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Tag: Ifeanyi Okowa

  • Gov Okowa is an astute manager of resources – By Festus Okubor

    Gov Okowa is an astute manager of resources – By Festus Okubor

    By Dr Festus Goziem Okubor

    This is an election season and the moment for unscrupulous politicians to throw brickbats and engage in callous mudslinging to tarnish formidable honour and unassailable integrity that took years to build. Civilized and mature politics demands that decency should be the rule of the game.

    When politicians and public office holders go out of their way to concoct lies and distort facts in order to score cheap points and transient popularity then they are not only assailing the public good and public interest, but poisoning the watershed of the political ideal which derives from information and enlightenment.

    As we prepare and look forward with hope to the consolidation of our democratic experience with the general elections of 2023, some mischief makers who have seen clearly that their political aspirations have been rejected by the people have resorted to spinning and spewing lies of slanderous proportions into the public space.

    This intervention is a response to one of such deliberate lies. And there should be honour, integrity and dignity in politics. Men of honour, integrity and dignity do not lie. So, these characters that chanced on our political space lack these three elements which are desired in building stable societies “where peace and justice reign”.

    The latest preoccupation of disgruntled leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State is to peddle lies in order to discredit the Governor of Delta State, His Excellency, Senator Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa and clothe him in the robe of a poor manager of resources who squandered allocations to Delta State under his watch.

    Those who know Governor Okowa will attest to his nobility of mind. Even those currently accusing him falsely know that Governor Okowa is a man of uncommon mettle whose sandals they are not worthy to undo in saner climes as they ought to be cooling of in jail for the many crimes they committed against the state from stealing from state treasury, extorting contractors and collecting money for ghost and unexecuted projects and for mace snatching.

    Certainly, public memory is not short and the internet never forgets. Those falsely accusing the highly respected Governor Okowa should google their names and that of the beloved Governor and they will see the infamous narratives around their names in contrasts to the nobility of spirit of the amiable Governor.

    The ongoing smear campaign was triggered off by the incoherent story by attention seeking Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State that President Muhammadu Buhari released monies accruing from deductions from the 13% derivation funds and that the infrastructural achievements of his government was made possible by the money President Buhari paid.

    Well, nobody needs to be told that Wike has become a sore loser and a weeping baby. The questions people should ask Wike are : when was the money released? Why did he not tell Nigerians when the money was paid? Why is he just telling them now? Wike is an advocate of bad politics which is unhealthy for the polity.

    His new activism without definition, boundary or ideology is a product of the fact that he was beaten during the PDP presidential primaries and furthermore he lost woefully to the noble Governor Okowa of Delta State. Wike is fighting his homestead and people. He is bound to lose because no man ever wins against his people. The fact that none of the other five South-South governors associate with Wike points to the truth that he has been rejected at home.

    The rabidly desperate promoters of the Wike bad belle narrative are Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, Adams Oshiomhole and their BANDits of political desperadoes wanting to push Delta to the EDGE of disaster. What the duo and their minions are pushing into the public space is the narrative that Governor Okowa squandered 250 billion naira accruing from the 13 % derivation fund released by President Buhari.

    In their unthinking nature they pointed at the flyovers built by Wike in Port-Harcourt, take note, in Port Harcourt and not any other part of Rivers State and asked Governor Okowa what he did with the money accruing to Delta State. Their query could be as a result of crass ignorance or deliberate mischief to mislead the public and score cheap points. These are certainly not the hallmarks of altruistic politicians or statesmen.

    Altruism is never desperate as the men have chosen to be. Governor Okowa remains an astute manager of men and resources. The fact that he does not mount the rooftop to announce with multiple megaphones the number of projects he has executed does not diminish his monumental and unsurpassed achievements as a Governor.

    The truth with Delta State is that about 340 billion naira is accruable to it, but it has not been earned. The refund they are talking about is 292 billion naira and the Federal Government promised to pay in sixty installments. This was why the State requested a drawdown of 150 billion naira and only 30 billion was recently drawn. So the talk about hefty sum of 250 billion being mismanaged by Governor Okowa is a concocted political lie.

