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Tag: Ifeanyi Okowa

  • 2023: Gov Okowa belittles Peter Obi, says he lacks experience to lead Nigeria

    2023: Gov Okowa belittles Peter Obi, says he lacks experience to lead Nigeria

    Delta State Governor and Vice Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2023 presidential election, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as said the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi lacks the needed experience to lead Nigeria.

    Governor Okowa, speaking in an interview with BBC News Pidgin, however, admitted that the former Vice Presidential candidate to Atiku Abubakar has experience from being a former Governor of Anambra State.

    “I did not say he won’t have any votes, he will have. But what I’m saying is that he’s not a new candidate. It has not been long since he left PDP. You know he was in APGA before, from APGA he came to PDP. It hasn’t been long since he left (PDP) so he cannot say anything about PDP because that’s where he was before. Some of us are still here.

    “In every party, there are good people and bad people. But today’s Nigeria is very troubled and we need the right person. That is why I am appealing to our youths be wise and vote well, they should not be blinded by the concept of a false change because that is how they raved on Jonathan in 2015.

    “His (Obi) previous experience is not enough for this one (presidency), it will be hard. His experience is not deep enough. Even as a current governor ruling in a time of crisis, I know how hard it is. I even want to learn under Atiku because he has experience with the federal government. The thing is not easy.

    “For them to have handled the economy at that time and made it something better, offering hope, creating jobs, and filtering the society, was not easy because it’s a bigger thing. So someone is supposed to learn through that. If you look at Obi’s experience you’ll know it’s small,” Okowa said.

    TNG reports the Delta State Governor addressed the crisis rocking the PDP, saying Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike is his friend and that he is making an effort to reach out to him.

    “We’ve been talking internally, everything is being settled. You know that when something happens and everybody can’t agree, it’s settled bit by bit. That is what we’re still working on from the inside. We are finding a way to talk I’ll say, he is my friend, I am his friend, and we will find a way to talk.

    “Atiku has said his own version of what happened, and I am sure that version he said is the true position. I am also not saying that Wike is lying, but if someone carries their anger, it is important to air your views. For us in the party, it’s about how to bring everybody together, how all of us can work together.

    “Wike is still a very important member of the party, he has worked so hard for the party as many of us have worked hard too so we pray that everything comes together and we talk. I’m sure very soon we’ll be sitting down,” Gov Okowa said.

  • 2023: It’s good Atiku sticks with Okowa – By Ehichioya Ezomon

    2023: It’s good Atiku sticks with Okowa – By Ehichioya Ezomon

    It’s settled on July 15, 2022: The political parties in Nigeria participating in the 2023 elections submitted the final list of their presidential and vice presidential candidates.

    Yet, controversies continue to dog the filings by the parties with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which’d insisted on the deadline.

    The initial dust was raised by the reported scheming of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to run on a Muslim-Muslim ticket, with the Christian community vowing a voter blowback.

    Then, to meet with the preliminary deadline of June 17 set by the INEC, the candidates of three of the parties – the APC, Labour Party (LP) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) – engaged in the novel naming of “placeholders” for their “authentic” running mates.

    The protests against the APC candidate’s pioneer choice of a fellow Muslim, Alhaji Kabiru Masari of Katsina State, as his placeholder, and Masari’s replacement with another Muslim, Senator Kashim Shettima (Borno Central) as the “actual” running mate, resulted in the alleged indefinite postponement of unveiling of Shettima on July 14.

    Due to the opposition to a Muslim-Muslim ticket for the February poll, the APC allegedly considered replacing the former Borno State governor with a Christian on the eve of the July 15 deadline for turning in the candidates’ lists.

    But Shettima remained the APC running mate as at close of submission of names of the candidates at 6pm on July 15, as replacing him with a Christian would’ve been incongruous, and done more political damage to the party.

    Tinubu couldn’t forcefully defend his pick of Shettima, as his running mate, owing to the reported interests among Northern APC governors that wanted the post.

