Very classified information before HardReporters news desk have shown that the last month’s reception for governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state by Anioma nation followed by his endorsement for reelection come 2019 was actually sponsored by Okowa with tax payers money gulping about N200 million.
Governor Okowa’s kinsmen, Anioma nation in Delta state had in April, 21, 2018 organised a reception for him at the cenotaph, Asaba which later climaxed into his endorsement for a reelection come 2019.
An impeccable member of the planning committee for the event, who confided in HardReporters correspondent and pleaded for anonymity disclosed that “Actually, the whole event was singlehandedly sponsored by the state governor. When the idea was mooted by some of us and passed on to the governor, he was so happy and immediately bought into the whole idea. He then promised to make funds available for the event and that was exactly what you saw on that very day at the cenotaph.”
According to our source, over N150 million was released from the state treasury by governor Okowa to package the reception for him and his reelection endorsement, adding that “From the wrappers to the headgears you saw the Anioma women and men wearing that day of the event were all provided by the governor from the funds he made available. Within the few days the idea was mooted, his excellency had contacted who is who in the PDP family outside the state.
“He did assured us that he will personally reach out to the national chairman of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, the senate deputy president, Ike Ekweremadu, Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, former chief economic adviser to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Philip Asiodu, former governors of our state, Chief James Ibori and Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan. True to his words all the dignitaries attended the event.” the source said.
The planning committee member for the event, however noted that though, as an Anioma son, he wished Deltans reelect governor Okowa come 2019 saying “The Anioma reception for the governor and his reelection endorsement was after thoughts anyway. Sincerely speaking, the governor has disappointed us. He is a one sided governor, a governor for only Owa people. Have you asked why did it took us the Anioma nation so long to organise a reception for our governor son, barely three years now, all of a sudden we decided to do it. This was much reason why he singlehandedly sponsored the event. Because he knows he has failed us when he is supposed to be an Anioma governor, he decided to be Owa governor.”
Speaking during the event which was also attended by the desert warrior Newton Jibunor, former Deputy Governor of Delta state, Benjamin Elue, the Ide of Ahaba, Sunny Odogwu, traditional rulers, President-Generals of different ethnic nationalities, governor Ifeanyi Okowa stated that the endorsement will propel him to deliver more dividends of democracy to Deltans.
“Today, my people of Anioma put up this show and I thank you all for this wonderful event, in 2015, Delta State did something that strengthened the unity of our people that though, we are diverse in ethnic, we believe that we are one people, in one Delta State; they realised that if the unity of Delta State must remain, they must speak with one voice and they did that through their votes and I won in the total votes cast in all the ethnic nationalities.
“That obviously sent a message that we are one people and we will continue to live in unity because in that unity, we will blossom; in that unity, we will succeed. We came at a time there were challenges but, because of the support of all, we were able to wade through the turbulent days; the dark days are over and we shall grow to greater heights. As we move on as a people, I must count on your support for us to sustain the peace that we enjoy, with peace, we will do well as a people, we will continue to build the roads in the state ” he said.
Our correspondent reports that a motion for the adoption of governor Ifeanyi Okowa as the sole candidate of Anioma nation for the 2019 gubernatorial elections in Delta State was moved by Newton Jibunor and unanimously endorsed by the people.
