Delta 2019: Oshiomhole Boast To Sack PDP: He’s Playing Politics – Okowa

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has said that the newly elected National chairman of All Progressive Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole was merely playing politics like every politician does when he boasted that APC would dislodge PDP in Delta state in 2019.

The governor who spoke while fielding questions from journalists during the quarterly media briefing in Asaba, the state capital, said that he would not join issues with Oshiomhole on his desire to oust the PDP in the South South.

He said however that it would be better for politicians to be mindful of their utterances, now that the 2019 general elections is fast approaching so as not to heat up the polity unnecessarily.

“I believe it is politic he is playing and he has the right to play politics just as PDP has the right to play its politics. We all have our right to play politics but the only advise I have for politicians both of the APC and PDP family is that there must be decorum, and we must be mindful of our utterances.

“We must be cautious of the language we use so as not to heat up the polity unnecessarily. Our language must be decent and issue based. It is an advice to all politicians including myself that wherever position you find yourself, try to be civil in your approach to politics because that’s the way it ought to be.

Advertisement

“I don’t like joining issues with people. Even in my campaigns I talk about what the people want to hear. I don’t believe in grandstanding…”

Governor Okowa said that as a governor he would give attention to all shade of Presidential aspirants who visit the state, saying that the recent hosting of former Vice-President Alhaji Ababakar Atiku is not an endorsement of Atiku’s presidency.

He said that the will of the people would prevail on whether Atiku would be the choice Presidential candidate for PDP members in Delta state.

“I am not going to force any Deltans to vote the way I think. Delta state delegates to the convention will be allowed to exercise their right the way they think because I’m not the kind of person that will say this is the way it must go.

“So I made my statement during his visit and my statement was clear and I was cautious about it. When Lamido came I made my statement clear also. I was very careful and I choose my words because as a governor I won’t want people to say this is the man I’m supporting but it was obvious for people in the hall yesterday (Tuesday) that they want Atiku…so if that’s the will of the people; because for me, the will of the people must be allow to prevail”.

Meanwhile, Okowa also said that as a governor he will not sign any policy or give approval to any action that would dislodge the downtrodden from their abode because of development.

Advertisement

BigPen Online reports that the Cable Point Area which the Delta State Government in conjunction with a private development company, Rexwood Nigeria Limited is planning to convert into a “smart city” is predominantly populated by Hausa-Fulani people who had quartered there for years.

The moves to evict residents from the area which is a sprawling residential and market area in Asaba with over 2000 houses and shops have been generating controversy in the state.

The Hausa community which claimed they have about 20 houses of worship in the area and their shops and business places had last year petitioned the Northern Governors’ Forum, the DG of the Department of State Services, the Emirs of Kano and Zazzau, among others over plans by the Director General of the Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency (DSCTDA), Chief Clement Ofuani to evict them from their houses to make way from the project.

But speaking in regard to the aforementioned, Okowa said if it is the will of the people to accept a buy out or relocation from their abode for development to take place, he would gladly give approval to such initiative.

He said that he was not aware neither has him given approval for the eviction of residents of the area, saying that the state government would allow the Arewa community to decide if they want to leave or not.

“When the state government initiated the road (Cable Point Area) it was not for the purpose of throwing the poor out of their homes…if the people are ready to accept a buy out or relocation money to go somewhere else, that will be okay but I will not go there and displace the residents because I want to develop the area…I will always stand on the side of the people”, Okowa vowed.

Advertisement

The governor said that the multi-million naira Storm Drain Project currently being done by his administration would be ready tentatively by February next year, saying that the state government was embarking on the huge construction work to ease the problem of flooding in the state capital.

Speaking on the Asaba Stadium project, the governor said that efforts have been intensified to complete the stadium for the Athletic competition that is coming up soon.