    Only an ignorant or mischievous fellow will compare Delta State with Rivers State in terms of infrastructure development and spread. Rivers State is 55 years old, while Delta is just 31. It means that Rivers State ought to have more infrastructure. But let us compare. Delta State has about thirty-one urban centres, the highest in any state in Nigeria. Rivers State has only Port-Harcourt which is where all the flyovers Agege and Oshiomhole are drooling over are located. Whatever development going on in Bonny Island is by joint venture and Rivers Government refused to meet its obligation.

    Delta State government under Governor Okowa has constructed 1,905 kilometers of roads and 1, 035 kilometers of drains. Delta State is Nigeria’s frontrunner in human capital development, 14, 075 youth entrepreneurs have emerged, over 223, 000 employments created with about 1.3 million indirect jobs. Delta State is number one in contributory healthcare scheme with more than 1.2 million enrolled.

    The State has four universities and seven other tertiary institutions, the highest by any state in Nigeria. Roads have been built in the riverine communities for the first time and there are 16 bridges under constriction with 6 others completed. The bridges are ambitious and cost intensive projects that will link the riverine communities with the world.

    The list of projects executed by the Governor Okowa administration will show the even distribution across the length and breadth of the State. There is a deliberate integration of urban and rural communities so that all Deltans will feel a sense of belonging.

    Were Governor Okowa to concentrate all the State’s resources in developing only Asaba, then the city would have overtaken Dubai or New York in beauty. Governor Okowa is conscious of his place as Governor of all and not a sectional leader like the Orhomuru-Orogun Senator who took all the projects meant for the entire Urhobo nation of twenty-four clans to his miniature sub-community of Orhomuru-Orogun.

    Those calling out Governor Okowa should step out to be audited as public office holders. Senator Omo-Agege’s time as commissioner and secretary to state government was financially disastrous for the Delta State. His house became a central bank where cooks made away with Ghana-must-go bags of money. His Orogun people will not forget how he extorted contractors and collected money for forty-eight projects that he didn’t execute.

    There were monies for hundreds of projects across the state that he seized using the tenders’ board. He thinks the people have forgotten. Is this the man wanting to be governor? The mace incident and his recruitment as a servant of the caliphate with him a chief kneeling to thank Buhari remains repulsive to his people.

    As for Adams Oshiomhole, he left Edo State in massive debt and destroyed the entire fabric of government. Governor Obaseki is still working to fix the catastrophe that Oshiomhole turned Edo State into. How he ran down the APC and embarrassed the nation before he was disgraced out of office is still fresh in our memory. Are these the men who should call out Governor Okowa on account of probity? Not at all. They lack what it takes.

    The public, especially Deltans, should discountenance the ranting of Agege and Oshiomhole. They are raving in frustration as they are bound to have their day in the court of public morality.

  • Okowa has constructed over 1,932km roads project in Delta— Commissioner

    Okowa has constructed over 1,932km roads project in Delta— Commissioner

    Delta Government says it has constructed over 883 road projects, spanning 1,932km across the state in the past seven years.

    The State Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, stated this at a press briefing on Monday in Asaba.

    He said Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa’s led administration  constructed over 1,000 line drainages and storm drainages in  Asaba and Warri since inception.

    The commissioner was reacting to the allegation that the All Progressive Congress (APC), Presidential Candidate, Sen. Bola Tinubu and the state Governorship Candidate, Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege, that Okowa administration could not account for monies received over the period.

    “Starting from the creeks, where Tinubu and Omo-Agege claimed nothing was being done and we won’t blame them because they are not aware of happenings in the state.

    “We have done internal roads in Burutu, Okerenkoko, Benikrukru, 20.4 Km Obotobo 1 and 2, Yokri, Sokebolou roads, Ogulaha – Youbebe Road, Isama, Kpakiama, Ogbebene, Oviri-Olomu-Egodor and Kombowei Road in Patani among others.

    “In the urban areas the Ughelli-Asaba road, Okpanam Bye-pass, Cable road, Okpanam Road, Mariam Babangida, Direct Labour Road (DLA) as well as Orogun township roads where Omo-Agege hails from.

    “Beyond Road construction we have embarked on the construction of 22 bridges with 7 completed among which is the Ovwor – Effurun-Otor Otor Bridge, Oha-Orerokpe Road Agbarho-Orherhe Road and Bridge.

