“You Make Very Unintelligent Comments”, Okowa Replies Ojougboh
Following comments credited to a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Delta State, Dr Cairo Ojougboh, on the social media alleging that the state governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, runs the state with a blank 2017 budget, the governor has fired back at the APC stalwart.
“In the first instance, I would not ordinarily have wanted to react to comments made by somebody who though went to school but made very unintelligent comments. You were here last year when the budget was presented, the budget was debated by the House and the press was also present when the budget was signed”.
Okowa stated this Thursday shortly after he presented the budget of N298.078 billion for 2018 fiscal year to the Speaker and members of the Delta State House of Assembly (DTHA), in Asaba.
“I have been to the National Assembly and I believed that the Delta State House of Assembly is credible. We have followed all the processes just as we are starting to follow the processes again this year. Is it possible to have a blank budget? Then what is the budget if it is blank? Okowa asked.
The governor said some comments appear stupid and unintelligent, “some how we are in a nation where everybody can say whatever is in your mouth, freedom of speech. But it is only fair that people who went to school should be able to speak in a manner that reflects “that we went to school but when we speak unintelligently, it is a very unfair thing”.
Dr Ojougboh had about two weeks ago petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari over what he termed as “blank budget” in the state.
Read his petition: “Mr. President, it is with heavy heart distress and grief that I write you this letter, Mr. President; I am an Indigene of Agbor, Ika South L.G.A of Delta State, former member of the House of Representatives, former Presidential Liaison Officer to the Senate and SSA to the President, former National Vice Chairman South South of the PDP and immediate past National Deputy Chairman of the PDP. This is to bring to your notice the hydra headed corruption and malignant impunity that is currently dancing and celebrating in the Delta State House of Assembly.
“The Chairman of the Appropriation Committee of the Delta State House of Assembly and the entire members have not sighted the budget break down and estimates as the conventional practice, the actions of the Speaker with the active connivance of the Government amounts to issuance of a blank 2017 budget and appropriation for Delta State. Mr. President, I dare any member of the Delta State House of Assembly to produce a copy of the approved budget estimate signed by the Chairman Appropriation Committee, the Clark and the Speaker, let any member display same on any website.
“Mr. President, I had the opportunity to speak with Prof. Sam Oyovbaire on issues of impunity and corruption in Delta State. For your information Prof. Sam Oyovbaire presented Dr. Okowa to the Urhobo nation and Okowa was accepted by the Urhobos due to the person of Prof. Sam Oyovbaire. I told Prof. Sam Oyovbaire that he has a name and integrity to protect, that he should disassociate himself from the mess going on in Delta State.
“I therefore in all humility call on Mr. President who is credited by the International Committee not to own a single house and bank account outside Nigeria, who won the presidential general election against an incumbent President due to your anti–corruption credentials to kindly deploy your good offices to cause a thorough investigation into the fraud currently in Delta State through the Blank Budget and appropriations issued by the Delta State House of Assembly by the anti-graft agencies.
“Mr. President, I am 58 years old, a soldier of truth, if I cannot stand to defend my people on matters of this nature and injustice, then I will not be fair to my God and conscience. It is most excruciating and painful that our hard earned State resources are being stolen in broad day light.” Ojougboh stated.
“They were emboldened when they learnt that I had left the PDP on 16th September 2017 and they felt the urgent need to now confide in me that I have left the PDP. The very important issue at hand is that the members confessed to me that up till 3rd day of October they have not seen, sighted or read a copy of the Delta State 2017 budget. The Hon. Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori signed only the last page of the budget and returned same to the Government; the Government then fills in the blank arbitrarily and apportions appropriation at will.
“Mr. President, I humbly on behalf of the good people of Delta State plead and solicit of you to passionately cause and direct the relevant Government Agencies to investigate the above allegation against the Delta State House of Assembly.
“I want to assure you, as the 2019 general election draws near, that over two (2) million votes are at stake in Delta State, your reward for addressing the fraud in Delta State shall be total unequivocal support for you and your Government and your Great Party the APC. Mr. President, Delta State is dying. Kingly direct the EFCC, DSS, ICPC and Code of Conduct to investigate”.