TheNewsGuru

Tag: okowa

  • 2023: Okowa has mortgaged future of Deltans through reckless borrowing – Omo-Agege

    2023: Okowa has mortgaged future of Deltans through reckless borrowing – Omo-Agege

     

    …charges Deltans to vote out PDP

     

    The Deputy Senate President and Delta APC Governorship Candidate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege has accused the Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa to have mortgaged the future of Deltans via reckless borrowing, charging Deltans to vote out his party PDP in 2023.

    TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) reports the DSP made this allegation at the inauguration of APC Campaign Organisation in Asaba on Monday, lamenting that the outgoing Okowa-led administration has held the state to ransome in the last seven years.

    The governorship candidate assured that the APC administration in the State will establish a strong, resilient, inclusive and prosperous economy that generates opportunity, jobs and wealth, while lifting the masses out of poverty, through the implementation of people-oriented programmes and policies.

    He lamented the humongous loans collected by Governor Okowa, pointing out that he is mortgaging the future of the state.

    Omo-Agege said the PDP Governorship candidate and Speaker of the State Assembly, Rt Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori is a stooge of the governor and has thrown the principles of checks and balances to the dustbin.

    Inaugurating the body, Omo-Agege said: “We must take back our dear State from Governor Ifeanyi Okowa who with his cohorts, have held our state hostage. After over seven years of Okowa, one thing we all agree on is that there is a huge gap between the funds Delta State received, generated and borrowed; even recklessly, and what Okowa’s government has done. This has left our state seriously undermined in so many ways that are too numerous to count. Okowa misused and wasted our hard-earned resources. And when the state ran out of funds, he embarked on a reckless borrowing spree, thereby mortgaging our future and those of our unborn children.

    “And now he wants to handover to his stooge, Speaker Sheriff Francis Oborevwori whose House which he heads, approved every kobo that was wasted and stolen to protect himself from accountability. For the years of Sheriff’s speakership, the Delta State House of Assembly has been a rubber stamp, giving everything Okowa asks for without effective oversight, thereby undermining the entire idea of the Separation of Powers enshrined in our Constitution as well as weakening our democracy.

    “We all remember what happened to Rt. Hon. Monday Igbuya when he dared to ask questions, when he tried to do his job and provide the checks and balances our Constitution demands. He was fired for trying to scrutinize executive actions as the legislature must do. And because power corrupts and absolutely power corrupts absolutely, we ended up with an uncontrolled state government that has since turned its back on the people of Delta State.

    “It is common knowledge to all that the present ruling People’s Democratic Party – PDP in Delta has failed woefully in bestowing credible and visionary leadership to drive the yearnings of our people. In all development indices, Delta State under PDP cannot compete with neighbouring States in education, agriculture and quality infrastructure. This is a big shame for a State that had been a pace setter, first with our sister Edo, as Bendel, and even as Delta State since 1991. Delta State is the highest receiver of Federal allocation and 13 per cent derivation, yet, the State is also the second most indebted State in the country. The seemingly chaotic socio-political and economic environment in Delta State requires a leader with the necessary skills and knowledge, to work with a qualified team to address the systemic bottlenecks that have hindered the development of the State.

    “Are we ready for another four years of that nonsense, another four years of plundering and stealing, another four years of drift? All of us here today do not want to see more of the past very terrible years of Okowa-Oborevwori tyranny. We want our state back. The gross misuse and total waste of scarce resources has cost Delta state so much and this must stop”.

    He stressed that APC’s manifesto seeks to rebuild and reinvigorate the state by tackling the scary rate of unemployment by prioritizing public investment in agriculture and tech-driven entrepreneurship.

    On his part, the Director General of the campaign organisation and former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Goddey Orubebe assured that the list of the campaign organisation would be expanded in the coming days.

    He asked party members to cooperate with the campaign organisation, even as he called for unity and cooperation amongst party members.

