‘We can’t thank you enough for creating Delta State in 1991’ Okowa tells IBB @ 79

&NewLine;<p><a href&equals;"http&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;thisdaylive&period;com">Delta<&sol;a> State governor&comma; Senator Ifeanyi Okowa&comma; has congratulated General Ibrahim Babangida&comma; former military President on his 79th birthday&period; <&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>He says the retired Army General  who clocked 79 today&comma; August 17&comma; has a place in history&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary&comma; Mr Olisa Ifeajika&comma; in Asaba&comma; the governor congratulated the elder statesman on attaining the new age and commended him for his commitment to the unity and growth of the country&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>He thanked the former President for his contributions to nation-building&comma; recalling that it was during his administration that a number of states&comma; including Delta&comma; were created&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>&OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;At 79&comma; your contributions to nation-building reverberates across the nooks and crannies of our great nation and as Deltans in particular&comma; we can&&num;8217&semi;t thank you enough for creating our state in 1991&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>&&num;8220&semi;As we mark the 29th anniversary of the creation of <strong>Delta<&sol;strong>&comma; we recall with gratitude your exemplary and legendary contributions in making it a reality&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>&&num;8220&semi;The benefits of state creation no doubt&comma; have manifested tremendously in the lives of over five million Deltans who live and do business in our state which has impacted positively in the economic&comma; infrastructural and human capital development of our people&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>&&num;8220&semi;I must also commend you for your fearless contributions to national issues and your strategic support to the genuine efforts towards making our nation great&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>&OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;As a military officer&comma; you had an illustrious career which culminated in your becoming Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>&OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;As a national icon and elder statesman&comma; we hold you in high esteem for granting the most important wish of Deltans at the time you did&comma;&&num;8221&semi; the governor stated&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>&OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;On behalf of my family&comma; the government and people of Delta&comma; I heartily congratulate you&comma; our great leader and elder statesman&comma; Gen&period; <a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;openlife&period;ng">Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida<&sol;a>&comma; GCFR&comma; on your 79th birth anniversary&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>&OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;As a distinguished leader and statesman&comma; you served the nation diligently by ensuring the unity of our country through the promotion of harmony and tolerance in spite of our obvious diversity&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>&OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;It is my prayer that the good Lord will continue to uphold and guide you in all your future endeavours&comma;” he added&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;