    ”Others are Kwale-Beneku ongoing, Trans Warri Road and bridges, Koka Interchange and Flyover and the Ayakoromo bridge among others,” Aniagwu said.

    On job creation in the state, Aniagwu said the state government under its youth empowerment programmes had empowered 13,510 youths with 222,000 persons benefiting directly and over 1.3 million people benefiting indirectly.

    Aniagwu also listed other landmark projects of the Gov. Okowa led administration to include the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba;  Ozoro University Stadium, the ultra modern State Secretariat, Traditional Rulers Secretariat, Ogheye Floating Market, among others.

    On successes recorded in the health sector, Aniagwu, who doubles as Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Spokesman, said over 1.1 million people and residents of Delta had been enrolled into the state’s Contributory Health Commission.

    He said that the Asaba Specialist Hospital, Advanced Diagnostic Centre and Mother and Child Hospital in Owa-Alero and Ekpan were some of the achievements of the state government under the health sector.

    He said that the  Okowa’s administration also recorded impressive  performances in the revamping of six existing technical Colleges and the construction of additional nine new technical colleges.

    The state government also established 45 new Secondary and  17 new primary schools across the state this culminated to the construction of 8,617 class room blocks and the establishment of the Teachers’ Professional Development Centre, Owa-Oyibu.

    He tasked the opposition party to stay on the issues and focus on what they want to offer the people instead.

  • Okowa squandering Delta money on his VP ambition – Omo-Agege alleges

    Okowa squandering Delta money on his VP ambition – Omo-Agege alleges

    The Deputy Senate President and Delta State Governorship Candidate of the All Progressives Congress APC, Obarisi Ovie Omo-Agege, has alleged that Governor Okowa led administration squandered money meant to develope the state for his vice Presidential ambition.

    Omo-Agege who made this allegation during a World Press in Asaba to unveil his governorship manifesto, lamented that Okowa has squandered over N2.8 Trillion received in the last seven years with nothing to show for it.

    He said: “Even more saddening is the fact that the governor has been going around borrowing with reckless abandon, making the state one of the most indebted in Nigeria even with its monumental FAAC allocation and 13% derivation revenue as an oil producing state.

    “Okowa’s government alone has swallowed up well over N2.8trillion in seven years. We are all Deltans here. Do you see anything on ground that is commensurate with that receipt? Delta State deserves better. We must reject leaders who will not be independent of Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa and the cabal that brought us to this sorry state.

    “For Deltans to get out of these problems and return to a path of economic prosperity, there must be change that offers progress beyond mere promises. With my record of public service, my candidacy represents and offers that change.

    “If you make an objective assessment of every village, town, city, and local government area in Delta State, including the riverine areas, you will come to the sad conclusion that the state is lagging behind in every index of socio-economic development and economic prosperity.

    ” There is poverty and profound infrastructural dilapidation from Asaba to Warri and environs, Ughelli to Udu, Sapele to Effurun, Koko to Oghara, Agbor to Ukwani, Ndokwa to Abraka, and other areas of the State. The PDP government has abandoned the riverine areas of the state to their own devices.

    “When compared to other states in the Niger Delta with similar FAAC and IGR revenues, Delta is beset by poor or nonexistent infrastructure.

    “Even the few projects that exist are poorly executed. The net effect is that the state looks like a giant junkyard. Most of the roads and structures purportedly executed by the Okowa government in the last seven years have failed and, in many instances, outrightly collapsed.

    Many such failed projects that litter the state are being recycled and re-awarded to cronies without a visionary and credible plan for sustainable infrastructural development.

    “Today, there are strong reasons to believe that monies meant for the development of Delta State are now being channelled to fund the ill fated ambition of Governor Okowa to become Vice-President of Nigeria in 2023 by every means. Just go around the state.

    The poverty and frustration inflicted by this government on Deltans over the years are palpable and scary. Insecurity, low quality projects, lack of vision to revive the economy of the State, misplaced priorities in governance, corruption, nepotism, government waste, incompetence, and lack of accountability are pervasive and profound.”

