2023: Okowa Breaks Silence Over Successor’s Crisis, Says Only God’s Will Shall Prevail In Delta

Delta state Governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, on Sunday, spoke on the political crisis brewing in the oil rich state over who would succeed him in the 2023 general election as next governor.

Daily Sun reports that there have been high-wired politicking in the state over who among those who have indicated interest and bought governorship nomination form under the PDP platform would succeed him.

The brewing governorship political crisis seems to be between the political bloc of former governor, Chief James Ibori and his political benefactor, Governor Okowa who is being accused in some quarters of attempt to wage a political vendetta against a Senatorial district in 2023.

The development culminated with recent endorsement and counters which dominated the political space last week, particularly the one done by Urhobo apex social-cultural organization, Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) which thrown it weight behind Chief David Edevbie, an ally of former governor Chief James Ibori against the incumbent Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Sheriff Oborevwori who is said to be the governor’s unofficial choice.

Edevbie’s endorsement by the Urhobo apex body was widely rejected by forces believed to be loyal to the governor’s political camp fueling speculations that Okowa was not willing to shift ground for Ibori to produce his successor in 2023.

But speaking on the development, on Sunday, at the 70th birth anniversary thanksgiving service of Chief Oritsetimeyin Adams which held at Cathedral Church of St. Luke’s Anglican Church, Sapele, Governor Okowa, said that he was committed to allowing God’s will prevail on the choice of who would succeed him in 2023.

He said that he was not willing to lord himself on the people but to allow the will of God to provide Deltans with a worthy successor as governor.

He commended the church and other leaders for their prayers and support, and urged them to pray that God should give the State a good successor to him.

According to him, the choice of a successor is not by wish of man but by the will of God.

“I thank the Church and our leaders for their consistent prayers for our dear state because it is not about us, men, but about what God wants.

“So, pray that whoever God wants will be governor, and may that person He wants emerge as governor for the good of Deltans.

“May God’s will be done in Delta State and may it be well with us in Nigeria,” he said.

The governor congratulated the celebrant for attaining the Biblical three scores and 10 and urged him to rededicate his life to the service of God and humanity.

“God is the source of life and therefore we must return all thanks to Him and that is what you have done today.

“I knew Chief Adams way back in 1991 when we were Council chairmen together; he was in the NRC and I was in the SDP and we became friends since then.

“I thank God that today also he continued to remember the things that God had enabled him to do.

“He is now one of our elder statesman not because of his age but because of his contributions to the development of our state.

“The surgery you underwent is over and your health is healed not because of the successful surgery but because Jesus said you should be healed,” he stated.

Earlier in his sermon, Bishop of Oleh Diocese (Anglican Communion), Rt. Rev’d John Aruakpor, had congratulated Adams for using his positions to attract development to his people.

The bishop remarked that every celebration was a day to look back and give thanks to God for His grace upon our lives, adding that the grace of God had helped the celebrant all through his life.

Speaking on the theme “The value of man’s life”, he said that a man’s worth did not consist in the abundance of his possessions but by the value of service he rendered to others.

He said God “does not measure man’s worth by the number of years lived but by how much impact we make on the lives of others.

“When the Lord places man in a position of authority, it is not for the person in particular but to better the lots of others.

“If you want to have value in the sight of God, put God first, obey His ways and He will not disappoint you,” the cleric said.

The celebrant, Chief Adams, said he was not thanking God because he was 70 but because of His blessings  upon his life and family.

“I am not just thanking God because I am 70, but because of what God did for me last year.

“Last year, I was diagnosed with prostrate cancer which was supposed to be a death sentence but the Lord healed me after an operation in a United States hospital.

“I must thank God for our dear Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa and my amiable king, His Majesty, Atuwatse III, for their support towards the surgery,” he said.