Okowa Jittery Over Mass Defection From PDP, As Ojougboh Vows To Challenge Expended N20bn Paris Club Refund

There is disquiet in the political camp of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state in the wake of mass defection from the Peoples Democratic Party, particularly from Okowa’s stronghold in Delta North Senatorial District.

Among the defectors is the former Deputy Chairman in the Sheriff Ali Modu ousted faction of the PDP, Hon. Cairo Ojougboh, who moved over 14, 000 members of the party to the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Ojougboh, a strong political horse in Delta North Senatorial District was also joined by former PDP governorship aspirant, Gabriel Oyibode, elder statesman, Godwin Ogbetua and former House of Representatives member who served as former factional state party chairman, Austin Ogbabunor.

With the defection which witnessed mammoth crowd at Agbor, headquarters of Ika South local government area of the state, there is already rumpus in Okowa’s base as all the 25 LG executives of the party had collapsed into APC.

Ojougboh who cited corruption, impunity, lack of internal democracy, among others as reasons for his defection, tore his membership card of the PDP alongside all the defectors who symbolically tore their cards into shred at the event.

One of our correspondent reports that a cross session of decampees interviewed, likened their defection to the biblical movement of the Israelites to the promise land, saying they are well comfortable with APC and they are prepared to take over Delta state in 2019.

Addressing the decampees, Ojougboh, said after the Supreme Court judgement, all efforts made by leaders of the party to bring everybody into one fold were thwarted by persons who have turned themselves to “Alfa and Omega” of the party.

He added that the emergence of Modu Sheriff would have brought about new PDP that would have been embraced by all.

“What was offered us which they called amnesty was nothing but big insult when we are not criminals or militants”, he said.

The former federal lawmaker also noted that some “Alfa and Omega” state governors, rejected the nomination of Raymond Dokpesi as chairman for reconciliation committee after the Supreme Court “because these governors felt they were instrumental financially to the court victory and that they financed the court victory.

“They also rejected Jerry Gana’s caretaker committee, Governors Ayo Fayose and Nyesom Wike felt the party belong to them.”

According to him, the posture of these governors and other leaders of the party, forced him and others to retrace their step and as progressive minds they felt they could no longer remain in the party, stressing that let the conservative and corrupt minds remain in the party forever.

Meanwhile, Ojougboh has vowed to challenge how Governor Okowa appropriated the over N20 billion so far received from the Paris Club Refund released to state governments by Federal Government.

He said that the governor wouldn’t go unquestioned over how he used the money.

“Okowa government is mass failure, for over two years, Okowa cannot pinpoint any star project in Delta state. Okowa, where is the over N20 billion you received from Paris Club Refund?.

Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu who conveyed President Muhammadu Buhari’s goodwill message to the defectors, commended them for the bold step taken to retrace their steps.

“This is the beginning of new things to come to you people, this is the beginning of a new dawn in your lives”, Kachikwu said.

Delta state APC 2015 governorship candidate, Otega Emerhor, blamed Governor Okowa for his failure to provide good governance to the people, saying come 2019, PDP will be no more in Government House, Asaba.

In his goodwill message, South South, National Vice Chairman of APC, Hilary Ita, vowed that come 2019, APC shall take over Delta state and the incumbent governor, Okowa would have been sent packing.

“I want to enjoin all and sundry to close ranks in the party and form a formidable force with one voice so that we can dislodge PDP in the forthcoming 2019 general elections, he said.

Former factional state Chairman of the party, Austin Ogbabunor, said, “APC has indicated interest in us. You know how man will woo a woman, that is exactly how the APC has come to woo us. We shall negotiate with them. We can’t continue to remain in a party that lacks internal democracy and strives in impunity.”

BigPen Online learnt that the Minister of Petroleum, Mr. Ibe Kachikwu, former APC governorship candidate in 2015, Olorogun Otege Emerhor sponsored the event.

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