    But not so with the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who’s repeatedly defended his choice of Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as his vice presidential candidate.

    Atiku’s pick of Okowa had splintered – and still divide – the PDP, with most of the power players calling for his replacement with Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike.

    The critics’ urging of Atiku to accept Wike as running mate, as he topped the PDP screening for the position, tantamount to waiving Atiku’s say in who runs with him, even if the “choice” isn’t politically compatible with him.

    But Atiku wanted just the opposite: A “simpatico” running mate (as United States President Joe Biden craved during his run for office in 2020) that’s competent, and won’t rock the boat if they’re elected in the February 2022 poll.

    Amplifying Atiku’s position, a member of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the PDP and former Minister of Police Affairs, Waziri Adamu, recalled: “The PDP has had a history of what happened between 2003 and 2007, where there was a deep-seated crisis between the President and the Vice President, and nobody wants a repeat.

    “Hence the candidate, who won the election on his merit, must be given the right… to make a choice on who will be his running mate, (and) not the party (choosing for them).”

    What an irony! Atiku obviously rejected Wike to avoid a similar scenario he’d with former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who lately regretted accepting him (Atiku) as vice presidential candidate in the 1999 poll that they won together, and were-elected in 2003.

    The aggrieved PDP chieftains talked about fairness in politics, arguing that besides Wike coming second to Atiku in the May 2022 PDP primaries, he scored highest in the straw poll to choose Atiku’s running mate.

    In the behind-the-scenes vetting involving 17 PDP leaders, Wike allegedly scored 14 of the 17 votes, prompting his recommendation as Atiku’s running mate.

    Poll watchers may dismiss “fairness” as a bedrock for democratic practice, as politicians majorly promote self-interest and how to win election, to claim or retain power.

    Atiku settled for Okowa to serve his interest, and complement him to win the presidency. So, he trumped other considerations, like Wike’s touted capacity to galvanise voters and bankroll the PDP 2023 campaigns.

    After all, Atiku has bankable millions of votes, and the war chest to single-handedly finance the presidential contest. Any contributions from Okowa are an added advantage.

    The PDP leaders’ harping on fairness in their canvassing for Wike to be Atiku’s running mate is fair enough. And that’s if politics were based on fairness. But it isn’t!

    And if history is any guide, critics won’t ascribe “fairness” to Wike, nor blame Atiku for picking Okowa, who came second to Wike in the PDP committee screening for a vice presidential candidate to Atiku.

    The interesting bent to Atiku’s decision to pick Okowa is the memory it brings in the infamous “16 is greater than 19” votes under President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Then, Wike, as Minister of State (Education), was a rabid supporter of President Jonathan, who’s at loggerheads with Rivers State Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.

    In his bid for re-election as Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), Amaechi scored 19 votes, while his challenger and pro-Jonathan Plateau State Governor Jonah David Jang, polled 16 votes.

    But Jonathan upheld Jang as the “winner,” and Wike couldn’t be happier, as Jonathan was undermining Amaechi’s hold on power in Rivers, which finally fell to the PDP in 2015, and enabled Wike to become governor.

    Still on fairness in politics, Wike shouldn’t have stood for president, for dissing the Southern Governors’ Forum (SGF) resolution for the presidency to rotate to the South.

    Despite this notice, Wike rooted for emergence of a Northern president, and endorsed Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed as the “best man for president.”

    Wike only retraced his steps when the agitation for a Southern president had gone beyond his calculation as a possible running mate to Mohammed in the 2023 polls.

    The BIG question: If the shoe were on the other foot – Atiku naming Wike as running mate – would he have allowed Okowa to replace him? That’s unimaginable!

    The odd request by the PDP leaders was for Atiku to do the unintended: change his mind, and designate Okowa as a “placeholder” for Wike, the “authentic” running mate.

