BY DAVID OBES

Delta State Deputy Governor, Barr. Kingsley Otuaro, has disclosed that the Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa’s led administration will continue to partner with royal fathers in the state in order to provide purposeful leadership and deliver its prosperity to all Deltans through the SMART agenda.

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State

Barr. Otuaro who made the disclosure yesterday when he led some top government functionaries to pay homage to His Royal  Majetsy, Asagba Prof. Chike Edozien, the Asagba of Asaba on his 90th birthday celebration, at his palace, Asaba, noted that the SMART agenda would be a compass for the state government in the provision of basic amenities and empowerment of all Deltans.

According to him; “I want to thank you for your prayers, before, during and after the elections, we want to thank you that as a government we appreciate your role as our royal father, as custodian of the land, people and culture of Asaba. We are together in partnership to ensuring that we deliver on all Deltans the prosperity we have promised them before God almighty.”

Barr. Otuaro  lauded the monarch for his prayers for the state government before, during and after the 2015 general elections, saying, the present administration is poised and committed to providing purposeful leadership that Deltans wished for and called on stakeholders to make useful input that would make Delta the envoy of other states.

“I want to thank God almighty on this unique occasion and to felicitate with you on your 90th birthday and 24th cheerful years on this royal throne. We have come as your sons to felicitate with you. It is our prayer that your royal majesty will live long on this throne and continually usher in the peace and tranquillity we have over time observed in this part of the state”.

He asserted that the 24 years reign of the Asagba of Asaba, on the throne has been identified as a period characterised with unprecedented development and peace due to his foresight and  transparency, adding  that 90 years was a milestone and urge  him to remain an ambassador of peace, custodian of the Asaba tradition and a father to all.

The Asaba of Asaba, Obi Chike Edozien through his prayers to the deputy governor said he was impressed by the visit and prayed God to grant the present administration the wisdom to bring about the needed change to the state.

The occasion featured payment of homepage to the Asagba of Asaba by the five communities in Asaba as well as Ibo, Hausa, communities. Others include the socio-cultural organisations, corporate organisations and bank and academic institutions in Asaba.