Immediate past Executive Assistant on Communications to Delta State Governor under Okowa administration, Olorogun Barr Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, has said that the incumbent State Governor, Rt Hon (Elder) Sheriff Francis Oborevwori, cannot and will never be a stooge to anybody, and that includes the immediate part governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa.
Oghenesivbe gave the assurance in a statement made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Asaba, in swift reaction to a frivolous and baseless claim by a faceless group which alleged that the state governor, is a stooge meant to implement the third term agenda of the immediate past governor.
The group further stated in a trending post on social media that the delay in the release of more political appointments was the handiwork of the immediate past governor, Senator Okowa, who is scrutinizing the list of juicy appointments to ensure that his loyalists and trusted kinsmen are strategically positioned in Oborevwori’s administration.
Oghenesivbe said Oborevwori has so far demonstrated good leadership qualities through his actions, inactions and spoken words, and has also assured the leadership of the newly inaugurated State House of Assembly of his sincere desire to respect and strictly adhere to the doctrine of separation of powers between the executive, legislature and the Judiciary arms of government.
He noted that as Speaker for six years before becoming the governor of the state, Oborevwori was not found wanting, and that he led the house to enact laws that impacted positively on all Deltans, pointing out that those who are accusing him of being a stooge and implementor of the third term agenda of the immediate past governor, Senator Okowa, are those loyal to the main opposition party and their leaders.
The former EAC who was the spokesperson of Delta State Campaign Council of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the just 2023 general elections, said Okowa did well by ensuring the continuity of power rotation in the state, and that Oborevwori will be in the saddle for eight years to serve the slot of Delta Central, no matter the degree of media propaganda, name calling and character assassination.
“It is ridiculous for political contractors and media propagandists loyal to the main opposition political party to insinuate or allege that governor Oborevwori is a stooge, meant to implement Okowa’s third term agenda. This is unacceptable, crazy and unfounded.
“Appointments are based on merit and wide consultations, so as to ensure that the best brains are appointed to work with the governor for the implementation of policies and programmes. This tradition shall be kept and properly utilized by this administration.
“The governor is barely three weeks in office, and those accusing him of unnecessary delays in the release of more political appointments are simply impatient, overzealous and unreasonable.
“Governor Oborevwori has never been a stooge all his life, and will never be a stooge to anybody, and that includes the immediate past governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, CON.
“The incumbent governor is the leader of the state, and of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and therefore cannot be subservient to any past governor or any stakeholders either living or dead.
“Let me also make it abundantly clear that Governor Oborevwori shall continue to maintain cordial and excellent relationship with past governors, respect them and recognize their interests in the scheme of things, and as major stakeholders in government and in the party, PDP.
“As good citizens and/or law abiding Deltans, it is our primary responsibility and duty to continue to support the governor, be patient with him and at the end we shall all benefit from his good governance as enshrined in the M.O.R.E agenda.
“I urge those peddling falsehood against the governor to have a change of heart, support his administration which is meant to advance Delta in socioeconomic and infrastructure development,” Oghenesivbe added.