Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba
Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi OkowaIfeanyi Okowa, yesterday described as an exercise in futility attempts by some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) bigwigs in the state to pit him against his predecessors, Chief James Ibori and Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan.
Addressing a crowd of PDP faithful and hundreds of members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency, who defected to the PDP, Okowa scored high the respective PDP governments that governed the state since 1999.
He stated that the attempts by some persons in the state to put him on a collision course with past leaders of the state would not work as he was focused on developing the state, according to his electoral mandate.
He added that PDP as a political party believed that power belongs to God while the people have the right to make their choice as to who would govern them.
Okowa said: “We are a party that believes that power belongs to God and that’s why we are rejoicing. We also believe that power belongs to the people and that the people reserve the right to make their choice.
“Sometimes ago, I said that power belongs to God and that only God will determine who will succeed me. I wonder why some people are angry about that statement because truly, only God knows who will take over from me.
“We are one family in the PDP and those who don’t have our character are angry because we always say the truth and they are trying all means to scatter our PDP family, but they will always fail because we have bonded very well together as a party.
“Together as a family, we can continue to make things happen; together as a family we change things in our family by working hard for everyone.”
He said he would not work to put money in anybody’s pocket, adding that a day will come when he will expose those who are angry with his administration.
He stated: “You voted for me to do what is right for the interest of the people and not to put money in somebody’s pocket – that’s not what you voted me for.
“Beginning from Chief James Ibori’s tenure to Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and myself; we have worked very well and we are still working.
“If anyone says he is not seeing what we are doing, it’s either that they are blind or they don’t live in Asaba.
“Their attempt to pit me against my predecessors will not work because I am not quarrelling with them. My predecessors laid the foundation for what we are doing in the state and I am building on the foundations they have laid.
“Some people are angry and want to cause a quarrel between me and my predecessors but they have failed because no stranger will deceive us in this state.’’
He commended the people for their support over the years, adding that the coming of the defectors from APC will strengthen the PDP in the state.
“I congratulate all of you returning home today; by the grace of God, the people will be happy with us by the time we will be handing over in 2023,” Okowa said.
Receiving the defectors, the Chairman of PDP in the state, Mr. Kingsley Esiso, described APC as a failed party and merchants of insecurity.
“Under their (APC) leadership of this nation, bandits have taken over, prices of food have skyrocketed, farmers can’t go to farm and children can’t go to school because of insecurity.
“The party under my leadership will not tolerate any irritants. We will chase them till they meet their end politically. As a party, we make decisions in the best interest of the party and I want to reiterate that Senator Peter Nwaoboshi stands suspended and he must decide where he belongs; he has one month to do so or we will be forced to do the needful,” Esiso stated.
Earlier, Chairman of APC in Delta North, Major George Okafor (rtd), who led the defectors, had said they were back to PDP where they belonged.
