Executive Assistant to the Governor of Delta State on Communications and Justice of the Peace, JP, Olorogun Barr Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, has said that the state governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, has nothing against the Urhobo ethnic nationality of Delta Central Senatorial District, contrary to unfounded and misleading insinuations trending on social media.
He made the disclosure in a statement released to newsmen in Asaba, on Thursday May 27, 2021, saying that the politics of 2023 will soon commence as assured by the governor; and no aspirant has emerged as the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the State.
Oghenesivbe further asserted that it was too early in the day to unjustly cast aspersions on the governor or anybody for that matter, as regard 2023 politics which will be played on the basis of fairness, equity and Justice, pointing out that it was politically naive and premature for some politicians to engage in unsubstantiated and misleading assumptions or insinuations calculated to hit up the polity.
The EACGOV said governor Okowa has done well for Deltans including the Urhobo people of Delta Central Senatorial District in terms of political appointments, infrastructure projects, and socioeconomic development, nothing that for the first time, Urhobos became more prominent in leadership positions and political scheme of things.
Oghenesivbe, also disclosed that by virtue of his position as one of the senior aide to the governor, he is expected to be neutral and not support any governorship aspirant until such a time when it has become obvious that the political pendulum is swinging aright, pointing obviously to the direction perceived to be profitable to the majority of the people.
He urged supporters of aspirants and their promoters to feel free, and go about their consultations without nursing the fear or phobia that the EACGOV will pitch tent with a particular aspirant, adding that at the appropriate time when the coast is clear, media politics will naturally surface to give credence to the best among equals, and to also give positive effects to the electioneering process.
“Okowa administration have been fair to Delta Central in multifaceted ways. Top appointments given to the district so far includes; SSG, Chairman-Asaba Capital Territory Development Agency, Managing Director-DESOPADEC, Commissioners of Justice/HAG, Finance, Commerce and Industry, Environment, Urban Renewal, Special Duties, Science and Technology, Works, Agriculture, Higher Education, Chairman, Governing Councils-College of Education, Mosogar, School of Health Technology, Afiesere, and several other Board appointments.
“This administration also appointed several Special Advisers, Executive Assistants, Senior Special Assistants and Special Assistants to the Governor, from Delta Central, and have tremendously benefited immensely from the YAGEP, STEP, PROJECT GEST and RYSA vocational/skills training and empowerment programmes of Okowa led government.
“Delta Central benefited from road projects, construction of bridges, renovation of Technical Colleges, construction and renovation of schools, ongoing construction of new Technical Colleges, Okowa monthly stipends for Widows, 02 Initiative Sickle Cell projects and free medications/free eye tests and surgery, etcetera.
“Other benefits includes; juicy PDP party positions for Delta Central, from national to state levels.The Political Adviser to PDP National Chairman, Chief Ighoyota Amori, is from Mosogar in Ethiope West LGA of Delta Central, and the current State Party Chairman and State Organising Secretary, Barr Kingsley Esiso and Chief Sunday Onoriode, hails from Okpara Inland and Abraka in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta Central. The South-South Woman Leader of PDP, Chief Mrs Tessy Touru is from Ovu in Delta Central, and others too numerous to mention.
“It is therefore unreasonable and very unfair for some narrow minded and ungrateful political gladiators to ignore these good deeds done to Delta Central, and unjustly cast undeserving aspersions on the platinum governor who has been adjudged by national and international political observers as an icon of modern Democratic Governance and emerging world leader.
“The governor made it clear publicly which was well publicised that very soon, the leaders of PDP in the state will converge to discuss issues around 2023 gubernatorial elections and thereafter commence active game of politics. He never said he was against governorship coming to Delta Central or any other Senatorial district for that matter.
“Those spreading unfounded rumours and communicating falsehood which is obviously calculated to fan the ember of disunity in the state, should have a rethink and align with the direction of the party, the party leader and wait to see where the political pendulum will swing after party primaries in 2022.
“The brain box of the matter is that Deltans deserve a detribalized and incorruptible governor in 2023, and that should be in the front burner of our political discuss, consultations and campaigns, as we navigate into party primaries in 2022.
“Aspirants have been told to commence consultations across board and across the state, while the state party structures together with the leader, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, will do the needful for the good of all Deltans,” Oghenesivbe said.