Governor Okowa Has No Hand In IPP Probe – Ukah

By Julius Oweh, Asaba
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The state governor Dr Ifeanyi Okowa or any other member of the state executive council has no hand in the probe panel set up by the Delta State House of Assembly to look into the affairs of the independent power project (IPP), Oghara.

The state commissioner for information Honourable Patrick Ukah made this clarification on Tuesday (March 8, 2016) while briefing the press in Asaba after the weekly state executive council meeting.

Ukah said that the House of Assembly as an independent arm of government was at liberty to probe the activities of any of its numerous contractors or government agencies as part of its oversight functions.

On the rumours making rounds that the probe panel was set up to witch-hunt Honourable Victor Ochei, former speaker of the state house of assembly for defecting to the APC and whose company is behind the execution of the project, the commissioner maintained that it was left for the members of the assembly to answer that, adding that the Okowa administration was too focussed to witch-hunt perceived political enemies.

Ukah observed that it was the constitutional right of any Deltan to belong to any political party of his choice and that the PDP- led government would not lose sleep over such base affairs.

He disclosed that the plan of the state government to sell the multi billion naira IPP was on course.

Answering question on the importance of the biometric exercise for civil servants, Ukah debunked the rumour of sack of non-indigenes in the state.

The state information commissioner maintained that since the non-indigenes were legally and properly employed, there was no reason to dispense with their services.

Ukah added that Okowa administration was committed to building a united Nigeria which the employment of non-indigenes represents.

He therefore assured non-indigenes in the service of the government of the security of their jobs.