Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has felicitated with his predecessor in office, Dr Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, as he turned 64 years on Monday.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Charles Aniagwu, in Asaba on Sunday, Okowa lauded the astute contributions of the former Governor and prayed that God Almighty will continue to bless him with good health and long life.
“It is with profound joy that I write on behalf of my family, the government and people of Delta State, to express very warm felicitations to you on your 64th birthday anniversary.”
“As an administration, we appreciate your contributions to peace, growth and development of our state through the laudable programmes you initiated during your administration as Governor between 2007-2015.”
“I join your family, friends, and well-wishers to thank Almighty God for His continued guidance, protection and provision for you in the past 64 years of a remarkable life”, Okowa noted.
Governor Okowa and former Governor Uduaghan, both medical doctors by profession had been Commissioners for Health and Secretary to the Delta State Government and while Uduaghan was governor, Okowa was a senator on the same party platform, the PDP.
But now, Okowa is governor and Uduaghan is aspiring to become a senator, albeit in the opposition APC, having lost out in the PDP power game to clinch the party’s senatorial ticket for his Delta South district.
Both men had been embroiled in what seemed the most egocentric rivalry in Nigeria’s political history since 2006, when they locked horns for the Delta State PDP gubernatorial ticket at the historic primary election in Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State.