…..As Widows Abandon Okowa’s Christmas Gifts
Widows across Delta state over the weekend eulogised former governor Emmanuel Uduaghan for what they described as always putting smiles on the faces of widows at yuletide season during the eight years of his administration.
The widows who were reacting to what they called “embarrassing and miserable” 5kgs rice, one litre of oil, two tin of tomatoes and a meagre N1,000 distributed to widows across the state by governor Ifeanyi Okowa through his wife, the first lady, Mrs. Edith Okowa, emphatically stated that, the least Christmas gifts each widow had received from former governor Uduaghan during Christmas celebrations through his wife, the first lady, Mrs. Roli Uduaghan were 25kgs bag of rice, four litre of oil and other ingredients, cash and wrapper.
Our correspondents who monitored the distribution of the Okowa’s Christmas gifts to widows in Ughelli South, Ughelli North, Ndokwa East, Ndokwa West, Isoko North, Isoko South, Patani, and other local government areas report that the widows who were not happy over the quantity of the gifts when compared to what they had always received from the Uduaghan administration, poured encomiums on Uduaghan while they left Okowa led administration with curses.
Speaking with our correspondent, a widow who simply identified herself as Mrs. Dorcas Imire from Iyede lamented her rigorous journey from Iyede to Ozoro to pick up 5kgs rice, two tin of tomatoes, one litre of oil and a thousand.
“I regretted coming from Iyede to Ozoro in this scarcity of fuel just to be given a miserable 5kgs rice, one litre of oil, two tin of tomatoes and N1000. When my transport to and fro alone is over that N1000. In the time of former governor Uduaghan, it was never as bad as this and the almighty God will continue to bless Uduaghan in whatever he set to do. The Okowa Christmas gift was an insult and embarrassment.” She lamented.
Another widow who gave her name as Mrs. Juliana Akpomiemie, told our correspondent that “Okowa is a failure and will forever be a failure in all of his life. Upon all the allocations, Paris club refund and internal generated revenue, all Okowa could do is to insult us with his miserable 5kgs rice, one litre of oil, two tin of tomatoes and N1000. This was what Uduaghan was doing without any complaints and widows were so happy. He never gave us 5kgs of rice in his eight years. Uduaghan God bless you for us. It will never be well with Okowa.”
Also speaking, a headmistress who lost her husband four years ago said what were distributed to widows across the state was a total embarrassment and insult to the widows.
“Despite all the billions of naira accrued to Delta state Governor Okowa can’t buy something reasonable and more befitting for the widows to celebrate the season. Former governor Uduaghan was not like this and in his eight years he played a politics of human face with compassionate heart especially to the widows. Give Okowa twelve years he can never surpassed Uduaghan’s administration.
“Uduaghan is no longer in office but he singlehandedly gave some local government areas each 200 bags of 50kgs and 25kgs of rice and to individuals too across the state. We also saw on social media too his former SSG, Comrade Ovuozorie Macaulay distributing 50kgs and 25kgs of rice to his people, supporters, party leaders, elders in both Isoko North and Isoko South.”
“I read in the papers where Okowa said during his last week press conference that the finances of the state has improved and I want to ask what is Okowa using all the billions of naira to do that he can not afford to buy at least 25kgs of rice and four litre of oil and good money to celebrate the Christmas.? Whereas individuals bought 25kgs and in some cases 50kgs of rice and distributed to people.” she said.
Our correspondent reliably gathered that some of the widows after considering the scarcity of fuel and how much to be spent on transport to pick up a 5kgs rice, two small tin tomatoes, one litre oil and N1,000 decided to abandoned the governor’s “miserable” Christmas gifts.
HardReporters reliably gathered that Governor Okowa, it was also learnt allegedly refused to release money to his aides to buy Christmas rice for distribution to supporters and party faithful as a result in some local government councils, eight aides came together to contribute money to purchase eight bags of 50kgs rice and distributed to over 100 supporters and few party faithful.