As the 2019 general elections continue to gather momentum, governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state has cautioned the newly elected national Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomole, politicians and political parties against what he called Inflammatory comments in order not to heat up the polity.
Adams Oshiomole, who is the immediate past governor of Edo state, had vowed that his party will take over Delta State come 2019.
But reacting to the APC national chairman vow during his 2018 second quarterly media briefing Wednesday at the press centre, government house Asaba, Governor Okowa stated that Nigerians should not be divided because of politics.
“I believe that Comrade Oshiomole is playing politics just as Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has a right to play politics as well as any other political party, the only advise I have for all politicians both in PDP and APC is that there must be decorum.
“We must be cautious in the language that we use as they should be decent and I believe that what politicians need to do is to address issues and when issues are addressed the people will make their choice. As politicians wherever you are, try to be civil in your approach to politics because that is the way it ought to be.”
On the Tuesday consultation visit of PDP presidential aspirant and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar to Delta State, Okowa said during the visit, he was cautious of his statement to avoid been seen as supporting a particular aspirant saying it was too early to do so.
“As I spoke when Alhaji Abubakar came, I was very cautious and that is because, I do not want as a governor to say that this is the man I am supporting, I do not want to directly support any candidate and people will be given the room to make their choice; the will of the people will be allowed to prevail and not my will.
“If you followed us properly when he (Alhaji Abubakar) addressed Deltans, it was obvious that he made a lot of statements which did interest our people and he did say that he is a friend of the state and if his programmes as he says continues to interest the people, I will not be able to hold back the hands of the people.
“I am not going to force any Deltan to vote the way I think, Deltans who will be delegates in the convention will be allowed to exercise their discretion to vote, I am not the kind of person who insists on how a person should vote, so, if on his programmes he talked about restructuring and the people are excited and they want to follow him, they have that right.
“So, I made my statement and it was clear and cautious and when Sule Lamido came, he spoke so well and he is also a man I respect. He also has his followers in the state, he was well received and I made my comments so, it is my hope that all the presidential aspirants in the PDP will start to talk with each other because not all of them will get into the final stage.” Okowa stated.
