DELTA 2019: Okowa Falls Back Home, Beg Kinsmen For Votes

Allegedly tensed with statements made by a former governor of Delta State, Chief James Onanefe Ibori, of being an elder statesman, the incumbent governor, Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, has gone back home to his kinsmen whom he allegedly abandoned in the last two years seeking for their support come 2019.

It was gathered that Okowa at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), campaign rally at Ika South, Ika North-East and Aniocha North local government areas, ahead of the local government elections slated for January 6, 2018, pleaded with his kinsmen to ensure that they protect their votes in order to achieve his second term bid.

A cross section of Delta Northerners (Okowa’s kinsmen) have expressed disappointment over Okowa leadership style, as they claimed that their brother has failed them in terms of infrastructural development in the area especially the state capital, prudent management of state resources among others which they said would be used against him.

It was learnt that the governor had said the governorship race come 2019 was about the right of the Anioma people completing their own eight years as governor of the state in an unwritten agreement, stressing that any Anioma person that would scuttle the order “must” be seen as an enemy.

Our correspondent reliably learnt that Okowa, abandoned the purpose of the campaigns which was met to showcase candidates of the party for the council polls and took the avenue to put the people on the knowing that Delta South and Central Senatorial Districts have had their turn for 16 years as governors of the state since 1999, and opined that his district (Delta North) where he hails from should be allowed to complete their turn.

It was gathered that Okowa begged them to ensure that they register massively with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and come out in their large number to vote for him during the election to have enough vote from the district.

However, in what look like the return of the “Prodigal Son” after straying away from the aim of the rally, the governor appreciated the PDP faithful for their response to the rally.

Hear him: “No one will believe that this crowd came out from only one local government area; it is impressive and it shows the strength of our party at the grassroots level. There is nothing greater than a united family and I am happy that our party is strong, united and peaceful.

“Let us continue to campaign and prepare ourselves for the January 6 elections. We should sensitize our people to come out and vote. Women are very important in politics; they come out in their numbers to participate in politics. They should be allowed to contest for elective positions.

“Only Aniocha South and Aniocha North failed to field a minimum of three women for the coming elections and they will do that through the appointment of supervisory councilors, in line with the decision of the leadership of the party in the state,” the governor assured.

It was also learnt that the chairman of the party in the state, Kingsley Esiso and the Senator representing Delta North at the National Assembly (NASS), Peter Nwoaboshi, spoke at the event.

It would be recalled that Ibori who was hosted to a grand reception organized in his honour by the immediate past Secretary to the state Government, (SSG), Comrade Ovuozourie Macaulay, at Owhelogbo, Isoko North local government area of the state, had stated that “I don’t belong to any political party, I am now an elder statesman, my political family members cut across, so, I speak as such”.