Delta State Government on Sunday said social media report on fire incident at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba was blown out of proportion.
The State Commissioner for Information, Charles Aniagwu while speaking to news men at the venue said the alleged fire incident did not affect the stadium complex but condemned roofing sheets removed from the building.
Aniagwu said the fire was not caused by electrical connection or picture of any presidential candidate as mischievously reported by the man who recorded the video in circulation.
He cautioned that Social Media was supposed to be a means of adding value to the information value chain and warned against using it to score some cheap political points.
According to him, the fire was caused by the drop from the welder’s electrode which fell on the condemned roofing sheets on the ground.
“I told you a few days ago that we are undertaking some renovation works in this facility and while the welder was very busy working upstairs, the electrode that was actually more like a spark coming from the iron fell on the condemned roofing sheets on the ground and it caught fire.
“The fire did not affect the stadium itself but unfortunately the heat that emanated from the fire melted some of the cladding on the wall of the stadium not that the stadium itself caught fire.
“It is the condemned roofing sheets that was removed from the roof which has become more like a waste and was yet to be evacuated from the premises of the stadium.
“While the welder was very busy welding upstairs, the electrodes from the welding activity fell on the condemned roofing sheets and in the course of time the heat from the fire melted some of the cladding on the wall not that the stadium itself caught fire.
“The fire was extinguished by the workers on ground even before the arrival of the state fire service,”
He appealed to Deltans to shun churning out evil propaganda as it does nobody any good.
“Evil propaganda does not pay anybody any good. We do know that we are in the period of intense politicking but to begin to wish the state evil does not in anyway give us result.
“I say so because the nature of propaganda emanating from a lot of activities in recent times is becoming alarming.
“The man who filmed the smoke from afar was shouting that the picture of a particular political party was responsible for fire, since when did posters become fire or matches such that once it’s pasted it sets the place ablaze?
“The time he should have used in assisting to put out the fire he was busy using it to play politics.
“It is important to note that once the state successfully hosts the National Sports Festival it is to the glory of everybody in Delta.
“Delta will benefit from transportation, entertainment, tourism and many other things associated with hosting events of that magnitude,” Aniagwu said.
He pleaded with Deltans to shun politics and support the state government in its efforts to host world class sports festival.
“As much as social media is wonderful and desirable, individuals must not continue to deploy it for negative reasons because the way it was reported is not what happened,” he added.
2023: Nigerians Tired Of Hunger, Poverty – Delta PDP Chair
Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Delta State, Olorogun Kingsley Esiso on Monday said Nigerians were tired of excruciating hunger, poverty, and insecurity and would do anything to sack the inept All Progressives Congress APC-led Federal Government.
Esiso who stated this at the Delta South Senatorial District ward-to-ward campaign in Warri, charged members to deliver all candidates of the party in the 2023 general elections.
He said Nigerians were prepared to sack the APC-led Federal Government come 2023 because of their incompetence which had led Nigerians into serious hunger, acute poverty, and unabating insecurity.
“Our economy has collapsed under the Buhari administration and Nigerians have resolved and are willing to vote for a President and Vice-President of PDP extraction and fortunately for us in Delta, the next Vice-President is our son and our dear Governor, Senator, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa.
“With Okowa in Aso Rock, the Warri-Benin road, Amukpe to Agbor, and the Warri Port will not remain like that.
“Deltans want to have our son in Aso Rock without hindrance so I appeal to you to vote for the PDP in all the elections,” he said.
On the Governorship election in the State, the State Party Boss called on Deltans to reject the APC and whatever they represent, adding that the people of the State would not reinforce failure.
“Coming to Delta, I am aware that some political rascals are patrolling Delta State boasting that they want to continue with the poverty and hardship Buhari is foisting on Nigerians.
“Let us not give them that chance my people of Delta South, in this our Delta, there is only one party which is the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) others are pretenders.
He commended former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan for endorsing the party’s Governorship candidate, Chief Sheriff Oborevwori, adding that when the lions come out of their den, other animals scamper to safety.
Director of the State PDP Campaign Council, Hon. Funkekeme Solomon appealed to the people of the Delta South Senatorial District particularly Warri South to show their capacity by voting for all candidates of the party in the coming elections.
He said that only a PDP administration can change the current narrative of hunger and hopelessness that pervades the entire country.
He said that since the Buhari and APC administration took over the reigns of power in 2015, Nigerians have been visited with serious challenges ranging from wide-scale insecurity and hunger with Nigeria becoming the Global Headquarters of poverty.
Funkekeme who is Senior Political Adviser to the Governor said next year’s election provides a good opportunity for the people to sack the APC-led administration at the centre and bring back the PDP to rescue, reset and rebuild the Country.
Also speaking Chairman of the party in the Senatorial district, Chief Julius Takeme said the Okowa administration had done a lot in infrastructural and human capital development, youth, and women empowerment as well as appointments.
He urged the people to support the Atiku Abubakar and Senator Ifeanyi Okowa ticket to rescue and rebuild Nigeria from the maladministration of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The campaign train which started at Ubeji also visited Ogunu, Ekurode-Urhobo, Ugbuwangue, and Okere, Warri GRA wards, was attended by State Deputy Chairman of the party, Val Arenyeka, Senatorial candidate of the party, Hon. Michael Diden, Member Representing Warri Federal Constituency, Chief Thomas Ereyitomi, member representing Bomadi/Patani Federal Constituency Hon. Nicholas Mutu.
