Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State on Monday commended the efforts of the chairman of Warri South Local Government, Dr Tidi Michael, in maintaining peace and ensuring security in his council area.
Okowa gave this commendation when his Special Adviser, Directorate of Local Government Affairs, Hon. Prince Kelly Penawou, and his entourage paid Dr Tidi Michael an official visit at the Warri South Council’s Secretariat.
Penawou, who was responding after Dr Tidi had earlier intimated him about some of his achievements in this second term in office, applauded Tidi for his productiveness towards peace and security in the council area.
He said Governor Okowa is proud of the way Tidi has been handling the affairs of the council, stressing that all that Tidi has achieved so far shows that he was in line with the governor’s peace and security agenda for the state.
Penawou, noted that the directorate was aware of what the Warri South council chairman has been doing ever since he assumed office as the chairman.
“Coming here to me is like coming home. You are like a junior brother to me and you are a very hardworking person. And I am not surprised. This is my third time of coming to this council and you have always had a lot to show me that you’re on the ground, and I want to thank you for that. This shows that our Governor did not make a mistake in encouraging you to come back for a second term.
“Our Governor is very pleased with you because you are a very special person to him. You have not in any way disappointed the governor.
“Everything you said here today is just what the governor has told us to tell the chairmen. You have talked about the environment, security and everything. This means that you are in tune with the governor’s programmes for the councils.
“The truth must be told, you are a very special hardworking person in this place. But we keep encouraging you to keep doing the good things you are doing, on environment, security, peace and others.
“If there is no peace today there will be no development. And this is why Delta State is suffering today. This is the reason why all the companies left, everybody left and we are regretting our actions.
“What you trying to do today is to bring back those investors that have left. You organized two Warri economic summits to showcase what you have and to tell people there is peace in Warri and Delta,” Penawou said.
Earlier, Dr Michael Tidi in his welcome address said one of his greatest achievements so far is the relative peace and security he has been able to maintain in the council.
He said Warri South, being home to different ethnic groups, is a very difficult local government area in the state but noted that with the help of God and efforts of the traditional rulers and security officers, the council has remained peaceful.
He specifically commended the Olu of Warri, the monarch of Okere-Urhobo Kingdom and Agbarah Kingdom for the roles they have continued to play in ensuring that there is peace in Warri.
Tidi said since his assumption of office in his second term he has donated working vehicles to A’Division, B’Division and the Warri Area Command, to assist them in their duties.
He said the council has been working closely with youths in the area with the sole aim of ensuring that relative peace in the council is maintained.
On the environment, Tidi said the council has the highest number of aides in this department because they want to ensure that Warri becomes the cleanest city in the state.
On health, the Warri South council chairman, said the council, with available funds at its disposal, had been able to renovate some health centres in the council, especially the Omadino health centres which were before now in a very deplorable state.
He said that apart from renovating some of the health centres, the council has also provided medical equipment and drugs to the health centres in the council.
He also informed the Special Adviser, Directorate of Local Government Affairs, about the landmark project the council had embarked upon.
He said the council has started building a chairman’s quarters for Warri South council, which according to him, will be completed soon depending on the availability of funds.
The Special Adviser, Directorate of Local Government Affairs and his entourage were taken on a brief tour of the site of the Chairman’s Quarters under construction at GRA, Warri.