    Thus, Atiku would’ve mimicked the candidate of the APC, Tinubu, the LP’s Obi, and the NNPP’s Kwankwaso, who picked placeholders as their preliminary running mates.

    Iterating his choice of Okowa, Atiku, on July 14, barely 24 hours to the deadline for listing of candidates’ names, stomped with Okowa in Osogbo, Osun State capital city, for the PDP candidate in the July 16 governorship poll.

    It’s good that Atiku stuck with Okowa to the end of the nominating process, and left the other three candidates to play catch-up in the high-stake march to 2023 elections.

     

    *Mr Ezomon, Journalist and Media Consultant, writes from Lagos, Nigeria.

  • 2023: My choice of Okowa is a perfect fit for Nigeria – Atiku

    2023: My choice of Okowa is a perfect fit for Nigeria – Atiku

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has described the choice of his running mate as a perfect strategy to unify the country.

    Atiku had last month unveiled the Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, as his running mate in the 2023 presidential election.

    He was responding to the decision of his All Progressives Congress (APC) rival, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to pick a fellow Muslim, Kashim Shettima, as his running mate.

    In a statement issued on Monday by his media aide, Paul Ibe, the former Vice President said he viewed Nigeria from the prism of religious, ethnic and tribal divides.

    The statement read: “It’s up to them. What drives Atiku and the PDP is different from what drives other parties. I can’t speak for them, we can’t speak for them. I don’t know what their motivation is. But I can tell you about that of Atiku Abubakar.

    “It’s what has defined his life to understand that diversity that is Nigeria, inclusivity. He sees Nigeria from the prism of religious, ethnic and tribal divides. Nigeria is his constituency and that’s why as far as his campaign is concerned what he envisions is a country of one people with one future.

    “He knows that at this particular point in time when the country is so divided and polarized along our fault lines, the biggest challenge that we have, the most important, the most critical is about unifying the country and bringing people together before you can even have the arduous task of economic development.

    “So, that is important for him and I think that has informed the choices that he has made. Every choice that we make there will always be consequences.

    “This is Nigeria. Nigerians are going to make a determination. You are talking about people who have lived under a climate and a culture with an absence of inclusivity and some people are classified as second-class citizens.

    “We are talking about the same Nigerians who have lived under a state of pervasive insecurity where lives and property are not safe.

    “The question is, are their lives better? They are going to make that determination because I believe that every Nigerian wants a better country that is secure.

    “They want a country where they would be included, they want a country where they would have access to the most basic of social services, they want a country where they would be able to have opportunities, have a job to food on the table, so that their children when they go to school they are safe from harm.

    “Those are the people, not outsiders, that are going to make the determination. I believe the outcome of all this is that they would tilt towards a candidate, a ticket that is well disposed, that is more viable to be able to provide all of these things that have been lacking in the last seven years.”

  • Okowa swears in 4 commissioners, tasks them on accountability

    Okowa swears in 4 commissioners, tasks them on accountability

    Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta and Vice Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Thursday swore in four commissioners with a charge to be devoted, loyal and accountable.

    Okowa, who gave the charge while performing the function at Government House in Asaba, charged them to deploy their expertise to serve the people of the state.

    The commissioners were assigned their portfolios as: Mr Samuel Mariere , Water Resources; Chief Sunday Onoriode, Primary Education; Chief Mike Okah, Transport and Chief Godspower Asiuwhu, Ministry of Environment.

    Okowa congratulated the new commissioners and charged them to discharge their new responsibilities with dedication and diligence in the overall interest of the people.

    He said, “As you are all aware, we are gradually moving towards the end of our second term in office.

    “We have before us, many urgent challenges arising from the committed pursuit of our critical projects, including the inevitable pressures of the politics of the future.

    “It is, therefore, necessary that we face our tasks with our best available expertise and be devoted as we represent the aspirations of our people.

    “You have come in at a time when this administration is not only taking stock of what it has accomplished so far in meeting the desires and aspirations of the people.

