Delta Assembly: Guwor Swears-In Alapala, Achoja as House Receives Amendment for Burutu Poly

By Pleasant Johnson

The Delta State House of Assembly has welcomed back two sitting members who won their rerun elections on Saturday, February 3, 2024.

The lawmakers, Hon. Anthony Alapala, member representing Burutu 1 state constituency and Hon. Blessing Achoja, member representing Ethiope West state constituency, secured their seats on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

During today’s plenary, they were sworn in by the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor, who charged them to dedicate themselves to the advancement of Delta State.

The House also received a letter from Governor Sheriff Oborevwori requesting an amendment to the 2023 law that established the Delta State Polytechnic, Burutu.

Governor Oborevwori explained that the decision to upgrade the former Delta State School of Maritime Technology, Burutu, to a polytechnic status was prompted by the institution’s infrastructural limitations and inability to access crucial funding from bodies like TETFUND.

However, specific stakeholders, particularly students and the local community voiced apprehensions regarding the exclusion of the term “maritime” from the institution’s name, emphasizing that “maritime” accurately reflects the primary discipline offered by the institution which initially drew students to enroll and conveys the specialized nature of the institution.

The Governor proposed that incorporating the term “maritime” into the institution’s name as “Delta State Maritime Polytechnic, Burutu,” will not adversely affect the institution’s interests or those of the state government. He urged the House to consider the proposed amendment to ensure prompt passage into law.

Meanwhile, the House observed a minute silence in honour of the departed Asagba of Asaba, Obi Joseph Chike Edozien. The motion, which sought to pay tribute to the late monarch, was proposed by the member representing Oshimili South state constituency, Hon. Bridget Anyafulu and was granted by the House.