DELTA GUBER: ZONING’LL PROMOTE MEDIOCITY, LAZINESS – OCHEI

As the political calculations for the 2015 Delta State governorship begin, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon Victor Ochei, has advised that zoning or ethnicity should be jettisoned in selecting candidates, saying these promote mediocrity and laziness.

He said what should be paramount is the choice of “the best man for the job” and “a man who will take Delta to the next level.”

Ochei, who insisted that “zoning” has always promoted laziness and mediocrity, however stressed that if that is the only option left for a particularly area to have a shot at the plum job, then it should be accepted.

This, according to him, is not because power must shift from one place to the other but because the system allows it to either pacify or give some people a sense of belonging.

Specifically, he said zoning or rotation of power should not be an issue in Delta State, maintaining that the constitution allows anyone who is qualified to run.

DYNAMICS OF DELTA 2015 GUBER ELECTIONS

The 2015 elections may still be more than a year away but in Delta State, some of the gubernatorial hopefuls are already at one another’s throats in what is fast deteriorating into a rat race to Government House.

My projection is that the desperation with which various hopefuls for the governorship are trying to actualise their ambitions may end up framing the elections in crisis, bad blood and most unfortunately, in ethnic hatred.

I am however more interested here in interrogating what is now a clear attempt, on the part of some of these competitors, at ganging up against Engr. Victor Ochei, incumbent Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly. Instructively, while Ochei has already emerged as the frontrunner on account of his stunning achievements as Speaker, the storm of unfair attacks from a multiplicity of directions over a race he has not even officially declared for, can only serve to make Deltans more sympathetic to his person.

WHY I AM INVOLVED IN WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL, BY OCHEI

Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei, has said that his compassion for the physically challenged in the society inspired his involvement in wheelchair basketball.

Speaking ahead of the 3rd edition of the competition named after him, the Victor Ochei Wheelchair Basketball tournament which dunks off tomorrow in Lagos, the Delta assembly speaker said the need to harness the ability of those with disability was necessary instead of just allowing them to wallow in self pity.

''I've compassion for the less privileged in our society. Beyond seeing them from the ambit of pity, they have hidden talents that people need to see and appreciate. I admire strength in their character. Like they say, there is ability in disability. These are special people who by no reason of theirs are physically challenged. We need to lend a helping hand and bring out the best in them,” observed Ochei in Lagos at the weekend.

REACHING OUT; HON. VICTOR OCHEI'S RECENT OUTINGS IN ISOKO SOUTH LGA

     Chief (Retd. Gen) Omu President -General, Isoko Development Unionand Rt. Hon. Ochei at Hon. Erijo’s country home in Aviara, Isoko 
     South L.G.A. of Delta State. 
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PHOTOS: RT. HON. VICTOR OCHEI CELEBRATES WITH THE OTU – UMUNWANNE SOCIO C

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WHY I SUPPORT ZONING IN DELTA – ASAGBA OF ASABA

The Asagba of Asaba, Asagba (Prof.) Chike Edozien, has described zoning as a necessary arrangement to ensure the equitable distribution of developmental dividends and the achievement of a power rotation balance amongst contending ethnic nationalities, even as he added that the advocacy for the actualization of Anioma state was still waxing very strong.

The revered Monarch made these assertions, when he played host to the Anioma Media Network, a Pan-Anioma media association, during a courtesy call to His Royal Majesty on Tuesday, February 4, 2014, in his Palace, in Asaba.

Speaking further, the Asagba noted that he was initially an advocate for fair competition amongst contending interests, which would ultimately produce the best candidate, no matter the ethnic coloration, but had become convinced of the necessity for zoning, since what makes up the Delta state of today was still an amalgamation of ethnic nationalities and there was the need to zone political power to ensure that the development of all the parts was evenly distributed and achieved across the state.

I FORESAW GREAT POTENTIALS IN OCHEI - EX-PRINCIPAL

The African adage which says that “a chick that will become a cock shows early traits of such attainment” came to relevance recently in Asaba, when Rev. Fr Thomas Treacy, the former Principal of St. Thomas’ College Kano, posited that he foresaw great potentials in one of his former students Rt Hon (Engr.) Victor Ochei, the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly.

The Irish priest who made this observation during an unscheduled visit to the Speaker disclosed, that young Victor Ochei as a student showed great potentials in academic and leadership obligations.

PHOTOS: MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR LATE PA AND MAMA OKAFOR OCHEI

                                      

Recently  Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei welcomed guests to the  memorial thanksgiving service in honor of his Late Parents, Pa Donald Ochei and Mama Juliet Ochei at St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Onicha-Olona, Aniocha North Local Government Area Delta state.

The event which had the Executive Governor of Delta state in attendance was conducted by the Bishop of Asaba Diocese, Anglican Communion, Rt. Rev. Justus Mogekwu.