    “As many people as possible will be brought in to the campaign team. The campaign organisation does not know everything. We are ready to learn from everybody. Any idea you have bring it. We will sit down and work with you. Our office will be 24 hours open. We are ready to work with everybody”.

    This sentiment was also shared by the state party chairman and Co-Chairman of the campaign organisation, Elder Omeni Sobotie who assured that the list would be reviewed.

    He called on Deltans to vote all APC candidates across board.

    The APC campaign organisation has Senator Omo-Agege as Chairman; Elder Sobotie as Co-Chairman: Rt. Hon. Friday Osanebi (Deputy Chairman); Barr. Francis Obigbor (Co-Deputy Chairman); Elder Orubebe as Director General; and Chief of Staff to the Deputy Senate President, Dr Otive Igbuzor as Deputy DG.

     

    Listed as Vice Chairmen of the campaign organisation are Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo SAN, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, Chief Paulinus Akpeki, Justice Freshman Daubry (rtd), Dr. Alex Ideh, Chief Lucky Okperi, Chief Lucky Esigie as well as Dr Eugene Okolocha (Secretary) and Nick Ovuokporie (Deputy Secretary) respectively.

    Also on the list are former presidential spokesman, Olorogun Ima Niboro (Director, Communications and Media Strategy), Dr. Chris Oghenechowen (Director, Logistics and Protocol), Chike Memeh (Director, Finance), Godwin Anaughe (Director, Strategy and Elections), Barr. Alex Onwuadiamu (Director, Planning and Research), and Barr. Bosin Ebikeme (Director, Contact and Mobilization).

    Those listed as Advisers include the senator representing Delta North Senatorial District, Sen. Peter Nwaoboshi; member representing Ughelli North/Ughelli South/Udu Federal Constituency Rev. Hon Francis Waive; APC National Publicity Secretary, Barr. Felix Morka, and Dr. Ibe Kachikwu.

    Others are High Chief Johnny Michael, Dr (Mrs) Veronica Ogbuagu, Chief Ede Dafinone, Chief Joel Onowakpor Thomas, Hon. Temi Harriman, Ms. Stella Okotete, Prophet Jones Erhue, Hon. Halims Agoda, Chief Ayiri Emami, Dr Ngozi Olejeme, Prof. Leroy Edozien, and Hon. Doris Uboh, among others.

    Senatorial coordinators include Dr. Austin Izagbo (Delta North), Chief Chief Ominimini Obiuwevwi (Delta Central) as well as Prince Yemi Emiko (Delta South

  • Wike, Orbih, absent as Atiku in Benin vows to right wrongs of APC

    Wike, Orbih, absent as Atiku in Benin vows to right wrongs of APC

    The Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Council in Benin, Edo State promised that if its candidate, Atiku Abubakar is voted as president, the PDP will right the wrongs of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

    PDP made the commitment in Benin, Edo State capital, when Atiku led other leaders of the PDP to address a rally at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium on Saturday.

    The PDP presidential flag bearer, while addressing the mammoth crowd of PDP members including a number of governors among whom were Governors Aminu Tambuwal and Udom Emmanuel. However, conspicuously missing was Governor Nyesom Wike and the national vice-chairman, South-South of the party, Chief Dan Orbih.

    According to Atiku, my priority assignment as President is to unify this country. The current APC government has done a lot to destroy the unity of this country and it will be unfortunate to give them another opportunity to continue their bad job. So, I am going to correct that.

    “Secondly, we are going to ensure that we provide security and make it possible again for Nigerians to travel across the country without any fear of security breach.

    “We will also ensure that our children receive quality and sustainable education. The PDP did this by enacting the Universal Basic Education law, which gave the rights to our children to have compulsory education.

    “Similarly, we shall boost the economy and bring in the private sector to create jobs for the youths; provide infrastructure and restore the confidence of Nigerians in the public sector.