    “But also accelerating action and increased articulation of those things still outstanding in the development of the state as we clearly set out from the onset.

    “Therefore, expect that you will put in your very best efforts for the benefit of the entire state and its people.

    “In your various portfolios, we expect you to serve with integrity, devotion, loyalty and accountability because all eyes are on us as we have pledged to finish strong”.

    He added, “It is our expectation that you will provide fresh ideas and a new impetus to support the government in consolidating its legacy projects among others.

    ”And also in  building a sustainable foundation for our economy and moving the politics of Delta state to a higher level of humility, justice, harmony and fair play as you serve our people.

    “Let me remind you that this assignment will be especially challenging, as we seek to accomplish most of our projects and other commitments under a disciplined financial regime and urgency,

    “This is more imperative especially as the seasons of expectations of our citizens, active politics and elections fever begin to emerge.

    “We must suck in all the pressure with sound composure, discipline and transparent commitment and purpose driven focus.

    “These are the only ways you can assist our government to leave the desired legacy of service in Delta State, while also endearing yourselves to our dear people who expectedly continue to expect the best from us.”

    Responding on behalf of the commissioners, Mariere thanked God for the appointment and appreciated the governor for finding them worthy to serve, assuring that they would assist him in his finishing strong agenda.

  • Delta assembly confirms Okowa’s 4 commissioner nominees

    Delta assembly confirms Okowa’s 4 commissioner nominees

    The Delta House of Assembly on Tuesday confirmed the appointment of four commissioner nominees submitted by Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa as members of the State Executive Council.

    This followed the adoption of a motion by the Majority Leader of the house, Chief Ferguson Onwo during plenary in Asaba.

    Okowa had on June 28 forwarded the list of nominees to the house for confirmation.

    The nominees were Mr Samuel Mariere, Dr Sunday Onoriode, Chief Mike Okah and Chief Godspower Asiuwhu.

    The Speaker, Chief Sherriff Oborevwori who presided over the sitting, said that one of the nominees, Mariere was a former lawmaker in the house.

    Mariere represented Ughelli North I Constituency between 2011 and 2019 to remain a good ambassador of the legislature.

    Oborevwori directed that Mariere should enjoy the special privileges usually granted to non sitting members of the House to take a bow in recognition of his outstanding performance as a two-term lawmaker in the house.

    He also granted Onoriode the special privilege, having served the party meritoriously as the State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Organising Secretary.

    The other two nominees,  Okah and  Asiuwhu also enjoyed the privilege as directed by the Speaker.

    Consequently, the majority leader moved a motion for the confirmation of the nominees.

    The motion which was unanimously adopted by the lawmakers when put to a voice vote by the speaker, was seconded by the Deputy Majority Leader, Mr Oboro Preyor.

    Also at Tuesday plenary, the House confirmed the appointment of Dr Samuel Ossai as a member of the board of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC).

    The house also confirmed the appointment of Mr Kelly Imoghenewe as a member of the board of Delta State Internal Revenue Service.

    Also at plenary, the House took the second reading of the Delta State Administrative Procedures Bill with the Majority Leader, Ferguson Onwo leading debates on the merits of the bill.

    The Majority Leader described the bill as apt and harmless as it would promote transparency, good governance and advance the fortunes of the state.

    Onwo who commended Okowa for forwarding the bill which sought to open up administrative procedures in the state, emphasised that the law will deepen democratic process in the state.

    Also speaking in favour of the bill, Mr  Reuben Izeze, representing Ughelli South constituency, said that the bill would bring good governance to the door steps of the people.

    Izeze who also commended the governor for his foresight for sending the bill to the House, said modern democracy was being introduced in state.

    The Chip Whip of the house, Mrs Pat Ajudua said that the bill would promote transparency, accountability, efficiency, order and rule of law in the state.

