Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta has advised media to partner with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to sustain democracy and ensure free, fair and credible elections.
The governor gave the advice on Tuesday when the Managing Director, Independent Newspapers, Mr Ade Ogidan visited the governor to present a letter of nomination to him as the newspaper’s “Governor of the year, 2018 award”.
According to Okowa, the electioneering period is the right time for the press to speak for the people and the voiceless in the society.
“This is the right time for the press to be the voice of Nigeria, the voice of the people and guarantee a sustainable democracy which is important for our nation to be reckoned with in the comity of nations.
“It is my hope that the press will partner with INEC and ensure a free, fair, credible elections that will be acceptable by the people and boost the confidence of the international community,” he said.
He however, said that the award was in recognition of what his administration was doing in conjunction with the people to make the state better for all.
“It is a thing of joy that you have found me worthy to receive the Governor of the Year, 2018 award.
“It is not just an award for me because, whatever that we are doing, it is in partnership with our people.
“It is not just possible for us to excel without the people, we had town hall meetings and at different interactive sessions, they tell us about their needs and with the members of the executive council, we set out to deliver the needs of the people.
“We thank the people of Delta for their cooperation and partnership in the past three years running. Looking back at the successes that we have recorded, we need to give the glory to God,” Okowa said.
He said that the people of the state were accommodating and wonderful to work, adding the existing partnership had made it possible for his government to construct roads across the state even in difficult riverine terrain.
“We have more than 400, 000 persons enrolled in the state contributory health insurance scheme in spite of the fact that it was a novel programme in the country.
“We are doing a lot and our people are cooperating with us, we thank God for what we have been able to achieve as a state and as a government.
“We will continue to partner with the media in delivering on electoral promises,” he said.
Earlier, Ogidan said that the governor was nominated for the award because his administration had delivered good governance to the people of the state which had impacted the nation at large.