the state.

The State Governor Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan who announced this,at the weekend, during a thanksgiving service to mark the 19th anniversary of the creation of the state at Christ Missionary Crusaders Church, Ekpan said immediately the rains were over, contractors would swing into action.

Dr Uduaghan said the roads to be constructed have been carefully selected and spread across the state so that there would be even development.

He disclosed that special attention has been paid to the control of erosion in Asaba, Warri, Agbor, Effurun, Ozoro among others and gave assurance that within the next few months Deltans would see the difference.

Explaining further, the Governor said “we are already working on the roads and we are dealing with erosion. The rains are disturbing and I know that some persons have drawn my attention to some of the roads, but I assure you that all will be over soon”.

Dr Uduaghan who promised to continue to provide democratic dividends to the people enjoined stakeholders in the Education and Health sectors not to sabotage the efforts of the State Government through the collection of illegal fees and levies.

He regretted the unwholesome attitude of some school heads and health workers who collect illegal fees from students and pregnant women respectively even after the State Government has abolished such fees.

The Governor specifically mentioned WAEC and NECO fees as well as some fees paid in the hospitals and warned that the monitoring team moving across the state would deal ruthlessly with anyone caught sabotaging the good intentions of the State Government.

His words “I want to call on those still collecting fees, levies and hospital bills from students, pregnant women and nursing mothers to stop. We are not going to tolerate them anymore”.

Dr Uduaghan called on Deltans to cooperate with his administration so that the peace and security won a few years back could be sustained.

Explaining that when the State was created, security and peace challenges featured prominently, he thanked God for the peace the state was enjoying and called on all Deltans to be more united than ever before so that the State could move to the next level.

In a sermon titled “the blessing of God or the blessings of God” the president of CAN and founder Word of Life Bible Church Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor urged Christians to pray for the blessing of God which he described as intangible and not the blessings of God which he said feature the tangible.

Pastor Oritsejafor said the blessing of God which carries on its shoulder the intangible makes one rich without sorrow while on the other hand the blessings of God which feature the tangible, makes people rich but has the consequence of sorrow.

Calling on Deltans to seek the blessing of God, he urged them to live well explaining that it was only their life style that could attract devine blessing to them.

The President of CAN used the occasion to enjoin Deltans to eschew violence, suspicion and live together peacefully.

The thanksgiving service featured prayer sessions for peace and security, economic and infrastructure development as well as for the good health of all Deltans.

Two former Military Administrators Brig. Gen Bassey Asuquo rtd and Capt. Walter Feghabo rtd as well as the wife of the Governor Sheila Rolli Uduaghan, traditional rulers, principal members and members of the State House of Assembly and top Government functionaries attended the Church service.

SUNNY MUKOLO

(PRO)