Delta State House of Assembly Speaker Emeritus, Victor Ochei, has again carpeted Governor Ifeanyi Okowa led administration, describing it as a government of ineptitude, corruption and lacking planning and vision and remained the worst ever since the creation of the state some 27 years ago.
Ochei, a lawyer, who gave this notion about Okowa’s administration during a live radio programme, “Trend Talk” aired on Trend 100.9 FM, Asaba and monitored on the radio App in Abuja by HardReporters correspondent, blasted the governor saying its government “lack vision and planning.”
READ ALSO: Okowa’s Performance Is Abysmal, Worst Administration So Far—Ochei
Ochei, former member of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) and the party’s governorship aspirant who came third in 2014 during its primary, noted that Okowa has failed woefully when compared to successive administrations since the advent of democracy in Nigeria.
“The immediate past administration of Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan had star projects within the first three years and they all started and went on at the same time. The Asaba airport was there within the first three years. So was Ughelli/Asaba dualization and Government House Asaba.
“What is the star project of this administration?. Okowa lacks planning. For the avoidance of doubt, Okowa was part of that administration and knew the policies and strides. Did he plan on how to ensure security and welfare of Deltans? The answer is No.
“States like Anambra, Edo and Lagos had followed long-term plans, one wondered why the present Delta state government could not follow a template, having somebody like Okowa who served under Uduaghan and Chief James Onanefe Ibori his predecessors. Just like me, I was part of these governments and Okowa was even at the senate. Let him bring his experience to bare.
“I beg to disagree that recession and sharp drop in crude oil price have affected the fortunes of the state. Delta gets higher than Edo and Anambra yet they are carrying out capital projects. Go to neighbouring Edo state where Governor Godwin Obaseki has been in power for less than two years. What money is he using that Okowa does not have.” Ochei stated.
The former speaker, who noted that ineptitude and corruption with the Okowa’s government were interwoven, stated that “Let us not forget that weeks before Dr Uduaghan left office, the State Accountant-General disappeared and money could not be withdrawn. When Okowa came in, did he bother telling us how much he met in the state coffers to work with”.
According to Ochei, there is no atom of regret discarding his former party, the PDP but feels very comfortable in his new found love, the All Progressives Congress, (APC), adding that “I feel so liberated in APC.”
Ochei however opined that he has explicit confidence President Muhammadu Buhari kind of exemplary leadership quality, and urged all and sundry to remain patient with the President as he rewrites history after 16 years of “impunity and maladministration” by the PDP, promising that he will not leave APC should he lost the party’s governorship primary.
“I can assure you that I will not leave the APC even if the primary does not favour me. When I lost to Dr. Okowa in 2014, I did not leave the PDP. I worked assiduously to ensure he emerged Governor. In APC, we have internal democracy unlike in the PDP where the names of those who won primaries were swapped with others. If I lose, I will congratulate the winner and work with him because it will be free and fair”. Ochei said.
