By Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, Esq
#eacgovdelta
Platinum Governor of Delta State, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, has again appealed to political leaders in the state, to be cautious so as not to mislead their people, saying that at the appropriate time, leaders in the three senatorial districts will meet to point the way forward for 2023 Governorship race.
He gave the advise on Saturday May 15, 2021 in Asaba, while speaking at the empowerment event organised by the Minority Leader of the Federal House of Representatives, Hon Ndudi Elumelu.
The governor noted that some politicians have started making promises that may not see the light of day, such as deputy Governorship offer, while in some other cases money have been alleged to change hands, thereby prompting some political gladiators to jump ship prematurely.
Okowa said the next governor after his tenure must be grounded in state politics, ready to govern without relegating any senatorial district to the background, adding that in due course the Governorship race trumpet will sound to signify the takeoff of activities for the race to commence.
He frowned at the early commencement of 2023 governorship race, and political consultations which occurred within the first three months of the second tenure of this administration, saying that such moves revealed gross political inexperience and lack of adequate depth of political engineering by those concerned.
“I wish to advise our leaders not to lead our people into fire. We must be cautious in the ways and manner we conduct ourselves as far as 2023 governorship race is concerned.
“I hear that some people already made offer of Deputy governor or running mate to some people. It is very possible that you are not the only one they promised that position. it is the attitude of some politicians to make same promises to as many people as possible and at the end of the day our people are deceived and mislead. This should not happen this time around.
“It is not good for some of our leaders to collect money and do the wrong things. At the appropriate time leaders in the state will meet to take the right decision on the way to go, as far as 2023 governorship is concerned.
“I wish to sincerely advise those who are already jumping ship because of promises that may not materialise, to retrieve their steps and wait for the right time.
“The next governor must be somebody who genuinely sees Asaba as his home, and as the state capital, and will not be unfair to Anioma nation of Delta North, or any other senatorial district for that matter.
“He must know the politics of this state, a team player, a visionary leader, and must be detribalised,” Okowa hinted.
The governor commended Hon Elumelu, for empowering over 350 constituents, describing him as a consummate leader and a man of the people.
He urged other elected representatives to emulate the kind gestures of the Minority Leader of the Federal House of Representatives, adding that the very essence of leadership and good representation is to upgrade the living standards and human capacity development of the people.