Cold War As Okowa’s Fmr Appointees, PDP Chieftains Scuffle Over Re-appointment Bid

There is palpable cold war in Delta State as former political appointees of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and PDP chieftains are currently going for each other’s jugular over bid to be reappointed into the governor’s second term administration.

BIGPEN Online understands that the struggle for reappointment has become intense in the past few weeks in the state since the governor reportedly asked local government executive of the PDP to forward names of those to be considered for appointments.

Besides the appointment of Special Advisers, new cabinet commissioners, Senior Special Assistants and Special Assistants to various offices, Governor Okowa is also being expected to create new offices in his second term to either elevate some of his hardworking aides or reappoint them to man their former offices.

The governor is also expected to constitute and appoint people to man the various Governing boards, Commissions, Parastatals and Agencies of government in the state.

This development, BIGPEN Online reliably gathered has elicited intense and high profile lobbying, scheming and horse trading that has turned some playing the devil’s advocate role.

There is serious infighting within the system. From Government House Asaba to the local government councils, former political aides and party faithfuls are stabbing each other over appointments to be made by the governor, our source disclosed.

Our source said that some of the former appointees who are lobbying and scheming to be considered for ‘juicy’ offices because of opportunities such offices give have turned the Government House Chapel where the governor usually does his morning devotion, as their second home.

A recent state event where the newly appointed Special Political Adviser to the Governor, Mr Funkekeme Solomon was sworn in, was jammed with retinue of former appointees who have been milling around Government House to curry the governor’s favour.

Besides the three appointments made so far by the governor, namely Secretary to the State Government, Chief of Staff and Special Political Adviser, a few others including the Principal Secretary to the Governor, Mr Hilary Ibegbelum, the Communication Manager to the Governor, Mr. Jackson Ekwugum, Personal Assistant to the Governor, Raymond Mgbakor, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Charles Aniagwu and other few aides attached to the deputy governor are unofficially still performing duties of their respective offices.

Meanwhile, the purported directives to the PDP at the local government ward level to nominate three persons (namely one man, one woman and one youth) to be considered for political appointment had torn the party apart with many alleging hijack of the slots by party chieftains including former Commissioners.

The messy fight over Governor Okowa’s appointments slots in the state had culminated in the recent attack and beating to stupor of a PDP faithful in Sapele, Mr. Godfrey Igbise, by thugs allegedly loyal to a former commissioner, Chief Paulinus Akpeki who is said to have hijacked the appointment slots.

Although BIGPEN Online couldn’t independently verify this information, a local tabloid in the area, Advocate Newspaper had quoted a source as saying: “Igbise was invited by the Local Government PDP Chairman, Chief Dr David Oghenekevwe to a meeting at the house of the ward leader, Chief Paulinus Akpeki, and was invited with other leaders in other wards but during the amendment of list for appointment, he was said to have argued in favour of certain persons as against who the party leader was projecting,” the source who craved anonymity said.

“Igbise was attacked by political thugs at his house. Three men stabbed him all over his body saying who are you to argue with our leaders and he was left in the pool of his blood, he was rushed to a nearby clinic and as we speak to you, he is struggling to stay alive” the newspaper source added.

Also in Isoko South Council Area, a former Commissioner, Karo Ilolo had also incurred the wrath of the youths over claims that he reportedly nominated himself for reappointment and hijacked the other slot for cronies.

The story is the same like other local government councils in Isiokolo, Ethiope East LGA, where it is also being alleged the leaders have hijacked the nominations and set to forward names of those loyal to them against those that really worked for the party’s success in the last election.

Recall that Governor Okowa had during the Thanksgiving Service for a successful inauguration for a second tenure held at St. Philips Anglican Church, Asaba, the state capital, said that he would be fair and equitable in appointments into his second term government.

According to the governor, “I thank God that we have made some appointments recently; we are doing what is right, many more appointments will be done and I promised Deltans that I will be equitable, fair and just in the appointments we are going to make; going forward, we believe and rely on the guidance of God.”

“More appointments will be made, we ask for the continuous partnership and prayers of all Deltans,” Governor Okowa had said.