    “This failed PDP government has no solid plan to address the insecurity situation in the State. If elected, our government will tackle the challenges of insecurity from day one. Our administration will create a security trust fund, facilitate, and equip community policing for every ward, village, and town in Delta State.”

    ” We will create a system to build security awareness and confidence in our communities for intelligence gathering and sharing at various levels. There will be a revitalized and strengthened State Security Council that will assist in the coordination of law and order. To ensure security in our communities, our government will partner with traditional institutions and community-based youth organizations to ensure and promote communal conflict resolution.”

    ” We believe that the development we desire for Delta State can only take place when there is peace and enduring security. Delta State and our government will benefit more if we also elect an APC federal government. An APC led federal government will partner better with an APC government in Delta State. Our plans to revive the ports in Warri, Koko and Burutu to boost the economic transformation of Delta State will be better enhanced by an APC led federal government. We will be able to attract other federal projects and influence policies favorable to Delta State in an APC led federal government with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Commander-in-Chief.”

    He further called on all Deltans to vote massively for Bola Ahmed Tinubu as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as well as all other APC candidates across board.

  • Gov Okowa gives update on N150bn bridging finance facility

    Gov Okowa gives update on N150bn bridging finance facility

    The Delta Government has accessed N30 billion out of the N150 billion bridging finance facility it applied for from a financial institution.

    Gov. ifeanyi Okowa of Delta made this known while answering questions from newsmen shortly after inspecting the Koka flyover and Interchange project.

    The governor also visited the Stephen Keshi Stadium, the Leisure Park and Film Village as well as the Dennis Osadebey University, all in Asaba.

    Okowa, who is also the Vice Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said N25 billion out of the N30 billion has already been accessed by the state government and deployed into some ongoing projects.

    He said that the remaining N5 billion was channelled into the payment of pensioners in the Bureau for State Pensions and the Local Government Pensions Bureau.

    According to Okowa, LGAs pensioners are not under the state’s purview, the money (N2.5 billion) was given to them as grant from the state government.

    “On the Bridging Finance, as at today, we have only been able to access N30 billion of it and we have deployed it into various projects.

    “On the level of work at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, the governor said he was impressed with the pace of work and called on the contracting firm to redouble efforts so as to complete the various projects before November 24.

    He said that the state was set to host the National Sports Festival without any hitch, adding that the upgrade of sporting facilities in the stadium was to meet international standards.

    He advised those peddling fake news on the collapsed structure to base their reports on facts and not hearsay.

    “We were also at the stadium and a lot of work is going on there. They have reassured me that they would be out of that place by the 24th of November.

    “And I pray that they are able to do that because the games would start on the 30th of November. We are able to see the main bowl and the tracks that are being replaced.

    “You also noticed that the swimming pools, the main one and the warm up one have gone very far. There is also additional spectators stand which I am told will be ready in another week from today.

    At the Dennis Osadebey University, the governor lauded the contracting firms handling various projects in the institution for maintaining standard.

    On the Koka flyover and interchange and the Asaba Leisure Park and Film Village, Okowa said, the projects would be ready for use before the end of the year.

    Recall that on April 28, Okowa wrote the state House of Assembly, seeking approval of a bridging finance facility of N150 billion in favour of the state government. The House on April 26, approved Okowa’s request.

    Okowa said: ”the requested credit facility which has Zenith Bank PLC as the lead arranger, would be principally tailored toward defraying arrears of unpaid certificates earned by contractors with respect to completion of some critical ongoing legacy projects awarded by past and present administrations in the state.

    The governor also said that part of the loan would be tailored toward taking care of outstanding pension commitments to the state and local government areas pensions in the contributory pension scheme, amounting to N20 billion and N10 billion respectively.

    ”Bearing in mind the administration’s resolve to finish strong, it is necessary for the state to capitalise on the refund to defray arrears of unpaid certificates earned by contractors with respect to completion of some critical ongoing legacy projects awarded by past and present administrations” the governor said.

  • PDP stakeholders reject Atiku/Okowa presidential list for Imo

    PDP stakeholders reject Atiku/Okowa presidential list for Imo

    Some stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo have rejected an Atiku/Okowa presidential campaign council list constituted for the state ahead of the 2023 elections.

