Ifeanyi Okowa, a former governor of Delta state has scored President Bola Ahmed Tinubu high in his performance, saying he deserves another shot at the presidency.
Okowa made the remark on Monday in Abuja, the nation’s capital at a National Summit organized by a group affiliated to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, the Integrity Group of Nigeria, IGN.
Recall that Okowa was among the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, leaders, including the governor of Delta state, Sheriff Obovrewori, who in April this year, surprisingly, defected to the ruling party, citing the need to bring the state to the mainstream of politics in the country.
The former governor had since become the president’s ally, campaigning for his re-election.
According to Okowa, the president has delivered on his Renewed Hope Agenda, describing Tinubu as an action leader who has taken difficult decisions for the betterment of the country.
The former governor who was represented at the event disclosed that President Tinubu has brought hope and stability to the country by taking the bull by the horns, saying the president deserved to be supported for re-election.
“Tinubu’s decisions might be tough or rough, but they are yielding positive results,” Okowa said.
“Tinubu is bringing stability. He’s bringing back hope. He’s taking the bull by the horns. He’s not referring to issues in the past or how the past was governed.
“He promised Nigeria that he will come to the saddle and take responsibility. That is what he has done.
“We have come, not with liability but assets, to make what you have built better.
“We are coming with our experience, with our knowledge of the terrain. We are coming with love. We are coming with resources to better the lot.”
Speaking four months ago after defecting to the ruling party, Okowa said the state has lost so much by being in the opposition for a longtime, the state, according to him, needed to connect with ‘Abuja’ where the “goodwill and resources’ are being shared, adding that his decision and other leaders of the state to join APC is not personal but for the interest of the state.
He said: “People wondered why, but one thing is very important: in the history of a people there is always a time to change their path for the common good of the people, and whatever decision we took was based on that common good and the need to change our path in the best interest of our state.
“As I did tell people that day (when I defected), it was not about me; it was not about the governor, but about the fact that there is a need for us to connect to Abuja.
“That goodwill that is in Abuja, that resource that is in Abuja, of which Delta State is a large contributor — there was a need to connect to it.
“I was governor for eight years; I was in opposition. I did my best, but we lost a lot, and I did not believe that the governor needed to stay working very hard without the needed support. We are very supportive of Governor Sheriff because he’s doing a lot, but as the governor is doing a lot for us, he also needs to connect to the greater source of power, resources, and goodwill in Abuja. When we sat down after stakeholders’ meetings, we thought it was necessary to make this move.
“We must defend our state. Our state stands far beyond us, and I believe that this decision is in the best interest of all. It is time for us to embrace each other — our brothers and sisters who were already in the APC and those of us that have come into the family. We need to embrace each other and work with oneness of heart.
“It is time for us to stand together in great support for Mr President and Mr Governor, because together we can truly dominate the politics in Delta State. I believe there will be no other party, with this move that we have made.”
The former governor ruled the oil bearing state for eight years between 2015 and 2023.
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