    “Again, we are going to make sure that we devolve more power and responsibilities to the state and local governments and bring the government closer to the people,” Atiku told the Benin rally of his vow to reverse the wrongs of the APC government.

    Meanwhile, before attending the rally, Atiku had earlier gone to the palace of the Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty Oba Ewuare II to pay a courtesy visit to the monarch.

    Governor Godwin Obaseki, the host governor, thanked the people of Edo State for coming out in large numbers to identify with the PDP, saying that “the PDP, by all standards, remains the best political party for the people of Edo State and Nigeria given the achievements of the party.”

  • FLOOD: Group blasts govt, Keyamo over neglect of Isoko people

    FLOOD: Group blasts govt, Keyamo over neglect of Isoko people

    A group under the aegis of Isoko Monitoring Group (IMG) has lambasted Delta State governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, and the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo SAN following recent sufferings of people residing at various communities in Isoko North and South Local Government Areas due to flood.

    The group expressed bewilderment at the
    “zero response” from government at all levels, saying “we expected Governor Okowa and his officials to be on their Rainboots and in canoes visiting our people.”

    In a statement by it’s President, Dr Oke Michael Aziakpono and Spokesperson/PRO Dr. Kingsley Oroh, the group said: “As risk areas of the country suffer this seasonal disaster every year occasioned by failure of government in executing their responsibilities, the Isoko Monitoring Group (IMG) is in bewilderment at the total insouciance and zero response from governments at various levels.

    “Rather than going to Uyo to preach rescue messages, we expected Governor Okowa and his officials to be on their Rainboots and in canoes visiting our people, who are suffering the impacts of this devastating flood to rescue them to at least IDP camps which a responsible and responsive government should have established by now.

    “That the Minister representing Delta State chose to be serenading us with BAT MOMENTS rather than mobilising all instruments of government to bring relief materials to the suffering people of Isoko displaced by this flood typifies the insensitivity of the Federal Government.

    “The two local government chairmen should wake up from their long slumber, fold up their sleeves and get their hands dirty. Our people are suffering

    “The nation’s weather watch agency typically puts out warnings indicating the magnitude of the flood and what to expect. It would therefore be expected that government mitigation and relief agencies will be prepared to step in to protect communities and people at risk; but this is never the case.

    “As at the time of this statement, 60% of communities in Isoko North and South Local Government Areas of Delta State are under water, farmlands and homes in some areas have been washed away. Our people are displaced and devastated.

    “We call on the State government to step in immediately by embarking on a tour of affected communities to get firsthand assessment of what her citizens are suffering, to enable the government develop an appropriate response in conjunction with the federal government. This is the least we expect.

    “May we also point out that governments exist to serve and protect citizens. For government impact to be missing at critical times such as this implies that public officials do not understand the functions of government. This is the time for elected and appointed officials to swing into action and show concern for the hardship caused to their people by this disaster.

    “Like other affected communities in the country, our people need immediate relief materials for daily survival and after the flood they will need to rebuild their homes and restart their farming activities. Government assistance is greatly needed.

    “Although flood is a natural disaster, we are aware that this annual flooding is compounded by the opening of the dam in neighboring Cameroun, and the surging water pushes its way down to the lower Niger washing away communities on the lower Niger.

    “The federal government need to honour the agreement reached with the Camerounian government in 1977 by completing the Dasin Hausa dam in Adamawa state. While we await that, the two governments need to work together to find mitigation to this problem in the interest of their people.

    “We are also calling on all sons and daughters of Isoko to come to the aid of their brothers and sisters affected by this flood.”

  • Okowa, Omo-Agege, Okonjo-Iweala, Elumelu, other prominent Deltans bag national honours

    Okowa, Omo-Agege, Okonjo-Iweala, Elumelu, other prominent Deltans bag national honours

     

    Delta Governor and Vice-Presidential Candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege, Director-General of World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, were among illustrious Deltans honoured at the National Honours Award Investiture for 2022.