Others are the House of Representatives candidate for the Isoko Federal Constituency, Pastor Jonathan Ukodhiko, Majority Leader of the Delta State House of Assembly, Chief Ferguson Onwo, Chairman of Media and Publicity Committee of the State PDP Campaign Council, Chief Emmanuel Amgbaduba, among others.
Okowa congratulates Iyorchia Ayu at 70
Vice-Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Governor of Delta, Sen. (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa, has congratulated the National Chairman of theparty, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, on his 70th birth anniversary.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Olisa Ifeajika, in Asaba, Okowa said that Ayu, as an astute politician, had set enviable legacies with his outstanding service to the nation in various offices he had occupied.
He commended him for his notable contributions to the growth and development of the PDP and the advancement of democracy in Nigeria, remarking that the party had, against all odds, continued to blaze the trail under his leadership.
Okowa recalled Ayu’s significant role in stabilizing democracy in the country when he served as President of the Senate in the Third Republic, and later in various ministerial positions.
According to him, Ayu deserves all the accolades as he turns three scores and 10. His selfless service to the PDP as well as his many accomplishments in personal and public life readily come to mind as he celebrates his 70th birth anniversary.
“Your Excellency, our dear National Chairman, you have played significant roles in the growth and development of the nation as a dependable and forthright politician and democrat and a former President of the Senate, and we cannot thank you enough for your sublime contributions and achievements,” Okowa said.
“On behalf of my family, the government and people of Delta, I congratulate you as you celebrate your 70th birth anniversary.
“Over the years, you have devoted yourself to the course of peace and development of our party, the PDP and our country. For this, we owe you an enduring debt of gratitude.
“It is with great pleasure that I and members of our great party in Delta join your family, friends and well-wishers in thanking Almighty God for His continued mercy, protection and provision for you in the past 70 years.
“As you celebrate this day, it is my prayer and that of our members that God will imbue you with exceptional wisdom and other necessary elements of strength to accomplish the task of leading PDP, our party, to needed victory in the 2023 General Elections.
“It is also my prayer that our Lord will continue to bless you with good health and grant you more years of greater service to our party and Nigeria,” he stated.
[15/11, 16:16] Nelson Egware: 2023: Delta South PDP Pledges Massive Votes For Party Candidates
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta South Senatorial District on Tuesday continued its ward-to-ward campaigns with a charge on members to deliver all candidates of the party in the 2023 general elections.
Deputy State Chairman of the party, Val Arenyeka urged the people to send the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC packing at Aso Villa, adding that they have continued to impoverish Nigerians with their failed economic policies, insecurity, and mismanagement of the nation’s cherished diversity.
He said prices of food commodities have skyrocketed since 2015 because farmers could no longer go to their farms because of insecurity across the Country.
Arenyeka thanked the party faithful for their support over the years and urged them to vote for all candidates of the party in next year’s election.
He said that the PDP was very much on ground in the area, adding that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa who is the party’s Vice-Presidential candidate of the party has done so much in the State to deserve the support of the people.
Chairman of the party in the district, Chief Julius Takeme appealed to the people of the district particularly Warri South to show their capacity by voting for all candidates of the party in the coming elections.
He said that only a PDP administration can change the current narrative of hopelessness in the Country.
Takeme said; next year’s election provides an opportunity for the people to sack the APC-led administration and bring back the PDP to rescue, reset and rebuild the Country.
My dear people of Delta South, it is time again to vote for our party candidates across board, let us work hard to deliver our Presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar and his running mate, our dear Governor, Senator, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa.
Here in Delta, our party Governorship candidate is Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, he is a man known to the people and he has promised to do MORE from where our Governor will stop.
“Let us vote him and other candidates of our party to enable us continue to enjoy the benefits of democracy and control the Government at the centre,” he said.
Receiving the campaign train, leaders of the various wards assured them of their total support for the party’s candidates in the 2023 general elections.
The campaign train which visited Ode-Itsekiri, Pessu, Okere, and Edjeba Wards was attended by Members House of Representatives, Warri Federal Constituency Chief Thomas Ereyitomi, and his Burutu counterpart, Rr. Hon. Julius Pondi, Senatorial candidate, Hon. Michael Diden, House of Assembly candidates for Warri 1 and 2 constituencies, Hon. Austin Uroye and Hon. Matthew Opuoru, among others.
2023: Atiku-Okowa ticket will rekindle brotherhood among Nigerians – Aniagwu
Spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Council, Mr Charles Aniagwu says the party’s Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and his running mate, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa will work towards resuscitating the brotherhood and unity that existed among Nigerians.
He said the APC administration destroyed the diversity that was one of the country’s major pillars and urged Nigerians to vote the PDP in the interest of the unity, peace and progress of the country.
Aniagwu stated this on Saturday while answering questions on TVC’s “Political Stand Point”.
He said an Atiku’s presidency will ensure peace and unity among ethnic groups in the country for all-round development.
“The Atiku-Okowa ticket intends to bring back Nigerians together in unity because in the last seven and half years the All Progressives Congress APC has mismanaged our diversity in this country.
“We are glad that our party is determined to unify all Nigerians, our purpose of moving in one direction is not just to win election, its also meant to bring back Nigerians together.
“This is very imperative because in the last seven and half years, our diversity has received a very dirty blow and the bruises are very very visible across the length and breadth of this country.
“This is because of the mismanagement of our diversity in this country. Nigerians must understand that in unity and diversity we are able to come together.
“Just as it is said in our old national anthem, ‘though tongue ad tribe may differ but in brotherhood we stand’ the Atiku-Okowa ticket will bring back that brotherhood among Nigerians,” Aniagwu stated.
