Delta State Governor, Dr, Emmanuel Uduaghan has charged industrialists from the state to assist the government in developing the state by investing in the villages and the rural areas in particular.

 Dr, Uduaghan, who gave this charge at lrri in lsoko South Local Government area of the state, during the 38th Anniversary of Bethesda Gospel Mission and the 80th birthday celebration of the founder of the church, Archbishop Christian Apena, said the state government cannot develop the state alone.

 He explained that the state has wealthy sons and daughters who can invest in their villages to empower the people disclosing that the state was providing the infrastructure to encourage such development.

 ”I am calling on wealthy lsoko indigenes and Deltans outside the state to come back home and invest. Government cannot do it alone, we are providing the infrastructure, come and assist the government to empower the people”, he stated

 The governor disclosed that the government would partner Bethesda Gospel Mission in lrri in building capacity since it is the church’s vision to develop human capital which is in line with his administration’s agenda.

 He appealed to lrri community to seek peace and resolve the differences that exist among them which has resulted to family and communal crisis, stressing that his administration was committed to ensuring peace in the state in tandem with his agenda of peace and security.

 He promised them especially the youth of the community that the state government was handling the issue and would ensure that lasting peace was restored to the community.

 ”I appeal to you to put behind you any grievance, let us be at peace, enough is enough. Let peace return to lrri and lsoko land. I want us to settle the matter amicably in peace.  The future of this country belongs to the youth, l want the youth in this community to settle the issue at stake in peace. I will help you out since the matter is before the government so that we can move this state forward”, he said.

 He explained that violence does not enhance the growth of any community or state saying, “I appeal to you to put whatever is causing this crisis in the community behind you and forge ahead as a united entity.”

 In a welcome address, the founder of Bethesda Gospel Mission, Archbishop Apena, commended the governor for the good work he is doing in the state especially in ensuring that peace reign in lrri community for the past one month.

 He explained that the three point agenda of this administration was actualizing the aspirations of Deltans and advised him to continue in his developmental stride for the state.

 “Your three point agenda captures the aspirations of Deltans and you are actualizing this dream to become reality in the state. I will like you to set a standard which no other governor that will come after you will beat. You have been given the time, try to make your mark”, Apena stated

 He advised that there should be collaboration between the government and churches as it will help to build a viable state adding that his church has achieved much in building capacity especially in the educational sector through the establishment of primary, secondary and tertiary institution to train teachers.

 He also noted that his church has liaised with some institutions abroad to provide them with books and solicited the state government support in building a modern library that would house the books yet to arrive.

 Highpoints of the ceremony were a special prayer for the governor, his family and state, and the cutting of the birthday cake by the celebrant.