    Those honoured are Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III; Dein of Agbor, Dr Benjamin Ikenchukwu, Kiagborekuzi I; Ovie of Agbon Kingdom, Ogurimerime Ukori I; Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor; Chairman, Zenith Bank, Mr Jim Ovia and Chairman, UBA, Mr Tony Elumelu.

    Others are Chairman, ThisDay and Arise Group, Prince Nduka Obaigbena; Minority Leader, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Ndudi Elumelu; Chairman, RainOil, Mr Gabriel Ogbechie and Kenneth Gbagi.

    They also include Professor Itse Sagay, Julius Dediare Rone, AVM Charles Owho, Professor Emmanuel Nwanze, Elton Edorhe, Deputy Managing Director, Access Bank Plc, Mr Victor Etuokwu and Mr Dike Chigbue.

    The ceremony which held on Tuesday at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in attendance.

    In his remarks shortly after the ceremony, Governor Okowa said that the Award was for Nigerians who had contributed to nation-building and I thanked God that he met the criteria to receive the award.

    He expressed gratitude to President Buhari and the National Honours Awards Committee for the investiture and congratulated other Deltans and Nigerians on their well-deserved honours.

    Okowa pledged to continue his contribution to nation-building to make Nigeria to realise its full potential.

    “I thank President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Honours Awards Committee for my investiture as a Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), in recognition of my contributions to the development of the nation.

    “I congratulate all Nigerians and distinguished Deltans who were also honoured with the various categories of National Awards.

    “This award makes me to realise that I have contributed my bit and I hope it will spur me to think more about the growth and development of this country.

    “I hope that together in commitment to this nation we will all continue to work with our people across Nigeria to find the growth path that can take us to Nigeria of our dream.

    “I must say that I am humbled by this recognition and pledge to continue to play my role to make Nigeria a better nation that lives up to its full potential,” he stated.

    Okowa also affirmed that the award would spur him to do more for Delta in the years ahead, adding that the “award is a call to duty for me and I thank God that i have the opportunity of being the Vice-Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party.

    “We are working very hard and we expect that Nigerians will be in a position to truly realise that the PDP team is the best team at this very critical time in the development of our nation.

    “By the grace of God, upon victory in 2023, I will work with the President, Atiku Abubakar and other stakeholders of this nation to find solutions to the current challenges that we have in our nation.

    “There is no doubt that the challenges are truly numerous and frightening in terms of disunity, insecurity and economic downturn which is affecting human capital development.

    “I believe that when God, through the elections helps us come to power that we will work with all sections of this country to begin to restore hope and to rebuild the cracked foundations of this country,” he stated.

    On her part, Director-General of World Trade Organisation Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, said no award could be more gratifying than the one from one’s country and lauded President Buhari for the honour.

    She said the honour was a call to do more in her endeavours and expressed satisfaction with Governor Okowa’s human capital and infrastructural transformation in Delta in the last seven years.

    She urged him to do more in the remaining months of his administration.

    Responding on behalf of the award recipients, President of the Senate, Dr Ahmed Lawan, pledged their readiness to work with the President in surmounting the nation’s challenges in the remaining period in his tenure.

    He described the recipients of the awards as patriotic Nigerians that had impacted positively on the nation in all sectors.

    A total of 447 Nigerians were invested with award in various categories by the Federal Government.

  • 2023: Step down now, Omo-Agege tells Atiku, Okowa

    2023: Step down now, Omo-Agege tells Atiku, Okowa

     

    As the Presidential campaigns officially kick off, the Deputy Senate President and Delta APC Gubernatorial Candidate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege has called on the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and his running mate, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, to step down.

    Senator Omo-Agege hinged his call on the need for equity, instistng that by contesting the polls when a northerner is about completing his eight years in office, the PDP presidential candidate has shown that he lacks the locus to preach equity, fairness, justice and integrity.

