2023: Delta APC Says Okowa Can’t Determine, Impose Next Governor |The Source

By Akinwale Kasali

Governor Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa of Delta State has come under criticism from opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, following his statement last weekend about who succeeds him as Governor of the State in 2023.

Okowa had said that Politicians in the State should not mislead their supporters, but leave political stake holders in the State to meet and navigate on who would succeed him.

The Governor added that a rooted politician that has the charisma and understands the dynamics in the State would become Governor come 2023.

This, however, does not augur well with the APC which has tackled him. Its Caretaker Publicity Secretary in the State, Sylvester Imonina, said that In a democracy, it is the responsibility of the electorate to choose who governs them, not a cabal or an individual who thinks, or sees himself as an emperor.

Imonina added that the voice of the people is the voice of God, not personal interest of anyone who sees himself as demi-god.

In a statement, the APC said it is on the above premise, that it condemns in strong terms, the arrogation of power that belongs to Deltans by the State Governor to himself.

“Last weekend in Asaba, Gov. Okowa, who is supposed to be the Governor of all Deltans but presently referred to, by most Deltans, as Governor of Owa-Alero, due to his clannish, nepotistic and propensity for ‘if my personal interest is not there, no one should have it’, carelessly said that in less than a month from now, he would be abandoning governance of the State for politics of who succeeds him by 2023!

“At the said ceremony, he arrogantly said that he would determine/install whoever will take over the saddle of governance in Delta State, come 2023. He threatened to teach those opposed to his political fiefdom a bitter lesson they will not forget, except they retrace their steps and/ or join him in his political marauding of the wealth of our dear State.

“Delta APC believes that all power belongs to the Almighty Creator, and not mortals. The Governor Macbethic ambition cannot supercede what and who Deltans want.

“We, therefore, advise Mr. Governor to humble himself, and concentrate on the current responsibility bestowed on him, by delivering quality dividends of democracy to Deltans, rather than veering into the future that belongs to only God.

“We state without any air of equivocation that the guilty are afraid. Considering the fact that Delta State have been receiving the highest federal allocations for more than four years besides other sources of revenues to the State, there is no commensurate developmental strides to justify monies received. We dare to say that the desperation of the Governor to abandoning governance “for politics of who succeeds” him less than one month from now is a pointer and manifestation of wanting to have someone who will cover his tracks after 2023 governorship election!

“Without any dispute, the expectation of the good people of Delta State from the PDP-led government as at today, is good leadership. Pitiably, it is lacking because of personal/family interest and desperation of a cabal and few political hallelujah boys in the corridor of powers in the State.

“One thing is sure; Deltans are wiser now and are ready to weed out all vestiges of political, social and economic liabilities impeding manifest and quality developments in Delta State since 1999 till date”, the statement reads.