…you have done well, you remain Delta PDP leader after your tenure – Ibori tells Okowa
Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has advised aspirants in opposition parties in the State not to waste their time and money to contest the 2023 elections.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Governor Okowa gave the advice while speaking at a mega rally organised by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta at the Cenotaph, Asaba, on Saturday.
While affirming that PDP remained one united family in the State, Okowa assured members of the party of free, fair and transparent primary elections ahead of the 2023 general elections.
He assured that leaders of the party in the State would ensure that primaries for all elective positions were free and credible.
He said that the massive mobilisation for the rally showed that PDP was ready to rescue Nigeria from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and advised aspirants in other political parties not to waste their money to contest elections in Delta.
“I give thanks to God for what is happening here today and I thank our leaders in the PDP, our state and local government executives, our youths and women for the massive mobilisation for this rally.
“It is by the grace of God and through their hands that we have mobilised to make a statement today across Nigeria that PDP is prepared to take over this nation.
“One good thing about us in the PDP is that we are one family, we are not like the other people where one man takes it all. Here in PDP, we are one family.
“We work as a family with the love of God but in the other parties, they are always fighting themselves.
“We have been doing a great job as Deltans, but it is because Deltans voted us into power and that is why we have the opportunity to do the great job that we are doing for our state.
“It is because you have always supported us that is why when we win, we win very well. We won well in 2015 and in 2019, and in 2023 we will finish work again.
“We are advising those who want to run in other political parties not to waste their time and money because there is no space for them in Delta,” Okowa said.
Okowa remarked that his administration had done quite a lot since inception, explaining that he had appointed many youths into government and that never in the history of the state had youths been so appointed into various offices in the state.
“Never in the history of this state have youths been so empowered through our various empowerment and entrepreneurship programmes.
“We have done well for our women and we will continue to do more for them, and let me make it clear that even as we play politics, we will continue to do the work that you asked us to do,” he said.
On infrastructure, the Governor assured Deltans that his administration would not slow down in constructing more roads, saying “until I leave office in May, 2023, we will continue to build more and more roads and for those who haven’t been to Asaba in recent times, when you see our new State Secretariat you will be proud that you are a Deltan.
“All our achievements are the collective efforts of all Deltans because you gave us the peace to work and we can’t thank you enough.”
He advised aspirants to control their followers, noting that there was no need for any fight as the party remained one big united family.
“We are one family in PDP; we cannot fight and we will never fight; at the appropriate time, it will be well with us.
“But, one thing I have always promised and I still promise today is that there will always be free and fair primaries; so, there is no room to fight.
“There is no room to quarrel, let us work together as one family that we are and ensure that PDP stays continuously as a family,” he stressed.
In his address, former Governor of the State, Chief James Ibori, lauded Governor Okowa for his style of leadership.
Chief Ibori declared that he would continue to support him to succeed beyond his tenure as governor of the State.
“I cannot be more proud that you are our Governor today. I say that from the bottom of my heart. You have led us and you are leading us very well.
“We are committed to stand by you to finish very strong. At the end of the day, we will all doff our hats for you.
“From what I can see here, you have provided an atmosphere of free and fair contest. From what I can see here, you have provided an atmosphere for people’s aspiration to be heard without fear of intimidation or whatsoever.
“I can recall the day our party was launched at the old parade ground in 1998 when I stood up and I said that democracy is about opening up the environment for everybody and anybody to aspire to be whatever he or she wants to be. And I thank you for carrying on in that manner.
“I want to tell you that I personally don’t believe that your leadership will terminate at the end of your tenure. I don’t believe that. I am bold to say that you have earned your strides and your strides will carry you on”.
Meanwhile, welcoming defectors to the party, Chairman of PDP in the State, Chief Kingsley Esiso said that the rally was primarily organised to welcome decampees from APC and other political parties.
Esiso said that the massive exodus from APC was a testimony that the party has failed Nigerians in all ramifications.
“I can tell you that the primary purpose of this rally is to reduce the opposition party in Delta State by 90 per cent.
“My heart is full of joy and a testimony that APC is a failed political party and the people of Delta have come to realise that APC has only come to bring us economic hardship, poverty, banditry, kidnapping and failed promises.
“It is therefore not a surprise that every reasonable member of the APC is jumping ship to join us.
“Today, we are harvesting many of their leaders from different local government areas and we are celebrating this victory for our great party,” he said.
Other leaders who spoke at the rally included, Deputy Governor, Mr Kingsley Otuaro, Minority Leader, House of Representatives, Chief Ndudi Elumelu, Senator James Manager and former Senate Chief Whip, Senator Stella Omu.
The defectors to the PDP, who were in large number and led by former Chairman of APC in the state, Chief Cyril Ogodo. pledged to work for the PDP to ensure that APC was no more in the state.