    Omo-Agege who is also the Delta State Coordinator, Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council argued that Governor Okowa has by his action of becoming a Vice Presidential Candidate of PDP, betrayed the trust reposed on him by his colleagues and the entire South.

    “During the week, at the Second Reading and Debate on General Principles on a bill seeking to legalise power rotation across the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria, I had urged my colleagues in PDP to persuade their Presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to step down and rotate the presidential ticket to the South.

    “The domino effect of that would also be the resignation of Atiku’s running mate and Governor of Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa and ceding the vice presidential ticket to the North.

    “Like I pointed out on the floor of the Senate during my contribution, if PDP senators were serious, they would have first pleaded with their presidential candidate to step down from the race for power to return to Southern Nigeria. By May next year, the North would have ruled for eight years of two terms and it is only fair that power comes back to the South,” he said.

    The Delta Central lawmaker noted that notable bodies like the Southern Governors Forum, their northern counterparts, social cultural organisations such as Afenifere; Middle Belt Forum, Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) and Ohaneze Ndigbo have all harped on the need for Southern Presidency.

    He recalled his meeting with elder statesman and former Federal Commissioner for Information, Chief Edwin Clark in July this year, when the Niger Delta leader faulted the PDP for not zoning its presidential ticket to the South.

    “Irrespective of political differences, 17 Governors in the South met in Asaba, the capital of Delta State on May 11, 2021, and took far-reaching decisions, including that, based on the principles of fairness, equity and justice, the Presidency should rotate to the South, at the end of the statutory eight years of President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure.

    “Governor Okowa was the host of that historic meeting. The Southern Governors later met in Lagos, on July 5, where they reaffirmed their decision, and again in Enugu, on September 16, to restate the call that the Presidency should rotate to the South in 2023.

    “What Nigerians can deduce from PDP jettisoning zoning and giving its ticket to Atiku is that the campaign messages of the party should be taken with a pinch of salt. ‘Trust,’ they say, ‘is like an antique, once it’s broken, it can never be replaced’. The PDP Presidential candidate and his running mate have broken the trust of Nigerians. The honourable thing to do is for the duo to honourably resign and right the wrong.

    “It, therefore, didn’t come to us as a surprise that five PDP governors boycotted the inauguration of PDP Presidential Campaign Council in Abuja to register their grieviances over the injustice meted to the Southern States of Nigeria,” Omo-Agege stated.

  • Obi’s polite response to Okowa: Before now I’ve been attending church programs

    Obi’s polite response to Okowa: Before now I’ve been attending church programs

     

    The Presidential Candidate of Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi has described as uncharitable, the reports credited to Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa accusing him of dragging the Church into politics on the sole reason that he attends Church programmes.

    The NewsGuru.com, (TNG) reports Obi spoke through his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Valentine Obienyem.

    In a release made available to the Press, Obienyem said that it was on record that Obi attended programmes he was invited to, including those organized by the Churches.

    He asked “Should Obi start shunning Church events because of politics, even when we know that since leaving office in 2014, that Obi has visited over 1000 schools and hospitals owned by the Churches, offering them all manner of support for the upgrade of their schools and hospitals that serve the citizens of Nigeria.

    Obienyem, while cautioning against bringing the name of the Church into disrepute, said that those doing such were those linking genuine actions of patriots to politics, even when it was absolutely unnecessary.

    Obienyem, who also said that the reference to politics was unnecessary because electioneering had not started, disagreed with Okowa on distinguishing those to be reached out to or not, saying: “Why would Okowa suggest that it is wrong for anybody to reach out to the Churches? Is this not contemptuous of Churches? Everybody is affected by the bad governance in the country and should expectedly be involved in the efforts to enthrone good governance. He should be told about the difference between being politically aware and getting involved in active politics”, Obienyem said, while suspecting that very soon they would start to criminalize the encounter Obi is having with Nigerians in Diaspora.

