… Accuses OkowaOf Financial Recklessness
Delta State chairman, Social Democratic Party (SDP), Amb. Hon.
OkeIdawene has noted that there was nothing to celebrate about the 25
years of the state since 1991 till date, “the Delta State at 25,
celebrations been carried out by Governor Okowa is a deception of the
reality on ground”.
“Are we celebrating a state whose governor is renovating the
completion of the Interbua Roundabout with the sum of N250 million
contract given to a man who is an amateur, a man who is renting
equipment from people to work? He said the ongoing work at the
roundabout was shoddy.
“Are we celebrating a state whose governor is spending corporative
money of civil servants? It is evil of Okowa to do that. Are we
celebrating in a state whose governor does not pay salaries regularly
and he owing pensioners who served the state?
“Are we celebrating in a state whose governor renovated a new
Government House which Uduaghan just built with N1.2 million? The
Senator (Dr) IfeanyiOkowa-led administration in Delta State has
awarded the completion of Interbua Roundabout with the whooping sum of
N250 million”.
The contract was awarded to an Agbor indigene who has no construction
company but does his contract with hired equipment.
On the contract limit policy by the state government, Amb. Idawene
recall that former governors James OnanefeIbori and Emmanuel
EwetaUduaghan religiously followed the N50 million contract limit,
“any project that is N50 million and above is usually taken to state
EXCO meeting for formal approval but Okowa came and selfishly
increased it to N250 million and above”, he pointed out.
According to him, “how many projects in Delta State are above N250
million”, he asked.
The SDP chairman lamented that Okowa has turned commissioners and
political appointees to mere robber stamps, “for the first time in the
history of our great state, Commissioners and political appointees are
mere errands EXCOS”, and what he described as “sit down look team”, as
Okowa has unilaterally awarded contracts.
“DESOPADEC funds has been constantly diverted to pay his political
appointees he has lost count of and other personal use”, bemoaning
that Okowa’s convoy was longer than that of the President Mohammadu
Buhari.
He said civil servants in the state are in pitiable conditions while
states like Rivers, Akwa-Ibom and Cross River State have fared far
better.
“We make bold to say that we shall use legal means to seek redress to
ensure Deltans get transparent and good governance. Enough of the
closed door and closed hearts style of government in Delta State. He
must account for every kobo he has received since he assumed office”.
“We regret and apologize to Deltans for been part of the synergy that
brought him to power”, calling on Deltans to reject Okowa, “Anioma,
give us another true son or daughter to present to Deltans come 2019.
Okowa is insensitive, clueless and above all, lazy. Governor Okowa has
performed far below Deltans expectations thus nothing to celebrate”.
He accused Okowa of receiving over N240 billion since assumption of
office ranging from Federal allocation, Internally Generated Revenue
and loans, ecological funds with nothing on ground to show.
“In this hard times, this is a man who went on birthday spree for one
month in the United States for a month with over 30 people that
followed him with tax payers’ money. The IGR, he is been lazy about
it, he cannot even harness it. We don’t need loans, we don’t need
federal allocation if the state is been run by a man who is strong and
mentally sound enough to run Delta State, we are going to have the
state as the apex”, adding, we are angry, SDP is leading the chat.
Deltans reject Okowa now”.
On the state secretariat named after late Senator Felix Ibru, the
first executive governor of the state, the Isoko born politician said,
“The truth is that the Urhobos must open their eyes.
Okowa has an inbuilt hatred for the Urhobos. You can imagine that the
burial of Ibru was not given the normal publicity that it was supposed
to be given. The burial arrangement was very shoddy. If it was an Ika
man that died, I knew what Okowa would have done. He is not what we
thought he is. He is a wolf in sheep skin. The honour that was
supposed to be given to him, is to name the Delta State University
after Felix Ibru because even what he did for one year plus is more
than what Okowa will do for eight years if you give him the chance but
he is not going to get eight years. The four years is a mistake and an
aberration that we must correct in 2019”.