    The party faithful expressed  dissatisfaction shortly after they staged a workout from a stakeholders’ meeting of the party on Monday in Owerri.

    Addressing newsmen, former chairman, Okigwe Local Government Area of the state, Mr Ngozi Ogbu said the presidential campaign council list was compiled without due consultation.

    Ogbu said they were summoned for the day’s meeting to discuss the composition of the presidential campaign council and management council.

    “But to our surprise and chagrin, the secretary of the party proceeded to read out a list of members of the council which led to fracas.

    “Majority of the stakeholders opposed the announcement due to lack of consultation and undue imposition of members,” he said.

    He claimed that the foisted list was an attempt by former Gov. Emeka Ihedioha to use the presidential council as an extension of his re-election campaign council.

    Also speaking, Mr Gozie Nwachukwu, an aspirant for the Abor-Mbaise state House of Assembly at the last primaries of the party, said a petition had earlier been written to express dissatisfaction.

    “When this meeting was called, we had expected that we will nominate members of the committee only for the secretary of the party to read a fictitious document naming it presidential campaign list.

    “If Emeka Ihedioha wants to run for governor, he is free to do so, but to try to scrumptiously convert and camouflage a presidential campaign council to now become an Ihedioha re-election campaign council, it will not work and we reject it in clear terms,” he said.

    Contributing, a gubernatorial aspirant and chieftain of the party, Mr Mike Ikoku said the imposition of the list was capable of jeopardizing the party’s lot in the state.

    Ikoku urged the national leadership of the party to jettison the list  for one  that would depict the general interest of the majority.

    However, in his reaction, the state Secretary of the party, Mr Ray Emeana said the presidential campaign council list captured the majority of the people’s interest.

    Emeana said: “It is normal that when decision is taken by the party, it will not go down well with everybody.

    “What is important is that we captured majority of the people’s interest and the process followed was the process that was approved by the given authority.

    “The national party sent us the criteria for the presidential campaign council for every state including Imo,  for selecting who becomes a member of the council.

    “The guidelines say people with positions or former positions should be identified which we did and filled in their names appropriately.

    “In addition, we asked every local government area to sort the names of their leaders which they did and went on to ask the candidates to make submissions which all of them did,” he said.

    According to him, the National Secretary of the PDP, Sen. Samuel Anyawu was asked to make submission which he did,; the list is a product of very wide consultation.

    Emeana said the list was later confirmed and signed by the director of administration of the presidential council after due consultation.

    “If anybody has any grouse, such should be forwarded to the presidential council and the National Working Committee,” Emeana said.

  • PDP will tackle insecurity, poverty – Gov Okowa

    PDP will tackle insecurity, poverty – Gov Okowa

    Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa and Vice-Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says the party will tackle security challenge and poverty bedevilling the country, if given the mandate in 2023.

    Okowa stated this when he spoke with newsmen on Sunday in Abuja, after participating at the St. James Anglican Church 2022 Harvest with the theme “Harvest of Joyful Return” where he delivered a sermon.

    “On our own part the Atiku-Okowa ticket we have promised what we to do, is our duty to try to bring Nigerians back again to believe, to know and act as one.

    “It is time to tackle the issue of insecurity truly with all political will realising that is not the fact that we have to fight criminality but realising in the name of God that we have to bring people back to their lives.

    “There is so much poverty, there is so much unemployment, definitely you must deal with all these before you cannot deal with insecurity in full.

    “Yes, we can start off but we have to get people gainfully employed, we have to recreate hope for Nigerians that is what we stand for. The economy will definitely have to revive,” he said.

    He urged Nigerians to continue to pray for the country.
    “We believe it shall be well. Things will continue to happen, the challenges will continue to come but there is nothing God cannot do,” he said.

    Okowas also said that a PDP led administration would ensure devolution of power.

    “We have spoken about the devolution of power to the states because when every states are competing among itself and trying to do its best for their people all parts of this country will begin to grow together.

    “While the federal government will continue to support the states but definitely they need resources to develop themselves, the local government need more resources.

    “We must give special attention to education, we must begin to manage our populations and provide health for the people.

    “In doing all these we would have started the process of recreating our Nigeria, our Nigeria of our dreams,” he said.