    Assuring Nigerians that Obi would not get tired of preaching to Nigerians about good governance and the need for the people of Nigeria to take back their country, Obienyem called on other patriots to join in the crusade rather than wishing people to keep quiet so that the status quo would remain the same.

  • Peter Obi is driving Christians into politics – Okowa alleges

    Peter Obi is driving Christians into politics – Okowa alleges

    Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa has accused the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi of dragging Christians into politics over his outing to churches.

    Okowa, who spoke with reporters in Kano State on Wednesday, said he does not believe in dragging the church into partisan politics, stressing that politics is not the calling of the church.

    He lamented that out of desperation, some presidential candidates are currently reaching out to anything even at the detriment of their faith just to win the February 2022 election.

    “Now you begin to look at what is going on; the Peter Obi factor is as if he is trying to go through the church and make it look as if he is driving the Christians into politics. I do not believe that the church should actively go into politics because that is not their calling.

    “But people are just hanging to anything they can reach out to even to the detriment of their fate. I don’t believe that’s the right part to go,” he said.

  • Why I picked Okowa as running mate ahead of Wike – Atiku speaks

    Why I picked Okowa as running mate ahead of Wike – Atiku speaks

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has justified why he did not pick the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike as his running mate

    Speaking in an interview with Arise TV on Friday morning, Atiku said he only picked who he felt could deliver among the nominees that were presented to him.

    He said, “I didn’t reject Wike, I picked who can deliver. Wike is brilliant and tenacious.

    “Going by history, I picked an Igbo as running mate in 2007, in 2019. I still picked an Igbo as running mate for 2023.

    “The committee that presented the three nominees was chaired by the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom. They recommended three people, so I picked one. People should be fair to me and state the facts.”

    On the possibility of resolving issues with Wike, Atiku said the party was talking to the governor.

    “We are reaching out to Wike and talking to him, very soon, we will resolve our internal crises.

    “I have contested this presidency a couple of times and I don’t try to blame anybody, I accept the outcome or go to court,” Atiku added.

  • BREAKING: Atiku arrives Nigeria, set to storm PDP’s guber grand rally in Osun today

    BREAKING: Atiku arrives Nigeria, set to storm PDP’s guber grand rally in Osun today

     

    …also to address party’s unresolved issues

    Presidential candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, (PDP), at the 2023 elections, Atiku Abubakar, arrives Abuja.

    TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) reports Atiku set aside pre-scheduled meetings
    and appointments in Morocco and the United Kingdom, to be in Nigeria to lead his party’s governorship grand rally in Oshogbo, Osun State on Thursday. Members of his core team during the pre-primary consultations, notably Senator Ehigie Uzamere, arrived a few hours earlier today, from the United States.

    Ademola Adeleke is flying the gubernatorial flag of the PDP, at the election scheduled for Saturday July 16.
    National leaders of the PDP, including former President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki; party chairman, Iyorchia Ayu; Atiku’s running mate and governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, among others, will be at the grand rally.

    Party chieftains believe Atiku is demonstrating sensitivity to the mood of his party, after his inability to attend the campaign grand finale of the party in Ekiti State. The PDP lost the election, posting a distant third position in the contest.

    Atiku will also have crunch talks with Nyesom Wike, the Rivers State Governor who emerged second at the PDP presidential primary, last May. Atiku’s preference of Okowa, above Wike, generally regarded as the vertebra of the party in its most difficult moments, has dominated political discourse in the past few weeks.

    Political observers anticipate amicable resolution of the impasse, Atiku and Wike both recognised team players. This is necessary to rally stakeholders together, for the campaigns of subsequent months.

  • 2023: SMBLF rejects Okowa, says he is a traitor

    The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders’ Forum (SMBLF) has slammed the Governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa for accepting his nomination as Vice Presidential Candidate to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Presidential Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the forthcoming 2023 general elections.