Later, Governor Uduaghan cut the tape to the mausoleum built by the Ochei’s in remembrance of their deceased parents. 

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PHOTOS: RT. HON VICTOR OCHEI AT THE 2014 ARMED FORCES REMEMBRANCE DAY

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2015: DELTA PDP CHAIRMAN BLASTS SSG OVER POWER SHIFT

DELTA State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Peter Nwaoboshi, yesterday, faulted the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Mr. Ovuozourie Macaulay, for saying that he was not aware of any agreement between the Anioma and other parts of the state for a power shift.

Nwaoboshi who described the comment as “provocative,” told Vanguard in an interview that he had received several phone calls since the SSG  made the statement, which was published in a national newspaper on Monday.

WELCOME ADDRESS BY RT. HON. VICTOR OCHEI, DTHA SPEAKER AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE 66TH EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING OF THE COMMONWEALTH PARLIAMENTARY ASSOCIATION (CPA) AFRICA REGION HELD IN ASABA

The welcome address by Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei, DTHA Speaker at the opening ceremony of the 66th Executive Committee meeting of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Africa Region held in Asaba on January 14, 2014 below;

WELCOME ADDRESS BY RT. HON. (ENGR) VICTOR ONYEKACHI OCHEI (FNSE, FIAS) SPEAKER, DELTA STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY ASABA, ON THE OCCASION OF THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE 66TH EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING OF THE COMMONWEALTH PARLIAMENTARY ASSOCIATION (CPA) AFRICA REGION HELD IN ASABA, NIGERIA ON THE 14TH OF JANUARY 2014

Your Excellency,
Dr. Emmanuel E. Uduaghan, (CON)
Governor of Delta State;

Your Excellency,
Prof Amos Ugbe Utuama (SAN)
Deputy Governor of Delta State;

Your  Excellency,
Hon. Lindiwe Maseko, Chairperson of Commonwealth
Parliamentary Association (CPA) Africa Region Executive Committee and Speaker of Gauteng Provincial Legislature;

Your Excellency,
Anne S. Makinda, President of the CPA Africa Region
and Speaker of the Parliament of Tanzania;

Your Excellency, Rt. Hon. David Mark
The Senate President,
Federal Republic of Nigeria;

Your Excellencies the Speakers of various Parliaments
and Presiding Officers present;

Distinguished Executive Members of
Commonwealth Parliamentary Association;

Members of the Delta State Executive Council;

Members of the fourth Estate of the realm.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

DELTA 2015: YES, I SUPPORT POWER SHIFT — OCHEI

ENGINEER Victor Ochei is the Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly. In this interview, he speaks on issues ranging from power shift, the activities of the State Assembly, especially in relation to the 2014 Appropriation bill. Excerpts:

Recently, the Governor of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, presented the 2014 budget proposals to the Delta State House of Assembly. What will be the factors that will guide your speedy action in this respect?

COMMONWEALTH PARLIAMENT COMMENDS DELTA ASSEMBLY FOR EXCELLENT ORGANISATIONAL ABILITY

The Secretariat of the 66th Executive Committee Meeting of Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Africa Region has commended the Delta State House of Assembly for its excellent organisation of the ongoing conference in Asaba.

The Assistant Regional Secretary of the body, Mr Demetrius Mgalami made the commendation when Rt. Hon (Engr.) Victor Ochei, the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, the host Legislature visited the secretariat to enable him assess the preparations toward a successful hosting.

WHY DTHA WILL GIVE SPEEDY CONSIDERATION TO 2014 APPROPRIATION BILL —OCHEI

THE  Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly (DTHA), Engr. Victor Ochei, recently  fielded questions from The POINTER crew of Monday Uwagwu, Sam Ijeh and Iteveh Ekpokpobe, in which he responded to legion questions, including the House’s activities, especially in relation to the 2014 Appropriation Bill of the state.  His responses to our questions are in paraphrase.

Mr Speaker, recently, the Governor of Delta State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, as the head of the executive arm of the state government, presented a proposal of the 2014 budget proposal to the Delta State House of Assembly. On that occasion, you gave the assurance that it will be speedily completed in terms of consideration. What will be the factors that will guide your speedy action in this respect?

PDP, BEST VEHICLE TO REAPING DEMOCRACY DIVIDENDS – RT HON. VICTOR OCHEI

The Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon (Engr) Victor Ochei has described the People’s Democratic Party as the veritable vehicle through which Deltans will reap and savour the dividends of democracy.
He made this landmark statement at Utagba Uno in Ndokwa-West Local Government Area of Delta State, when Hon Azuka Azaka, member representing Ndokwa-West at the Delta State House of Assembly led over ten thousand erstwhile members of the Democratic People’s Party (DPP) to the People’s Democratic Party.
In the legislator’s words, “the present Uduaghan administration which came into governance on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party, has demonstrated unfathomable commitment to providing the dividends of democracy to the polity, by the faithful implementation of the three point agenda”.