    Earlier in his sermon taking from Habakkuk 1:2 and 2:1, OKowa urged Nigerians to offer intercessory prayers for the nation, especially in its times of challenges.

    “Get ready to pray and sow the seed of time on to God for yourself, for your family, for the nation, for the church and the Lord will answer you, even as he spoke to Habacub and the Lord answered.

    “He thoughts, the vision here is for an appointed time that in the end we shall speak and not lie,” he said.

  • 2023: Why I am backing Atiku, Okowa, Oborevwori – Uduaghan

    2023: Why I am backing Atiku, Okowa, Oborevwori – Uduaghan

    Former governor of Delta, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan on Saturday in Warri, Delta State, charged supporters of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to vote for the party massively in the 2023 general elections.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that Uduaghan made the plea at the flag-off of the PDP Delta South ward-to-ward campaign.

    The former governor described the gathering organised by the leadership of the PDP in Delta South as a “reconciliation meeting in several areas’’.

    He urged party members and supporters to unite as one and indivisible family and deliver PDP candidates at all levels.

    He said it was a thing of joy that Delta produced the vice-presidential candidate of the party in the person of Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa and enjoined the people to support him.

    “No matter the misgivings you have against him before, he got there by the grace of God. We have no option than to support him to succeed. We must all queue behind him and give him the maximum support.

    “Whatever is in your heart, give a space and support our presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and his vice-presidential candidate, Gov. Okowa. I beg you, am serious with what I am saying,” he said.

    Uduaghan also urged the people to vote for PDP’s governorship candidate, Mr Sheriff Oborevwori, the Delta South senatorial district candidate, Mr Michael Diden, House of Representatives and House of Assembly candidates.

    “For the state, we must all come together and deliver our candidates. I am saying this with all seriousness. I am old enough in the politics of Delta to be able to access people and know those who are sincere and those that are not.

    “I appeal that we concentrate on our candidates and deliver them. People should stop spreading unnecessary rumours that will divide the party the more; we should put stories together that will move the party forward,” he said.

    Uduaghan also appealed for orderliness during voting and urged members and supporters to mobilise aggressively to polling units to cast their votes.

    “I appeal that we concentrate on our voting units and wards and deliver our candidates. Let’s put our differences aside and put together what can make us victorious as leading party in Delta,’’ he stressed.

    He thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for approving a pipeline surveillance contract and enjoined him to constitute a substantive Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Board without further delay.

    He said that people from Delta South should be deeply involved in the hierarchy of the board.

    Uduaghan thanked government at all levels for their assistance to victim of recent floods and appealed to individuals to also emulate governments and assist victims.

    Earlier, PDP Chairman in Delta South, Mr Julius Takeme said the party was ready to go into full campaigns from Nov. 14.

    Also, the Director-General of the PDP Campaign Organisation in Delta, Mr Funkekeme Solomon urged party members to work in unity to win elections.

  • BREAKING: Ex-Gov Uduaghan endorses Okowa for VP, Oborevwori for Gov

    BREAKING: Ex-Gov Uduaghan endorses Okowa for VP, Oborevwori for Gov

    Immediate past Governor of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan has endorsed the vice president ambition of his successor, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and also the governorship aspiration of the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Uduaghan on Saturday hosted leaders and candidates of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta South Senatorial District when he harped on the need to deliver five over five for the PDP.

    This is in departure to insinuations making the round that both Uduaghan and James Ibori, also a former governor of the state were not on the same page politically with Okowa.

    “We must all come together and deliver our candidate. I am saying this with all seriousness and from the button of my heart. I am old enough in the politics of Delta State to assess people so I know those who are sincere and those who are not sincere.

    “It will benefit us more to deliver our candidate than deliver a candidate of another party. I am saying this from experience and that’s what will happened. If you deliver a new candidate he will satisfy his people first before you,” Uduaghan said.

    TNG reports the meeting which was convened at Uduaghan’s instance, was his first public appearance in a political engagement after the governorship and presidential primaries of the party.

    “This is a major reconciliatory gathering to unite our party ahead of the general elections. PDP built us. We will do whatever we can do to give back to the party. I appeal to everyone to thread carefully because power belongs to God. We may have issues in our party but that doesn’t mean we should kill ourselves,” Uduaghan said.

