Delta State Governor, Senator, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa has lampooned the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege for alleging that his administration was paying N2 billion monthly to political thugs, saying it’s unfortunate that such ‘unguided statement’ could come from a person holding high political office that ought to have the right information.
BIGPENNGR.COM reports that Governor Okowa who spoke at the quarterly media briefing on the activities of his administration, took a swipe at Omo-Agege that such allegation coming from him, only showed how immature he is politically.
“When people are in high offices, they should get the right information so that in your communication to Deltans, ensure you are speaking the truth.
“But when somebody rises and say they are using N2 billion to pay thugs, it is a very unfortunate statement.
“Making such a statement in a rally or a crowd of people when you know that you are passing a wrong message, I don’t think it shows any sign of maturity.
“So when somebody talks in that manner, it is very unfortunate. But I don’t even know those he calls political thugs because we are not a violent party, the PDP is not violent.
“The same people who talk about thugs are actually the ones that are violent in this state.
He, however, accused Omo-Agege who is aspiring to govern the state in 2023 for allegedly being a saboteur to development funds that ought to come to the state because of partisan politics.
Okowa posited that Omo-Agege supposed to leverage on his position to collaborate with the state government, irrespective of political party difference, to bring more development to Delta State, but failed over the years because he wants to remain partisan.
“Whereas he should be collaborating with government, yes you belong to another political party but when you are in office, there must be a collaboration to seek the good of the state, you don’t just continue to make statement that are not correct because of politics.
“When you are in Abuja and people want to bring funds to develop your state but because you want to stay partisan, you block it. I don’t think that is in the best interest of Delta State.
“I will not play the kind of politics they play but when it’s time to talk to Deltans, we will speak to Deltans based on what we have done, based on what Deltans have also done to assist us to achieve what we have achieved,” he stated.
On speculations making the round about his political future, Okowa said that he did not declare to run for the office of the president because he was not fully prepared for the race.
The governor noted that despite being qualified, he resisted calls to join in the race to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari.
“There were lots of pressures to run for the president but somehow I don’t think I was fully prepared for that race. It take a lot, am a politician and as a politician I have done my own calculation. I don’t just throw myself into the ring.
“I have to cross examine the whole thing and I plead with those who had shown interest in my capacity, to allow my decision remain,” he stated.
According to him, when all qualified persons are in the race, it creates problems for the party in the final analysis”, he said.
Speaking on the controversial N150 billion “Bridging Finance” facility he took recently following an approval from the state House of Assembly, the governor maintained that the credit facility was not a fresh loan but an advance from the N270 billion owed the state by the Federal Government.
He explained that the N150 billion had been tied to projects embarked upon by his administration and his predecessor, pointing out that the reason people questioned the approval of the facility by the House of Assembly was due to lack of information.
He pointed out that his administration would not take any decision that jeopardise the peace, unity and overall transformation of the state.
Okowa used the forum to debunk rumour of endorsement of any aspirant in all elective positions ahead of 2023 general elections, promising that the primaries of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would be fair, transparent and credible.
“I have not endorsed any aspirant for any elective positions in the forthcoming general elections in the country. We shall provide a free, fair, transparent and credible party primaries,” the governor said.
On the allegation that he hijacked the list of delegates, he described it as the handiwork of mischief makers, stressing that those who were out to derail the process did not succeed.
For those criticising the policies and programmes of his administration, Okowa advised them to be factual, and assured that nothing would derail him from fulfilling all his electioneering campaign promises.
“You will know the direction that God wants us to go when we are approaching the congress which has now be shifted to 23.
“I hope and pray that whoever will succeed me will respect the will of the people, somebody who would feeling for every Deltan, somebody who will unite Delta State and somebody who will be humble enough.
Are we divided? Am not aware of that. Ibori family, as you call it, is intact, the PDP family in Delta State is fully intact. Whatever you are seeing at the moment is all politics”.