    Also, the Deputy Chip Whip, Mr Solomon Ighrakpata said that the bill would help to address certain hiccups in the smooth running of government ministries, agencies and departments, MDAs) which were key organs of government.

    Consequently, the bill was referred to the House Joiint Committee on Rules and Business and Special Bills  for scrutiny by the Speaker.

  • I lost my WAEC certificate, but I have the print out – Okowa

    I lost my WAEC certificate, but I have the print out – Okowa

    Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State and Vice Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said he lost his West African Examinations Council (WAEC) certificate, but that he has the printout from Edo College, Benin City.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Governor Okowa made this known on Tuesday while stressing that the printout clearly stated that he has distinction in all subjects, adding that he made the second best result in his set in the country in 1976.

    Okowa said that the issue around the certificate was deliberate wrong perception and unnecessary politics while explaining that virtually all universities in the country offered him admission based on his outstanding performance in WASC and Higher School Certificate (HSC) examinations.

    Okowa made this known while speaking to journalists after inspecting ongoing projects at the Delta State University of Science and Technology, Ozoro in Isoko North Local Government Area.

    He said: “On the issue of my certificate, I think it is a misconception. People try to play politics with everything.

    “Yes, I lost my WAEC certificate, but I have the print out from Edo College, Benin City, which clearly stated that I have distinction in all subjects.

    “The Higher School Certificate was attached and it has been acknowledged by Edo College and the school put it out there that I made an ‘A’ `B’ `B’.

    “I do not pride myself but it was very difficult to make such grade in higher school at that time.

    “My high school result was the second best nationally in 1976, when I finished. So, many universities admitted me through Telegram as at that time, and I had to start making choices of which to accept.

    “Of course, it’s very clear that I finished medical school at the University of Ibadan. I was 21years and some months; I was less than 22 years of age.’’

    On the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the governor called on the Federal Government to expedite action in resolving the issues, adding that every government should be sincere enough to keep to promises and agreements at all times.

    “We continue to sympathise with our students who have been at home for several months now rather than being in school.

    “I use this opportunity to call on the Federal government to do something urgently to end the strike.

    “It’s not a good thing for the children, parents and even education in general. It is unfortunate that the Federal government has not been able to attend to issues, as requested by ASUU.

    “For every government, if promises are made, we must ensure that we keep to our promises and if there are things that cannot be done, you let people know,’’ he said.

    Okowa remarked that lecturers were not on strike in the four universities owned by the state, “for us in Delta State, we are fulfilling all the requirements and that’s why you can see that this university and our three other universities are all active and in session because we do not have any issues with our lecturers.

    “All our four universities are in session because we pay special attention to education in Delta State, and our Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has also assured that education occupies a prime position in our `Rescue Nigeria’ mission.’’

    He expressed satisfaction with the Management of the university in Ozoro for successfully admitting 1,850 students in the first year, disclosing that no fewer than 3,000 applicants chose the university as first choice in the new session, starting in October.

    “That over 3,000 applicants have chosen the University of Science and Technology, Ozoro, as first choice is very heart-warming and it goes to show that our decision to upgrade the Polytechnic to a University of Science and Technology is a very good decision.’’

    He also lauded the university for using the engineering students to execute some projects in the school.

    “We walked through some concrete paved roads executed by the university with engineering students and it is very encouraging that they are putting their students to practice and their lecturers also have the opportunity to practicalise what they teach.

    “You will recall in the same manner when the school was a polytechnic that they used their students and their engineering staff to build the stadium in the campus.

    “This is very encouraging because it is important that we actually ensure that our students are not only groomed up in theory but also put to practice what they learn and that’s exactly what we look forward to,” the governor said.

  • Forget our support if you drop Okowa – Igbo youths warn Atiku

    The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has been warned not to drop Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa as his running mate

    There are growing concerns that pressure is mounting on Atiku to drop Okowa and replace him with Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike.