    The Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan Hall, off Ogunu Road, was packed full of party leaders and faithful who were very eager to hear from their leader and two-term Governor of Delta State on the direction to go ahead of the 2023 general elections.

    Commenting on the chances of the PDP winning the general elections, the elder statesman said it was only God that made Okowa emerge as the vice presidential candidate of the party.

    He used the opportunity to declare support for the Atiku/Okowa and Sheriff/Onyeme tickets as well as those of the Senatorial, House of Representatives and House of Assembly of the PDP and urged everyone to do the same.

    “We must thank God that we have someone from our state as the VP candidate of our dear party. We have no option but to support him and Atiku to succeed. We must queue behind him and deliver our party at all levels,” he said.

    Continuing, the Delta South Leader said, “I believe that we will benefit more if we deliver our own candidates than to deliver those of other parties. I want to appeal that we should put our differences aside and put up what can give us victory at the polls come 2023.”

  • Gov Okowa faults FG for banning cryptocurrency

    Gov Okowa faults FG for banning cryptocurrency

    Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has faulted the federal government for banning cryptocurrency in the country, saying it should have been studied and Nigerians advised about it.

    Recall that the federal government, through the Central bank of Nigeria (CBN) in 2021 placed a ban on cryptocurrency trading in the country.

    The CBN said the directive became necessary to protect the financial system and the generality of Nigerians, including the youth population, from the risks inherent in crypto assets transactions.

    The regulator claimed the risks have escalated in recent times and have dire consequences for the integrity of the financial system and financial stability.

    However, Governor Okowa, who is the vice presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2023 elections stressed instead of outrightly banning cryptocurrency, it should have been studied and Nigerians educated about it given its unlimited potential for job creation and economic growth.

    “I do not think the right thing to have done was to do a ban. What they needed to do was to study the situation then and educate our people more on it and put in regulatory processes that are workable and beneficial to our people and the government,” Okowa said.

  • In Wike and Atiku fight, the heat comes on Governor Okowa – By Mideno Bayagbon

    In Wike and Atiku fight, the heat comes on Governor Okowa – By Mideno Bayagbon

    After months of a tempestuous fight and ill-fated recriminations, it is all over. The last we heard from former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, the flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is that he has given up and is walking away from the reconciliation meetings with Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and his four supporting governors. To him, it is no longer feasible investing his time and efforts in pursuing a peaceful reconciliation with a group of recalcitrant governors who have made up their minds to do him in.

    Governor Wike, on his part, has announced that Rivers State will not vote for Atiku Abubakar in  the Presidential Elections. This is  even when the rest of the PDP candidates, Wike says, will enjoy votes from the state. He has gone a step further and budgeted to splash N42 billion on 200,000 special assistants newly minted from his political over-do-factory or as his detractors would  say: his delusion-of-grandeur-brewery. Both sides have dug too deep, too entrenched in their positions to give room for a mutually agreeable solution. So Iyorchia Ayu remains PDP National Chairman to the chagrin of the Wike group who have now positioned to act as spoilers. Both sides have resolved that the roof should fall, no matter the implications. What a heavy price obduracy is about to inflict on vaunted egos!

    Nevertheless, contrary to the assumed meaning of the headline above, NO, Governor Ifeanyi  Arthur Okowa, the Vice Presidential candidate of the PDP, is not the fall guy from all the bad blood gushing out of the deep-seated, and now irreconcilable, fight. Rather, the doomed outcome of the intercourse and failed unification attempts have heaped a burden on him, to man up, and deliver the South South and to some extent, the South East region to the Atiku-Okowa ticket. All eyes are now on him as their joint ticket is definitely made weaker by the pull out of Wike and his group. That is five traditional PDP states going rogue. That is over 12 million potential votes at stake: Rivers State has well over three million, (3.2million), votes; Benue State has two point three million, (2.39million) registered voters; Enugu, one point nine million, (1.93 million); Abia, one point seven million, (1.79million); and Oyo, two point seven nine million, (2.79 million).

