Odili Ogochukwu –
Ever since the Delta State governor Ifeanyi Okowa emerged as the vice presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the February 25, 2023, elections, the party has not known peace at the national level. His support for the Delta State Speaker, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwore to succeed him has further thrown the State Chapter of the Party apart.
In the present circumstance, it could be right to note that the Delta State Governor has the privilege to pick a successor. Nothingness, what is required of him is to projecting a competent and credible candidate who will pave way for infrastructural development.
In my reflection, it is not wrong for a seating governor to aspire for a greater political office after expiration of tenure. What is wrong is not traveling at the right path to realize certain political objectives.
In some Southern part of the country, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has been allegedly tagged a betrayer since he became PDP vice presidential candidate come the February 25, 2023, elections. Hence, the renewed position of the former minister of information, Edwin Clark on Gov Okowa to step down as PDP VP Candidate and apologize to Deltans as well as his South-South counterparts.
At this point that political activities are at climax, any revelation portraying a political candidate in bad light is pondered as an attack sponsored by opposition party. But the question is: Is Governor Okowa truly a betrayer? How had he betrayed the people of Delta State or the Sothern leaders with his current position in PDP?
Okowa, while replying Edwin Clark’s letter said his benevolence and massive infrastructural development recorded across Delta State earned him the party’s VP candidate slot. He added that even if he had rejected the position another person will accept it.
Human beings are product of present and past events. In a meeting held on September 16, 2021, at Enugu, Coal City State, over which the Delta State Governor was present, the Southern Nigeria governors resolved that the next President of Nigeria must come from the Southern part of the country in the spirit of justice, equity and fairness.
Before the meeting, on May 11, 2021, Okowa hosted his southern counterparts in Asaba, Delta State capital where similar subject and other critical issues affecting the country were discussed. The Delta State governor was perceived to be playing a lead role to drive home the Southern Nigerian governors’ demands.
Unfortunately, with a snap of fingers, the outgoing Delta Governor abandons his Southern counterparts to drown in the sea. With Delta State resources, he becomes a hardworking camel that heaps PDP presidential election’s burden on his bare back. How best could one describe a ‘BETRAYER’?
Apart from Agbor, the local government headquarters of Ika South and Owa Alero, his home town, other parts of Delta State, including government ministries suffered total negligence under Okowa’s administration. One continues to wonder where and how massive infrastructural development Okowa adjudged had earned him VP slot. The Asaba-Ughelli road dualisation project, Ase Bridge could not be completed even after plunging the State into incurable debt.
