Deputy Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Arthur Akpowowo says the MORE agenda of the administration of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori is on a steady ride to transforming Delta State.
Akpowowo stated this on Friday, June 7, 2024, during his one-year constituency town hall briefing and empowerment of 150 constituents with over 15 Million Naira at his Eku residence in Ethiope East Local Government Area.
It was tears of joy and excitement for the 150 constituents comprising 110 women selected from the eleven wards in the area and others nominated by the leadership of some opposition political parties.
In addition to the 150 women who got One Hundred Thousand Naria each in cash were three male constituents who received modern equipment to start palm oil mill.
Among the three male constituents was Mr Benson Udevieme, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who was knocked down from his motorcycle while returning from a political meeting before the 2023 general elections by a reckless driver, leading to the amputation of his left leg.
Addressing his constituents during the town hall briefing, Rt Hon Akpowowo, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Legislative Compliance of the 8th Delta Assembly said his empowerment programme will be sustained for the next three years to complement the MORE agenda of the Oborevwori’s administration urging beneficiaries at different stages of the programme to invest wisely the money they given and put into judicious use items to empower them to be self-sustaining.
The Deputy Speaker said, “I stand solidly behind the MORE agenda of His Excellency, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, our amiable and dynamic governor because it is a vehicle for the transformation of Delta State.
“We will be doing more and more in the course of this first tenure of four years and Deltans will surely testify for giving them Governor Sheriff Oborevwori at this time of the political and economic development of Delta State.
Akpowowo who broke the jinx of sixteen years of PDP non-occupation of the House of Assembly seat for Ethiope East Constituency assured party elders, leaders and constituents of his unwavering commitment to attract socio-economic and infrastructure development to the area.
While reeling out some of his achievements in one legislative year, Akpowowo assured his constituents that he would continue to be a strong voice in attracting needed development to Ethiope East.
The Deputy Speaker disclosed his co-sponsorship of four bills out of the 13 bills passed by the 8th Delta Assembly within one year, adding that four of the bills have been signed into law by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, while the remaining nine are in the process of being assented to.
The Deputy Speaker particularly informed the gathering of a constituent from Okpara Inland, Mr Emmanuel Gbenitie, who was unconstitutionally and unjustly dismissed from the state civil service in 1999 but, through a petition he filed he reinstated and promoted to the position of a Director.
“Today is the first town hall meeting and it will be held yearly to enable my constituents to ask questions about how am representing them. It is also a day for me to give an account of my stewardship in the last year.
“One of the special beneficiaries today is a member of our great party, PDP. Sometimes last year, he was returning from a party unit meeting when he was knocked down by a vehicle, leading to the amputation of his left leg. I met with him to discuss the way forward. He requested a palm oil milling machine. And in fulfilment of my promise, I presented the equipment today.
“Our amiable governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori is setting high standards in governance, I urge us all to continue to support him, pray for him in and out of season.
“The governor has spread development to the three senatorial districts, and Ethiope East Local Government Area is in good standing today in the Political scheme of things. We must continue to work hard to deliver all our candidates in the forthcoming local council elections slated for July,” Akpowowo said.
A former federal lawmaker, Rt Hon Sunny Emeyese, Ethiope East PDP Chairman, Hon Felix Erhimedafe, Ethiope East PDP chairmanship candidate for July 13, 2024, local government elections in Delta State, Chief Augustine Ogedegbe and other leaders who assisted in giving out the N100,000 each to the 150 benefitting women, applauded Rt Hon Arthur Akpowowo for being a trustworthy representative of Ethiope East Constituency in the hallowed chamber.