Okowa advices Ugborodo community on the way forward

The governor of Delta state, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has urged the people of Ugborodo to pursue their divergent interests maturely, in a manner that will not negatively affect local and international investments in their area.

The governor gave the admonition during the inauguration of the Austin Oborogbeyi-led Ugborodo Community Development Committee, held at the Government House Annex, Warri.

Dr. Okowa who was represented at the occasion by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Ovie Festus Agas, emphasised that the inaugurated committee was not a brainchild of the state government, but a result of a long stretched community consultations and compromises, which saw to the fusion of representatives from various interests within Ugborodo community.

The governor noted that the committee would operate for only a year. He also rolled out the terms of reference by which it would function, among which is the task to review the community’s trust constitution and the nomination of registered trustees.

“I wish, therefore, to appeal to our people in Ugborodo community to at all times explore every available means of consultation, engagement and dialogue to settle their differences whenever they occur.
“Crisis is inevitable in any human community, but if it is left unchecked, it becomes inimical to orderly development of progress of society.

“There’s no doubt that all people of Ugborodo are interested in the socioeconomic well-being of the community.
“This, I am sure, is the common trend that runs through the mind of every well meaning son and daughter of Ugborodo community.
“We should therefore, as children of Ugborodo, work together in a calm and peaceful manner so that our disagreement will not scare investors away or lead to the relocation of existing ones from our state to other states, thereby creating problems to all of us.

“It’s important to note that this committee that we are about to inaugurate here today is a result of a meeting held on the 15th of January, 2015.
“In that meeting, we had members of the council of elders in attendance, when it was agreed that the expanded committee should appoint their executive, which they have done with the appointment of the under-listed members of Ugborodo community, with proven integrity,” the governor said.

Chairman of the committee, Austin Oborogbeyi, promised that his committee would not disappoint in its task and requested government to help the committee restrain elements that would come out to work against the smooth running of the body.