    However, one fact stands out. In the South South and South East regions, it  is Peter Obi, and not Governor Nyesom Wike, who is the real problem, the hard nut for the Atiku-Okowa ticket. If the frenzy generated around Peter Obi of the Labour Party holds till the election, the South East, which used to be mainly a PDP zone, will keel over and tilt towards harvesting its votes for the Labour Party candidate. PDP will find itself a poor second, and APC almost non-existent. The case in the South South will be slightly different. It is a traditional PDP zone with all the governors, except that of Cross River State, as members of the party. That is, until the imbroglio with Nyesom Wike and his band of four governors. Nevertheless, PDP is still likely, with serious hard work, to emerge the winner of the zone in the Presidential Elections. The major threat to its dominance of the zone is the Labour Party candidate, Obi. Alhaji Ahmed Bola Tinubu will come a very poor third in the race, all things remaining as they are now.

    Though the Wike group is yet to announce who their followers will be advised to vote for or what alignments they are going into, another thing that is clear, thankfully with the emergence of BVAS, is that the joke might end up being on Nyesom Wike in Rivers State. True, he has massively recruited foot soldiers to mobilise the state towards whatever direction he opts for. One nonetheless predicts that PDP will slug it out with Labour Party, and though badly bruised from the Wike schemings, It may still end up winning the state. This is especially so if Governor Ifeanyi Okowa liaises effectively with the large swath of disgruntled PDP elements which include Uche Secondus, (former National Chairman), Austin Opara, Celestine Omehia, Chibudum Nwuche and the whole gamut of APC chieftains who recently decamped to the PDP in the state.

    Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has his work cut out for him. Though a man that is highly underestimated, he is politically shrewd. Where Wike is bossy, loud and outrageously intolerant, Okowa is a man well heeled in  diplomacy. He is said to be cool headed, quiet by nature yet a very firm character. From the Arise Television Town Hall meeting he showed to Nigerians a side of him that his handlers must be very pleased with. He showed that he has capacity, is erudite with extensive knowledge and has sound appreciation of issues that need urgent national attention.

    But his traducers might point out the now abating political divide which threatened to tear the PDP to shreds in Delta State. They might wonder how Governor Okowa will be able to amicably resolve the issues he has with his political godfather, James Ibori, over the emergence of the popular Speaker of the Delta State house of assembly, Sheriff Oborevwori, as the governorship flag bearer of their party in the state. As is well known, Ibori had wanted his long time ally, David Edevbie, to be the flag bearer in the state but Okowa thought otherwise. With the Supreme Court putting an end to the nomination struggle of who the real flag bearer should be in the state,  and Edevbie being the first to congratulate his opponent, peace moves are said to be maturing.

    Both Okowa and Ibori know that they have to amicably resolve their differences if they don’t want the state to fall to their eagerly expectant rival, Ovie Omo-Agege of the All Progressives Congress. Should that happen, both of them would surely be the losers. Both of them would them suffer the indignity of having their party become the opposition party in the state. They both know that Omo-Agege, will not be an easy meat to handle if through their recalcitrance, he emerges governor of the state.

    Chief Ibori being a friend of the Presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar; and Ifeanyi Okowa being the Vice Presidential candidate of the party, it is in their common interest that their party wins the state at the Presidential, governorship and state of House of Assembly elections. This is what convinces one that both leaders who love power, will sheathe their swords, in their personal interest and that of their party the PDP. They seemingly have no other choice except they want to toe the Wike war path.

    That notwithstanding, most people are now more convinced about the suitability of Okowa for the vice presidential race with Atiku. He has shown himself to be cool headed, not ostentatious or flamboyant. As a Christian Ibo, their hope is that his pairing with Atiku will endear some segment of the society which the Wike shenanigans would have otherwise alienated. It is onerous on him now to bring the entire PDP in the South South and South East into the party’s umbrella. A lot rests on him bringing about unity in the two zones and in mobilising their members, in a unity of purpose, to turn out the votes in favour of the Atiku-Okowa ticket on election day. How he goes about it will make a lot of difference to the fortunes of the PDP, not just in the Presidential Elections, but also in the National Assembly, governorship and States Houses of Assembly elections.

     

    Mideno Bayagbon

    (mideno@thenewsguru.ng)