    It was gathered that Wike’s loyalists are also said to be making the same demand as the only way to make room for peace in the party.

    However, a statement made available to newsmen on Tuesday by the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide (OYC) made it known that Atiku will regret it if he drops Okowa and replaces him with Wike.

    The statement signed by the National President of OYC, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike and the Secretary, Comrade Obinna Achionye said any attempt to replace Okowa would backfire.

    The Igbo youths said the South-East would not accept to lose out completely in the scheme of things, having lost the opportunity to produce the presidential candidate of either the PDP or the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    “There is no need to repeat that we expected both the PDP and the APC to zone their presidential tickets to the South-East, but that did not happen.

    “Though this has been overtaken by events, the only consolation we have is the choice of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as running mate to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, considering that Okowa is a true Igbo son.

    “Having said this, how could anyone wake up and think of replacing Okowa with Wike? As much as we know that Atiku reserves the right to choose whoever he wills as his running mate, we also have the right to vote according to our desire.

    “And that desire is clear- that the PDP would not get one vote from Igbo land should they field Wike, because this is a man who disowned Ndigbo. He said he is not one of us and this is payback time, we also do not know him. Should the PDP make the mistake of pairing him with Atiku, the PDP will be roundly rejected during the presidential election,” the Ohanaeze youths warned.

    The OYC added that “with the new Electoral Act, those who constituted themselves into emperors are going to be disgraced during the polls. The time for bogus fake results is over, so nobody should be deceived.”

  • Okowa names 4 commissioner nominees

    Okowa names 4 commissioner nominees

    Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta, on Tuesday, forwarded the names of four commissioner nominees to the state House of Assembly for possible screening and confirmation.

    The names were contained in a letter to the Assembly which was read on the floor of the House by the Speaker, Chief Sheriff Oborevwori.

    The nominees are, Mr Samuel Mariere, Mr Sunda Onoriode, Chief Mike Okah and Chief Godspower Asiuwhu.

    During the sitting, the House also received two separate letters of nomination into the State Board of Internal Revenue and Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC).

    According to the letters, Mr Kelly Oghenekevwe was nominated as Executive Director, Delta State Board of Internal Revenue while Dr Samuel Ossai was nominated into the board of DESOPADEC.

    Speaking on the governor’s letters, the Majority Leader, Chief Ferguson Onwo, moved separate motions praying the Assembly to receive the letters.

    In a unanimous vote, the house accepted the letters as working documents before it.

    Speaking later, the Speaker directed the nominees to submit 35 copies of their curriculum vitae and photo copies of their credentials to the Clerk of the House.

    He said that the documents must be submitted before July 4.

    Oborevwori further said the nominees would be screened by the Assembly on July 5.

  • Okowa berates critics, urges them to visit Delta

    Okowa berates critics, urges them to visit Delta

    Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta on Friday berated his critics and  urged them to come to Delta to assess the level of infrastructural development across the state.

    The governor gave the charge while addressing newsmen after inspecting the ongoing projects at the Dennis Osadebey University, Asaba.

    Okowa gave assurance that the university would wear a new look by December 2022, when the projects would have been completed.

    “When people in Lagos and Abuja say that they are not seeing what we are doing, it is either that they don’t come home or that they just want to be wicked in their ways.

    “There is a lot going on in our three new universities and we are proud that we took this decision because the new universities have admitted no fewer than 5,000 students within one year of their approval.

    “We have also commenced the construction of two hostel projects in the university to accommodate students and it will be useful to us during the National Sports Festival holding in Asaba in November,” he said.

    On the N25 billion loan for oil palm farmers in the state, Okowa said that it was not a direct loan to the state government, adding that the government was only act as guarantor to the farmers.

    “It is not a direct loan to the state government; it’s unfortunate what critics are saying because they need to be informed and if they had listened at the House of Assembly when it was brought before the lawmakers, the letter was very explicit.

