Delta 2023: Okowa’s clone as successor is insult to Deltans- Omo-Agege …accuses Delta gov of misappropriating #2.8trn FAAC, IGR

Delta 2023: Okowa’s clone as successor is insult to Deltans- Omo-Agege
…accuses Delta governor of misappropriating #2.8trn FAAC, IGR

Deputy President of the Senate and Delta State APC Governorship Candidate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege has accused the state governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa of cloning a successor to cover up his misappropriation of #2.8 trillion federal allocation in the past seven years, excluding internally generated revenues and other capital receipts.

Addressing a world press conference Thursday at the Delta APC Campaign Organisation Secretariat in Asaba to Flag-off the APC Presidential and Governorship Elections Campaign in the state, DSP Omo-Agege stated that Governor Okowa succession plan is an insult on Deltans.

“The handpicked PDP candidate Rt. Hon. Sheriff Francis Oborevwori is a mere clone of Okowa, because like his master, his middle name is incompetence.

“By his background, or the lack thereof; and public record, or the lack thereof, the PDP candidate would be a human disaster in Government House.

“His nomination, championed by an inept and corrupt PDP administration, is an insult to the sensibilities of Deltans, Omo-Agege warned.

He continued: “The offer of PDP in the 2023 gubernatorial elections in the person of Rt. Hon. Sheriff Francis Oborevwori is a bad one for Delta State, because it exemplifies incompetence, bad judgement and everything that went wrong in the past seven years.

“Delta State should not leave its destiny in the hands of a man who has no mind of his own and will continue to be Okowa’s stooge even as governor.

“Our main opponent would represent a third term for a failed governor who ran out of ideas to develop the State.

“We call on all Deltans and men of goodwill to reject this imposition by Governor Okowa. Delta State belongs to all Deltans, and we must all join hands to take it back.

“We must reject leaders who will not be independent of Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa and the cabal that brought us to this sorry pass.

For Deltans to get out of these problems and return to a path of economic prosperity, there must be change that offers progress beyond mere promises”, he warned.

Senator Omo-Agege noted that never in history have Deltans faced such ill-fated times borne of mediocrity, in spite of the enormous resources and competence of Deltans all over the world.

“Under the PDP, and especially in the last seven years, the problems of Delta State have been squarely rooted in bad leadership, misplaced priorities, pervasive incompetence, and even corruption.

“If you make an objective assessment of every village, town, city, and local government area in Delta State, including the riverine areas, you will come to the sad conclusion that the state is lagging behind in every index of socio-economic development and economic prosperity”, he emphasised.

On receipt of revenues and alleged misappropriation, Omo-Agege stated: “Okowa’s government alone has swallowed up well over N2.8 trillion in seven years. We are all Deltans here. Do you see anything on ground that is commensurate with that receipt?

“There is poverty and profound infrastructural dilapidation from Asaba to Warri and environs, Ughelli to Udu, Sapele to Effurun, Koko to Oghara, Agbor to Ukwani, Ndokwa to Abraka, and other areas of the State.

“The PDP government has abandoned the riverine areas of the State to their own devices. When compared to other states in the Niger Delta with similar FAAC and IGR revenues, Delta is beset by poor or non existent infrastructure.

“Even the few projects that exist are poorly executed. The net effect is that the state looks like a giant junkyard.

“Most of the roads and structures purportedly executed by the Okowa government in the last seven years have failed and, in many instances, outrightly collapsed.

“We are all Deltans here. Do you see anything on ground that is commensurate with that receipt?

“Many such failed projects that litter the State are being recycled and re-awarded to cronies without a visionary and credible plan for sustainable infrastructural development.

“Recent examples include the back to back collapse and fire in sections of the Stephen Keshi stadium, Asaba, that for the grace of God, could have killed several Deltans; the dilapidated and failing Effurun roundabout flyover, the derelict Warri township stadium and scores of road projects across the State, just to mention but a few.

“While other States in the Niger Delta and elsewhere are celebrating shiny milestones in infrastructural development, human capacity development, healthcare, education, sustainable economic development, good governance, and improved institutions, the people of Delta State are shell-shocked; benumbed by the sheer audacity of Okowa and his co-travellers as they daily bring the state to its knees”, the Delta APC Governorship flagbearer lamented.

On borrowing by the Okowa administration, Omo-Agege said “the governor has been going around borrowing with reckless abandon, making the State one of the most indebted in Nigeria even with its monumental FAAC allocation and 13% derivation revenue as an oil producing State.”

“Today, there are strong reasons to believe that monies meant for the development of Delta State are now being channeled to fund the ill fated ambition of Governor Okowa to become Vice-President of Nigeria in 2023 by every means.

“Just go around the State. The poverty and frustration inflicted by this government on Deltans over the years are palpable and scary.

“Insecurity, low quality projects, lack of vision to revive the economy of the State, misplaced priorities in governance, corruption, nepotism, government waste, incompetence, and lack of accountability are pervasive and profound.

“We surely can do better than our label as the “Keke” capital of Nigeria because of what this government has done, and even more, failed to do.

“The new slogan today is “see Delta and cry”- from Delta North to South and Central, tears come to your eyes.

We have now come to that time in the history of Delta State, when all Deltans must rise in one accord and boldly declare that enough is enough by voting for the APC. With my record of public service, my candidacy represents and offers that change”, the APC governorship proffered.