Okowa charges elder statesmen to produce new set of leaders for Nigeria

DELTA State governor,  Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has charged elder statesmen to continue to contribute to nation building through community service involvement, advice and mentoring of new set of leaders for the country.

Okowa gave the charge weekend at the 70th Birthday Thanksgiving Mass of Brig. Gen. Dominic Oneya (retd) at the St. Jude’s Catholic Church,  Effurun, Delta State.

Nigerian Tribune reports that Brig. Gen. Oneya, an elder statesman, was former military governor of Kano and Benue states respectively and former chairman of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA).

Governor Okowa, in company of his deputy, Kingsley Otuaro, congratulated General Oneya on clocking 70 years at the Holy Mass which had Very Rev. Fr. Augustine Adaka as chief celebrant.

“We appreciate the roles you (General Oneya) and other elders are playing to develop our state and the nation.

“We hope you will continue to offer your fatherly advice for the growth of our state and the nation.

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“At 70, you are retiring more into community service; people will continue to consult you and you will continue to mentor the younger ones,” Governor Okowa stated.

The governor further averred that “General Oneya is our leader, mentor and elder statesman with exceptional moral, intellectual and leadership qualities.  He wears warm smile at all times that endeared him to many people across board.

“He has made Delta State and all of us proud especially during his active days in the military where he served at various levels within and outside Nigeria, as military governor of Kano and Benue states, as Chairman of Nigeria Football Association and as President General of Agbarho Council of Chiefs, to mention a few.

“I want to emphasise the need for our elder statesmen to continue to help us in mentoring and shaping the character and leadership skills of future leaders; because a nation without well groomed leaders may never experience good governance and socioeconomic development.”