BY CHINEDU AMEDE
Delta State Government has handed over the socio-cultural ethnic nationality house to the leadership of Ndokwa Neko Union (NNU) with a promise to build more infrastructural and physical projects.
The Governor of the state, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, who was represented by the Commissioner for Housing, Hon. Godknows Angele, made the handover, where he described the building as unique.
Oborevwori further extolled two Ndokwa sons, Chief Fidelis Tilije and Chief Festus Ochonogor, whom he explained made huge and meaningful contributions towards the initiation and completion of the structures.
He noted that there was a need for mutual understanding and partnership in the full and desirable development of the Socio-cultural ethnic house.
“Ndokwa communities’ Presidents-General and the entire Ndokwa indigenes are expected to work with the state government towards the development of this house.
‘’I salute and appreciate the peaceful disposition of the Ndokwa people. There’s no access to the state capital and no political achievement in Delta State without the Ndokwa Nation,” the Governor said.
The Deputy Governor of the state, Sir. Monday Onyeme, who was represented by Chief Godday Mgbabego, emphasised the outcome of the synergy between the Ndokwa Nation and the state government and also commended the commitment of Chief Fidelis Tilije and Chief Festus Ochonogor to the actualisation of the “Dream House”, while calling for more support and commitment of Ndokwa Presidents-General, and Ndokwa people to the present state government.
He also advocated for more wisdom and unity among them through the Ndokwa Neku Union (NNU).
The Delta State Commissioner for Finance, Hon Fidelis Tilije, also extolled the state government and the NNU leadership for their mutual understanding and cooperation, which, according to him, was responsible for the smooth, peaceful and successful completion of the building.
The immediate past President-General of NNU, General Mike Ndubisi (Rtd), going through memory lane, said that the ceremony was memorable in his life, noting that the journey into the project started with a donation of ten plots of land to NNU by late Augustine Odili in 2012, upon which every other financial and material donations came from several other Ndokwa indigenes.
Gen. Ndubisi paid glowing tributes to the immediate past Governor, Sen (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa, for initiating the project, even as he expressed gratitude to Governor Oborevwori for inheriting and completing the project.
“I will not forget to highlight the financial contributions from Chiefs Johnson Opone, Austine Avuro and the state Deputy Governor, Sir Monday Onyeme, Chief Okenmor Tilije and NNU executives, whose support made it possible for the completion of the ‘Ndokwa House’. I am appealing to the state government for the immediate commissioning of this building called Ndokwa House,” he said.
In his welcome address, the President-General of Ndokwa Neku Union (NNU), Chief Amechi Asuguni, said that the ceremony was historical, adding that the building represented a chamber and the Ndokwa power House of Assembly, where major decisions concerning the Ndokwa Nation would be held, while promising judicious use of the house.
The NNU President-General asserted that the Delta State Government has been fair to the Ndokwa people, particularly in appointing them to key positions such as Deputy Governor, Finance Commissioner, and Managing Director (MD) of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC).
Chief Asuguni assured the State governor that the Ndokwa people would continue from where the state government stopped, especially in extending other structures within the premises and renovation changes.
He extended the appreciation of the Ndokwa people to the state government and the governor, for the recent groundbreaking for the Kwale Free Trade Zone, pointing out that former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa was an architect of most infrastructural development in Ndokwa land and requested Ndokwa sons and daughters to place their hands on deck towards rapid and even development of Ndokwa communities.
The immediate past Woman Leader of NNU, Prof Julie Umukoro, Ndokwa communities Presidents-General and Ndokwa Traditional Rulers, in their respective goodwill messages, gave kudos to former Governor Okowa, Governor Oborevwori and the several Ndokwa indigenes who made contributions.
