Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba
Former secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State and foundation member of the party, Otunba Nick Ovuakporie, has attributed the victory of the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, to the good performance of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.
Ovuakporie said that he read the writing on the wall clearly regarding the imminent defeat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate in the governorship election, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, hence he left the party and teamed up with the governor to work for the party’s victory across the state and his Ward 12 of Isoko North Local Government Area in particular.
Fielding questions from journalists in Asaba about the electoral success of his new party, Nick Ovuakporie, stressed that the victory is a confirmation of Governor Okowa’s good governance and expressed the belief that his successor, Governor-elect Oborevwori, will sustain the legacy of “developmental politics” introduced by the incumbent.
On the series of victory dance and thanksgiving going on across the state, Ovuakporie said, “Over time, I have never had any atom of fear that the PDP candidate, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, will emerge as the governor of Delta State, because whatever happens in the physical has already occurred in, or has spiritual interpretation. God has divined him to be the successor of our ever-focused Governor of Delta State, His Excellency, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa. And, owing to the antecedent of the incumbent government in terms of development, there was no doubt as to the party’s victory in the elections.
“Oborevwori’s victory is only a confirmation of excellence of good works of His Excellency, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa. It’s an affirmation of developmental politics, not politics of selfishness or greed that has been the lot of APC.
“The victory is a confirmation of positive change, which is not synonymous to the change as explained by the APC administration at the federal level because that has really not benefited Nigerians obviously.”
On why he described the APC as a crisis-ridden party when he joined the PDP barely one month ago, he said, “First, I want to say that the victory of the PDP and Rt. Hon. Oborevwori will sustain the tempo of governance, impactful leadership and equitable development of the state. It also signals the beginning of the end of the APC in Delta State.
“However, I’d rather see this enthronement through the ballot as a will of God for Delta State; and, I believe it’s a stepping stone to rescuing Nigeria from the shackles of misrule.
“Today in Nigeria, everybody is facing an almost similar challenge; everybody is suffering, both the rich and the poor; and, that is not anything to celebrate.
“Nevertheless, the victory of Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, and the PDP indeed, is a confirmation of what God is set to do for Nigeria as a whole.
“My message to the youths is that they should keep faith. They’ve spoken very loudly and they have enthroned their own administration, an administration that will not disappoint them.
“I am very convinced that this administration is a youth-based administration that will go very far in addressing their challenges. Those things that have militated against their aspirations, this government, no doubt, will address those issues carefully.
“And, my message to the governor-elect is simple. It’s that he should stay focused as he has always promised; and, I verily believe that he has very clear agenda on blueprints that are people-centered. And, for him to have encapsulated those visions in his M.O.R.E. manifesto, I’m sure he knows what to do to further take this state to the next level.”
Nevertheless, Ovuakporie said that he was disappointed with the manner many hitherto respected leaders and members of the PDP turned their back on the governor even on the eve of the March 18, 2023 governorship and House of Assembly elections in the state.
“I feel pity for them, especially those who jumped ship a night before the elections. However, it’s tantamount to mass or gross betrayal especially seeing people who His Excellency, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has impacted their lives so much; people who were hitherto brought out from nowhere, brought out from abject poverty and empowered through good governance and other forms of democratic dividends, betraying the governor at the dying minute by way of jumping ships.
“Going the way they did, having benefited so much from the government they collectively put together is very disappointing. And, even though I feel pity for them, I only feel pity because their actions were misplaced, and I urge them to purge themselves by way of seeking forgiveness from God.”
