PRESIDENTIAL VISIT: SECURITY OPERATIVES ON ALERT
Alleged plans by some youths of Oghara, in the Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State to stage a protest against the visit of President Goodluck Jonathan to Oghara, this Saturday, has been nipped in the bud following the swift intervention of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan who has already placed high level security operatives on the alert.
The state government had assured tight security of lives and property as President Goodluck Jonathan pays a one-day working visit to the state.
During the visit, the president is expected to commission the Delta State University Teaching Hospital and the Nigerian Naval Logistics Command Headquarters, which were initiated by the former governor but completed by the Emmanuel Uduaghan administration.
Briefing the press at government house yesterday, Secretary to the State Government and Chairman, Planning Committee of the presidential visit, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa said adequate arrangements had been made and government was already aware of the protest. He added that the state government was already on top of the situation as security forces were already placed on the alert.
The SSG, who confirmed that the monarch actually sent a delegation to the state government seeking a space in the programme to host the president in his palace at Oghara, said President Jonathan would be treated to a civic reception in Asaba after commissioning the projects in Oghara.
Okowa stated that the hospital should have been commissioned last November by the late president Yar'Adua, but for his health condition that took him out of the country.
He said the Naval Logistics Command headquarters was built by the state government and handed over to the Federal Government in its determination to strengthen security in the Niger Delta waterways.
In his words: The visit is significant because it is the maiden working visit of Jonathan to the state and also an opportunity to demonstrate love and fraternal bond in welcoming 'one of our own' in the exalted position of president.'
It was also learnt that the Ovie of Oghara kingdom, HRH Oreki 11, in a bid to have an audience with the President to be able to make case for former governor James Ibori, had been pressuring the state government to create space for him in the programme so that he can host the visiting President in his palace.
It was reliably learnt that the youths planned a showdown to protest the ordeal of Ibori who is currently in detention in Dubai.