    The umbrella body said it was regretful that Okowa, who is currently Chairman of the South-South Governors’ Forum, and a native of Owa-Alero in Ika North-East Local Government Area (one of the Igbo-speaking areas) of Delta State, would exhibit such barefaced unreliability.

    TheNewsGuru com, (TNG) reports this was contained in a statement jointly signed by leaders of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and the Middle Belt Forum, SMBLF said that while it has nothing personal against Okowo, his decision to abandon the Asaba Accord and the quest by the South to achieve power rotation was treacherous and tantamount to a despicable pawning of the political future of the people of Southern Nigeria.

    The statement read in parts:

    “It bears recalling that the 17 Governors of the Southern States of Nigeria, both of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), under the Chairmanship of the Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, met in Asaba, the capital of Delta State on May 11, 2021, and took far-reaching decisions, including that, based on the principles of fairness, equity and justice, the presidency should rotate to the south, at the end of the statutory eight years of President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure. And this very Governor Okowa was the host of that historic meeting. The Southern Governors later met again in Lagos, on July 5, where they reaffirmed their decision, and again in Enugu, on September 16, to restate the call that the presidency should rotate to the south in 2023.

    “It is essential to underline that the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders’ Forum (SMBLF), applauded the meeting of the governors, given its significant representation and the gravity of the outcome; we followed up and issued a similar statement after our meeting in Abuja on the 30th of May 2021, asking that the presidency should rotate to the south. And went further, on several other occasions, to caution political stakeholders from the South, including serving and former governors, ministers, senators, etcetera, not to, on any account, allow themselves to be appointed or nominated as running mate to any presidential candidate, if the presidency is not zoned to the south and that we will work against such person or persons.

    “It is, therefore, most unfortunate that the Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa who should know better, accepted his appointment as running mate to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

    “Sadly, it is also now common knowledge that he spent extensive sum of money to lobby for the position. And that explains why he never made any statement when his party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), thoughtlessly jettisoned the zoning principle, which has become established as a norm and an intrinsic part of the nation’s political trajectory.

    “It is difficult to fathom how a political party can claim to be on a supposed “rescue mission” with such false footings of unfairness, injustice, duplicity and gross insensitivity to national outlook.

    “It is regrettable that while most of Governor Okowa’s southern and northern counterparts have maintained gallant, patriotic deference to the unity and peace of the country, above blinkered political considerations, by their resolute stance on the rotation of the presidency to the south in 2023, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, the Chairman of the South-South Governors’ Forum, of all people, would gullibly and slavishly capitulated to the bonbon of absurdity. Thus, acceding to a situation whereby, one person rules for eight years and hands over to another of his stock, in a country of at least 360 ethnic groups. What a shame!

    “The people of southern Nigeria chimed at Asaba, Lagos, Enugu, Uyo, Port Harcourt, Umuahia, and Abuja, continuously, on the zoning of the presidency and warned that another northern presidency, after the eight years of President Muhammadu Buhari, would be injurious to the unity and peace of the country.

    “Governor Okowa has, by his action, betrayed the trust reposed on him by his colleagues; the southern governors, the entire good people of southern Nigeria and all well-meaning Nigerians. He has made himself persona non grata, not only, with SMBLF but all citizens who treasure our oneness and yearn for a more united and peaceful Nigeria.

    “We, therefore, reject Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and his Vice Presidency, and leave him to his lot, but let the world know that this is a betrayal of the highest order.

    And that this is not a matter of loyalty to one’s political party, but rather a greedy, parochial and unpatriotic action, committed against the general interest of his State, Delta state, the Niger Delta region, and Southern Nigeria. It is, certainly, also not in the interest of the nation at large.

    “We commend the patriotism of all Nigerians who cherish our unity and progress as a country and further urge all such Nigerians; in the North and the South; young and mature, the high and mighty; irrespective of religion and tribe, to remain steadfast on the centrality of the presidency rotating to the South in 2023, in the national interest.”