The Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) candidate in the March 9, 2019 governorship elections, Dr. Oghenejodiakpo Obire, has congratulated Senator Ifeanyi Okowa on his electoral victory, saying that building a stronger Delta State overrides personal or political affiliations.

Dr Obire, who was in Government House, Asaba, on Thursday to congratulate Governor Okowa for his successful re-election at the polls, stated: “After elections, it is governance and peace is essential for development to take place.”

He further said: “I came here to congratulate the governor personally because, the election was a tedious process and it is only good that we congratulate him for emerging victorious; if you contest in an election, you either win or you lose, but, as it concerns the governorship elections, we are all winners. We are ready to partner with the Governor in whichever way he believes we should assist him, I as an individual will gladly assist him and I urge other gubernatorial candidates of other political parties to come out and congratulate Governor Okowa for us to move on as a state because, no individual interest or political affiliation should be bigger than our collective interests as Deltans.”

Governor Okowa, in his response, said: “I want to thank Dr. Obire for this courtesy call; we are all Deltans and as brothers, I am ready to partner with all Deltans as much as possible for us to build a stronger Delta State.

“It is important that we run a state that will be in the best interest of our people that is why we consult our people, we engage in town hall meetings because, the overriding objective of governance, is meeting with the yearnings and aspirations of our people. This courtesy call by Dr. Obire is something that I cherish; we have gone through the elections, the stage of contest is over and it is time to build peace, partner with our people and consolidate on our achievements as a people for our state to be the envy of all.”

Okowa continued: “With this gentleman gesture by Dr Obire, I urge other Deltans who participated in the electoral process but did not emerge victorious to come out and partner with us in the development of our state in achieving their dream and our collective dream for our state.

“It Is time for reconciliation, we have to move forward together in the interest of the state, I therefore call all contestants to join hands with me to build our state, we will tap into the knowledge and ideas of Deltans to build a stronger, prosperous Delta State”

•Photo shows Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa (left), and the Progressive People’s Alliance (PPA) Governorship Candidate, Dr. Obire Oghene Jodiakpo, during his visit to Government House on Thursday to felicitate with Governor Okowa over his 2019 Governorship Election Victory.