Some Appointees In Okowa’s Government To Lose Monthly Imprest Over Apathy To PDP’s Affairs

Embarrassed by the apathy some of his appointees including Commissioners, Special Advisers and other aides are showing towards the affairs of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State on Friday directed the Secretary to State Government, Mr. Ovie Agas to ensure such appointees’ monthly imprest are remitted to the party’s coffers within the next three months.

The governor gave this directives at an enlarged stakeholders meeting of the party held at the event center, Asaba, the state capital to celebrate the victory of the Ahmed Makarfi-led caretaker committee at the Supreme Court.

BigPen Online learnt that embarrassed by the conspicuous absence of some of his political appointees who were nowhere to be found to wedge ‘kola-nut’ for the PDP Executive, Governor Okowa directed the party’s Organising Secretary to liaise with the SSG to forward names of appointees who have no report card to show of their impact in the government either at their wards or local government councils since inception of the administration.

The governor said that such appointees who has no support for the party or had not empowered party members in their wards and local government councils would be shown the way out.

He frowned at the situation where some appointees failed to work and contribute their quotas either in kind or financially, for the growth of the party as well as the government, directing that such appointees shall have their monthly imprests forfeited.

According to him, the monthly imprest of such appointees shall be remitted to the party beginning from this month which will run for the next three months.

Governor Okowa who was visibly angry over the way and manner some of his appointees treats the party especially the way they absent themselves from the party’s functions and refusal to build the party, said that the time has come where drastic action shall be taken against such persons.

Okowa, however used the occasion to preach reconciliation and appealed to the party to work out modalities on how to bring back those who had intentions of leaving or had left the party as well as winning members of other political parties to the PDP.

“Please, reach out to our brothers and sisters to come back to the Party, we should be more united and stronger; don’t drive anybody away, this is the time to call on members of other political parties, including members of the APC (All Progressive Congress) to come and join us; it is the PDP that Nigerians want, it is a party that will give power back to the people; there is no more faction in our party, we are all one.

“The Supreme Court judgement was a victory for democracy, it will bring about credible opposition and make the government of the moment to sit up and do the right thing for the people; as an individual, I never contemplated that we were going to lose and I have remained steadfast in the party as a true party man. I want to congratulate all of us for the victory at the Supreme Court; I am impressed with the large turn-out of people for this meeting.” Okowa said.

The Governor called on Deltans who are 18 years and above to ensure that they are captured in the on-going voters registration exercise by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) even as he expressed confidence that the PDP will emerge victorious in the 2019 general elections, stating that the registration exercise was a sure way for people to participate in the elections.

Addressing the meeting, former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan said, the victory at the Supreme Court, was a victory for democracy and all members of the party, stressing that for PDP to remain stronger, political appointees should strengthen the party by spreading dividends of democracy.

“If you are holding political position, the only way we can build our party is to spread democratic dividends; Governor Okowa has done excellently well and you should not run down the government, especially if you are holding a political office”, Uduaghan said.

In the same vein, Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Mr. Leo Ogor; chairman, PDP South South geo-political region, Bro. Emmanuel Ogidi, Mrs. Stella Omu, former Senate chief Whip and others expressed confidence that with the Supreme Court judgement, the winning streak of the PDP has been rekindled and warned against impunity, urging members to remain focused and committed to the ideals of the party.

BigPen Online correspondent however reports that former Delta state ex-convicted governor, Mr. James Ibori was conspicuously absent from the PDP meeting. Ibori had shunned about three enlarged PDP meetings since his freedom from the United Kingdom prison.