Politics

Delta APC Blasts Okowa Over ₦71billion Supplementary Budget

Published

12 months ago

May 18, 2023

The Delta State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has lambasted Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as having no basic moral rectitude following his recent plans to request the approval of the State House of Assembly of N71 billion supplementary budget, less than 13 days to the end of his second tenure.

In a statement signed by the Publicity Secretary, Valentine Onojeghuo, Esq, the party expressed shock at the request by the outgoing governor, describing it as the height of moral bankruptcy and wickedness against Deltans.

While condemning the State Governor for having secured a third term agenda by imposing his surrogate Sheriff Oborevwori as the next governor through political subterfuge, the party noted that the present request by Okowa amounts to adding insult to injury with the request of such humongous amount.

“The attention of the Delta State APC has been drawn to several media publications concerning the recent request by the State Governor Dr Ifeanyi Okowa seeking approval for a supplementary budget of N71 billion by the State House of Assembly.

“The APC considers this request by the State Governor Dr Ifeanyi Okowa seeking parliamentary approval for a supplementary budget of N71 billion as the height of moral bankruptcy and wickedness by this administration against the people of Delta State.

“Not satisfied with securing a third term agenda through the installation of his surrogate Sheriff Oborevwori with questionable character as Governor of the State against the popular wish of the people, he has now brazenly decided to add salt to injury by seeking to obtain such humongous amount of money as a parting gift to the people of the State.”

“While the people of Delta State are yet to come to terms with the news of the lavish multi billion naira retirement package recently approved for him by the same State House of Assembly as a soon to be former governor of the State, this has done little or nothing to satiate his unquenchable thirst for filthy lucre, as he has now applied for another N71 billion with the resultant effect of driving the economy of the State further into the cauldron of bad debts and underdevelopment.

“This request by the State Governor is a confirmation of the fact that the State Governor suffers from a severe case of moral deficiency syndrome.

“The APC, like every sane Deltan, finds this request shocking to say the least that a governor who has less than 2 weeks to the end of his tenure, will be asking for such an amount of money. It is highly unfortunate and smacked of sinister motives and given the track record of this administration for such shenanigans, we in the APC are not surprised by this latest attempt to further impoverish the people of Delta State”.

The statement called on financial institutions not to allow themselves to be used as conduit pipes for Okowa to allegedly continue siphoning the state resources, adding that the APC Governorship candidate in the State, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege had continued to warn against connivance with the governor in obtaining unwanted loans.

“The Delta State APC would want to seize this opportunity to further remind financial institutions not to allow themselves to be used as a conduit pipe of siphoning resources of the State and also to reiterate its earlier warnings issued by our gubernatorial candidate HE Sen Ovie Omo-Agege CFR that such loans would not be honoured by the APC administration.

“The Delta State APC notes with grave concern particularly with regards to the well being and economic health of the State, that in this electoral circle only, the Okowa PDP administration has gotten approval for such suspected loans that have been used for other ulterior motives other than the purpose for which it was actually obtained.

“It is no longer a secret to the people of Delta State that just within this electoral circle alone, the State Governor Dr Ifeanyi Okowa had surreptitiously secured these loans which has been expended in a nebulous and clandestine manner with nothing to show for it and with this present request to approve another fresh 71 billion, it is reasonably safe to surmise that it is only intended for some other unsavoury expenditures that is obviously inimical to the beneficial interest of the people of Delta State,” it added.

Politics

Group Says Court Would Rectify LP Primary Infractions In Favour Of Imansuangbon

Published

5 hours ago

May 9, 2024

Editor

A pressure group under the umbrella of Shine Your Eyes Group, (SYEG) has asked Edo Labour Party in the state to save the party and its candidate, Olumide Akpata, from legal embarrassment over the weighty allegations as contained in the petition filed against his emergence by Barrister Kenneth Imansuangbon, than attacking the SYEG over it position.

The group said the major issues before the court for determination among others is whether in substituting his deputy Alufokhai Oluyinka Faith he complied within the time limit and the constitution.

In a statement endorsed by the group’s coordinator, Comrade Jonah Ifada and Secretary Osagie Omoregie, said INEC should not be blamed for any perceived infraction by the party, adding that the electoral body did not nominate Alufokhai for the LP in the first place.

