2023: I’ll Not Handover Delta To Anyone Who Doesn’t Believe In Equity, Says Okowa

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, on Saturday, spoke of his likely successor comes 2023, saying he’s likely not going to handover power to anyone who doesn’t believe in equity.

BIGPENNGR reports that Okowa spoke against the backdrop of scrambling by some political gladiators in the state ahead the 2023 governorship race.

The governor, whom political watchers believe may spin a surprise in the 2023 governorship race against the permutations of many, spoke for the first time of how the 2023 governorship race would be.

Governor Okowa who mounted the saddles as governor in 2015 on the mantra of “power shift” since both Delta South and Central senatorial district had tasted power in the past, told political gladiators who are scheming to take his seat in 2023 that he’s a governor who believes in equity as such his likely successor “must be somebody who is ready to ensure that there is fairness, equity and justice” in the polity.

Delta, politically is divided by three senatorial district – Delta Central which, in 1999 produced Chief James Ibori as governor for two terms, Delta South which had Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan in 2007 as governor for two terms and Delta North which has Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, the incumbent governor from 2019 till date.

BIGPENNGR understands that some political watchers in the state believe that the three senatorial district haven tasted power, the next governor based on the ‘selection order’ would ‘naturally’ come from the Delta Central senatorial district where the supposed adopted rotation system started from.

This may explained the reason why the 2023 race appears it is exclusive for the Urhobos and reason why more Urhobos are showing interest in the race than other ethnic nations who are not foreclose according to pundits.

But there are other school of thought who believe that politically, the 2023 governorship should be another fresh dispensation for “politics of the survival of the fittest”. This school believes that just like 1999 where it was a ‘free for all political fight’ before Ibori eventually won his party ticket and stood election to emerged governor, whoever that struggle the party – either PDP or APC ticket, being the major parties should warm up to emerge as next governor.

Another school of thought believes the governorship should go to ethnic groups within the senatorial districts that have not tasted power before. Besides Isoko, Ijaw, Ukwani/Ndokwa ethnic nationalities that made up ethnic groups in Delta State, that have not tasted the coveted office of the executive governor, others like Urhobo, Itsekiri and Ika had taken their turns in the past.

Delta State is predominantly inhabited by the Urhobo, Isoko, Ijaw, Ika, Ukwani, Igbo, and Itsekiri. According to pundits, going by these ethnic card, an Isoko, Izon, Ukwani and Asaba man/woman could emerge as next governor. This school of thought are those who would easily buy the ‘governor’s thinking’ and use it in their favour as 2023 governorship race gathers momentum.

BIGPENNGR however reports that besides the ethnic card, supposed adopted rotation system, there are other factors that would determine who Okowa’s successor would be.

In all of these, Governor Okowa has admonished the political gladiators to thread carefully so as not to over heat the polity and miscalculate where the pendulum may swing.

Speaking on the 2023 race to Government House Asaba, Okowa said that the collective interest of the people should be placed above self, irrespective of ambitions.

He stated that his administration had been fair in the implementation of policies and programmes across the state, and advocated for a governor that would carry everyone along in the scheme of things.

“We are politicians and politics will have to be played. I can see that a lot has been on in our dear state, especially the scramble on who will replace Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa come 2023.

“Unfortunately, some were not even patient. They started their campaigns in the first three months of my second term in office.

“I want to charge our leaders and people to be cautious because politics is such that if you don’t read it rightly, you will directly throw your people into fire.

“I am not all-knowing, but at the appropriate time, leaders must be ready to sit down for us to do a proper analysis politically, before we take decisions so that we will not lead our people into darkness.

“I want to caution our leaders who are jumping the ship because of the very little thing that has been provided for them. It is not about self, it is going to be about the people.

“I am the governor of the state and I appreciate it. I believe in equity and will not shy away from the fact that I am from Delta North Senatorial District,” he said.

“By the grace of God, in our approach to governance, we have been fair in what we do. Shine your eyes so that people will not come to lure you with N500,000 and N1,000,000 and you sell the conscience of your people and you lure them into fire.

“I believe in equity; It has shown that we are not inferior in Delta North. Please let us stay cautious, especially, the leaders.

“Who ever is coming to rule this state, by the grace of God, must be somebody who is ready to ensure that there is fairness, equity and justice.

“We want somebody who will come to Asaba and see Asaba as his home and not somebody who will come and feel that Asaba as headquarters is misplaced.

“So, I urge our people that this is the time to stay together; this is the time to think alike and I want to reassure you that in the next one month, we will start the politics,” Okowa added.

Meanwhile, BIGPENNGR understands that the governor’s statement is already generating ripples in some quarters particularly in the camp of those who thinks they may get the governorship on a platter of gold.

One pundit who craved anonymity said Sunday night that after reading the governor’s statement, he was now sure that Governor Okowa would install his successor and wouldn’t be railroaded.