    “We have an economic team and when we are satisfied with a plan, we go through the State Executive Council and then to the House of Assembly for approval.

    “We are only like a guarantor to the farmers,  the oil palm farmers in the state. The loan is to the farmers but the state is acting as a guarantor to them.

    “In Akwa-Ibom and Edo States, they have borrowed far more than what our people are asking for.

    “This particular loan is from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to the oil palm farmers association in Delta State for the development of about 17,700 hectares of oil palm.

    “It’s going to be monitored but somebody needed to guarantee it for them and that is just what we have done,” Okowa said.

    On pensions, Okowa said that only eight states were currently running the Contributory Pension Scheme in the country as 16 states had exited.

    He said that the state government inherited a huge backlog of past services as a result of the pension scheme but was doing a lot to defray it.

    “When we came into government in 2015, we were owing about N100 billion as past services or accrual services.

    “We were able to investigate the sum and it eventually came down to about N88 billion and since then we have been paying N500 million monthly and we have paid over N36 billion over time.

    “We have also made a provision of N20 billion from the proposed bridging finance to see what we can pay down for the past services,” he said.

    On politics of 2023, the governor said that he would not leave any work undone and encouraged Nigerian youths to embrace the PDP, adding that Nigerians would gain from the success story of the Atiku-Okowa ticket.

    “Here in Delta we have focused a lot on our youths and women because they are very important in this nation,” he said.

  • 2023: PDP VP Candidate, Okowa receives hero’s welcome in Delta

    Delta State Governor, Senator (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa on Thursday received a hero’s welcome in Asaba, the State capital after emerging as running mate to Atiku Abubakar for the 2023 presidential election.

    At a grand reception organised in Asaba by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta after his emergence as the party’s Vice Presidential candidate, Governor Okowa said only the PDP can wrestle power from the All Progressives Congress in the 2023 general elections.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the people of Delta and party faithful turned out en masse to give the PDP VP candidate a hero’s welcome.

    The Governor, who appreciated God and thanked Nigerians for his elevation and support, said he was grateful to the Party Presidential Flagbearer, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and the National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, for selecting and nominating him as the vice presidential candidate.

    According to Okowa, the Atiku/Okowa joint ticket is for victory, hope and the only ticket that will rescue power from the APC led government come 2023.

    He said that the nation needed to pray, be resilient and be hopeful, adding that the process of rebuilding the country and give hope to the youth, women and indeed to Nigerians has begun.

    Okowa advised youths not to be carried away by the euphoria of the time but remain committed to work with PDP for the positive change that would come.

    He said that he had in the past seven years, with the support of youths, built Delta State, adding that this would be replicated in the national level should the party emerge winner.

    The governor said that the PDP-led government, if returned to power, would tackle insecurity, create jobs and rebuild the economy and ensure that education remained key to end this incessant strikes in federal universities and other institutions.

    “Atiku has been talking on the need to restructure the country and the need to engage the private sector to provide opportunities for the youth and women.

    “We wants to assure the private sector that a new hope is coming and we shall tackle the issues of insecurity by providing jobs for the youth.

    “We cannot do this alone but with the support of the women and youths; we shall bring back Nigeria among respected nations in the world.

    ”So, I urge all of you to go out there to register and collect your Permanent Voters’ Cards and by the grace of God we will win in 2023,” Okowa said.

    The Deputy Minority Leader, House of Representatives, Mr Ndudi Elemelu, the Ohaneze Indigbo Youths and that of the Women wings, led by Mr Okonna Nwike and Rita Daniels among other groups, gave their support for the Atiku/Okowa joint ticket.

    Gov. Okowa was accompanied home by the PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu and members of the party’s working committee.

    Also, the state Deputy Governor, Mr Kingsley Otuaro, the state party Chairman, Mr Kingsley Esiso,  traditional rulers, clergymen, party faithful and gospel singers, were on ground to receive Okowa in a worship and praise to God for the governor.