Ifada argued, “What Imansuangbon in his application is asking the court to determine is whether the party followed the normal National Working Committee, NWC’s approval?

“Whether the mandatory signatories by Abure and the National secretary was obtained and if the answer are in the negative then Akpata does not have a substitution and therefore not a candidate of the LP in the eyes of the law.”

Ifada said the APC and PDP are keenly watching and waiting in the wings for the party to make this grievous mistake adding that the Supreme Court judgment in Bayelsa was very explicit and in line with section 29 of the electoral act.

“We want to say with due respect to our judges that the world is watching and that if Donald Trump can be brought to trial before the watchful eyes of the world Olumide can’t use the court to legitimate his error and Nigeria need to move with the rest of the world and respect of rule of law and democracy.

“Olumide among others pledged oath of allegiance to another country called Vanuate which is against Section 182 of our constitution. Imansuangbon is not contending that he was born in Germany but our Country is against his voluntary oath of allegiance to another country.

“We want to remind him that he cannot appropriate and reprobate at the same time. In the coming days, activities in Vanuate will be revealed to Nigerians and the world,” he added.

It further noted that it is not the turn of Edo South and that was why the APC and PDP went to Edo Central to nominate their candidates.

The group also reminded the LP publicity secretary, Comrade Sam Uroupa that Shine Your Group he attempted to deride in his watery statement is an existing body that includes all ‘mama, ‘papa, pikin and those who want a better Edo state are members of the body and are in the majority.

Politics

Edo Poll: PDP Gubernatorial Aspirant Resigns From Party

Published

2 days ago

May 7, 2024

Editor

Felix Akhabue, a former gubernatorial aspirant for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the September 21, Edo State election, has resigned from the party.

Akhabue was among the 10 aspirant who contested the party’s primary election in February and protested against the conduct of its ward and local government congresses.

Akhabue, a former, chairman of Esan West Local Government Area as well as Commissioner for Wealth Creation, Cooperative and Industry in Governor Godwin Obaseki’s first tenure, dumped the party in a letter dated May 6, 2024, and addressed to the Ward 7 chairman of the party in Esan West local Government Area.

Politics

Edo Poll: Akoko-Edo PDP Leaders Meet Deputy Gov, Pledge Massive Votes For Ighodalo

Published

2 days ago

May 7, 2024

Editor

Leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State Tuesday assured the Deputy Governor of the state, Marvellous Omobayo, of their preparedness to deliver block votes to the party’s governorship candidate, Barrister Asue Ighodalo in the forthcoming September 21st governorship election.

The leaders who came from ward (4), (3) and ward (5) was led by Comrade Princeswill Ogunnubi (ward 4), said Akoko-Edo, since the appointment of their kinsman as deputy governor, Akoko-Edo is a no go area for the opposition All Progressives Congress in the state, just as he predicted victory for the PDP.

Ogunnubi, who spoke during a courtesy call on the deputy governor at his office on a solidarity visit, noted that the visit was imperative to assure the number two citizen of the state of their readiness towards the continuity of the PDP in the state beyond 2024.

He said. “We are not just here today in solidarity with you on your appointment but to also assure you of our unalloyed support to deliver on the political trust and confidence reposed in you by the governor on your appointment.

“You can see that since your assumption as the deputy governor the youth of the state that forms majority of the voting population are excited and solidly behind you to see that you succeed and as a people are eternally grateful to Governor Godwin Obaseki.

“It is on record that we have never had it this good apart from the statutory elective political offices. The time has come for us to compensate the governor by delivering Barrister Asue Ighodalo as the next governor of the Edo State.”

Also on the visit, Mr Ernest Akpaja, another leader, stressed on the need for all party members to close rank and join forces in the task ahead.

“This appointment is a testament to the Governor’s commitment to diversity and inclusiveness. We believe Deputy Governor Godwin will make significant contributions to advancing the governor’s development agenda,” Akpaja said.

Omobayo who was elated at the visit, appealed to the leaders to sustain the unity of purpose in ensuring that Akoko-Edo is solidly “PDP and PDP is Akoko-Edo.”

While thanking the leaders remarked, “Without mincing words, I can assure you that Akoko-Edo will get more positions under the PDP if voted back into power. More better days ahead for our people.”