Governor Ifeanyi Okowa (right) in a warm handshake with Odio-Ologbo of Oleh, His Royal Majesty, Anthony William Onovughe Ovrawah (JP).

By OVEDHE JERRY

The Deputy Governor of Delta State, Barr Kingsley Otuaro has advised traditional rulers across the State to build bridges of peace and unity in their various communities.

Barr Otuaro gave this advised recently in Oleh during the 80th birthday and 23th coronation anniversary of the Odio-Ologbo of Oleh, His Royal Majesty, Anthony William Onovughe Ovrawah (JP), Omogha 1, stating that, the traditional rulers are custodian of culture and tradition of the land.

“We must partner with our traditional rulers to build a Delta State of our dreams. The traditional institution is very dear to us in our state and we must do all our best to preserve the custom and norms of our land. And also, we must sustain peace and exhibit maturity in handling of issues and be agent of development in our various communities.” The Deputy Governor added.

He however commended the traditional rulers for their impute towards the sustenance of peace in their various communities towards the actualization of the Governor’s Okowa SMART AGENDA for the State and prosperity for all Deltans.

On his part, the Chairman of the occasion, Gen. (Chief) Alexander Ogbemudia, Chief of Defence Staff (rtd) lauded his Majesty’s immense contribution towards the sustenance of peace in Oleh and Isoko Nation, preservation of the culture and tradition of the Oleh people as well as his harmonious relationship with neighboring communities.

In his congratulatory message, Reps Minority leader and member representing Isoko Federal Constituency in the Federal House of Representatives, Hon Leo Ogor, said that, the last 23 years of His Royal Majesty, Omogha 1, on the throne, has demonstrated exemplary leadership by living above board, while remaining as the rallying point and inspiration for the people of Oleh in particular and Isoko in general.

“As a bastion of culture and tradition of the Oleh people, the Odio-Ologbo has played significant roles in the promotion of harmony among the Oleh kingdom, the Isoko nation and Deltans in general. Your Majesty has equally contributed immensely to the socio-cultural cooperation, communal living and peaceful co-existence among the Isoko people and other ethnic groups in Delta State.” Hon Ogor, added.

The Catholic Bishop of Warri Diocese, Rev Father John Oke-Oghene Afaregha harps on the need for all to be united as Christians just as he commended all the royal majesties present for coming to rejoice with the Odio-Ologbo of Oleh on this auspicious occasion.

In a brief exultation, the parish priest of St. John De Baptist Catholic Church, Oleh, described his majesty as a man of great destiny and commended him for his immense contribution towards the growth of Christianity in Isoko land.

Meanwhile, the celebrant in his speech thank God for preserving his life till now and prayed God to unite all the various ethnic groups and traditional rulers in the state together in peace and in one voice, saying “where there is peace, there is development. So we all should live in unity”.

He also prays God to grant all those who came from both far and near to felicitate with him journey mercies to their various destinations, just as he pray God to grant him and all more fruitful years ahead.

Climax of the occasion was the cutting of the birthday/ coronation cake by Royal Majesty accompanied by other traditional rulers, with the State Deputy governor and the Chairman of the occasion, Gen. (Chief) Alexander Ogbemudia, Chief of Defence Staff, (rtd).