By John Dugbe / Special Correspondent, Sapele
The adage that says success has many fathers and failure is an orphan came to play at Oghara, headquarters of Ethiope West local government area of Delta State, when Chief Henry Ogheneochuko Ofa, the Commissioner representing Ethiope West, Sapele and Okpe local government councils on the board of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Commission (DESOPADEC) was conferred with the chieftaincy title of “Ame” (Water) of Oghara Kingdom by His Royal Majesty (HRM) Orefe III, the Ovie of Oghara Kingdom.
Fielding questions from journalists at his Oghara country home, Ofa said that he was grateful to the Oghara monarch for the honour bestowed on him and promised that he would not disappoint him and the kingdom. He said that what happened was an outcome of hard work, stating that he was reaping what he sowed, promising to do more for the service of mankind.
On youth development, Ofa said, “I started as a youth and as a primary school teacher; what you should do is to be humble, respectful others, don’t lift yourself up, allow others to lift you up, allow people to lift you up, you go higher and higher instead of doing it by yourself which can lead to your crashing in the process.
“My advice to the youths is to be patient with the government; dividends of democracy will reach them as DESOPADEC is doing. Our budget is all embracing and DESOPADEC hopes to touch everybody, whether you are youths, elders or women.”
Ofa gave the glory to God Almighty, and thanked Dr. Emmanuel Uduagha, governor of Delta State, and Chief James Ibori former governor of Delta State. He stated that what actually attracted the appreciable crowd to his chieftaincy celebration were good work, dedication to work, adding that he was a trail blazer having carried his people along on the path of progress, and that they decided to reciprocate him by felicitating with him. He promised not to fail the people and, saying that he would also end well.
“We are going to finish strong, we are emulating what the governor is doing because some are of us are ardent followers and loyalists of the governor and have been vindicated through the success of the governor in his development strides in the state.
“We are already embracing the governor’s policy of “Delta State beyond oil” and I have already started my own farm and I urge you people to have your own even if its small as a garden.”
As for Tony Omene, president general of Oghara Elite Forum, the celebration of the Ofa was a well-deserved one. He said that the title “Ame” (Water) of Oghara kingdom signified an unending blessing whether it comes from the sky, earth etc. “With all our heart, we wish him the best with our group, the Oghara Elite Forum; we are fully committed to the realisation of his goals.“
Omene stated that the group decided to felicitate with because because, he is the Board of Trustees chairman of the group as well as a prominent Oghara son, he is the immediate past president general of the Oghara Elite forum, he is also an extra-ordinary philanthropist, we identify with the best of Oghara and we are here for the bestowing of the kingdom. Omene stated that Ofa has been the best performing commissioner since the inception of the commission adding that Ofa is in charge of three local government areas and he has built structures in all the local councils. He has done skill acquisition for youths in the three local government councils, he has empowered the women in the three local councils, roads, schools, health centres, water projects etc have been executed in these three local government councils i wish to reiterate without doubt that Chief Henry Ofa through his perspective focus and humanitarian gesture has proved to be the best commissioner that existed in the Delta State Oil Producing Area Commission (DESOPADEC) since its establishment. He has performed exceedingly well, we are proud of him.
“ I want to give thanks and praises to God for the honour bestowed on Chief (Dr) Henry Ofa which is the honour conferred on him by his people, for his contributions and uplift of the Kingdom. Ofa has been part and parcel of the Oghara Kingdom for many years now, he once served as the local education secretary of the local government council and through other offices, he is now the commissioner representing Ethiope West, Sapele and Okpe local government councils in the Delta State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (DESOPADEC). Through his representation, he has been able to attract many developments to the Oghara Kingdom and to the areas that he represents.” These were the words of Chief Ighoyota Amori, the Political Adviser to the governor of Delta State on the occasion.
Amori added, “I want to thank the monarch of the kingdom who recognized his contributions to the kingdom conferring on him the chieftaincy title of Ame (Water) of the Oghara Kingdom. Ame does not have enemy, which means that Ofa has made his mark and cannot be an enemy to the development of Oghara kingdom. And those of us his friends are here to celebrate rejoice with him.”
Amori noted that Ofa’s achievement started when he was a youth, noting that the youths of Oghara should emulate him, adding that he started when he was a youth. “The youths should learn from what elevated him to his present position and the conferment of the chieftaincy title. When we say that the youths are leaders of tomorrow, they think its just literature but with the celebration of Ofa today, the youths must know that they are actually the leaders of tomorrow,” he said.
Hon. Ben Igbakpa, Delta State Commissioner for Transport, in his opinion, said Ofa deserved all the kudos being poured on him because he has justified his position through which he has touched the lives of the people.
On call that Ofa be made the next boss of DESOPADEC, Igbakpa said that people graduate from one stage to another and it was normal for people to aspire, saying that there was nothing wrong for him to move upward.
Mr. Festus Iboyi of Adagboyorin Community said that with all the Ofa has done in his coverage areas of Ethiope West, Sapele and Okpe councils, he was due for the celebration and honours, adding that Ofa has been working with the former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori, through whom many Nigerians in general and Deltans in particular have climbed the ladder of life.
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