2019 GOV ELECTIONS: ANIOMA NATION ADOPTS GOV OKOWA AS SOLE CANDIDATE
By Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe Esq (EA Communications).
Asaba, Delta State capital today 21st April 2018, witnessed what political commentators described as the "mother of all sociopolitical events" in the city since the advent of constitutional democracy in Nigeria.
Politicians, royal fathers, captains of industry et al, converged at Cenotaph, venue of Anioma Nation grand reception for the governor of Delta State, His Excellency Senator Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa.
Hotels in Asaba were fully booked, entertainment centres had best of patronage from Friday 20th April; as dignitaries, top government functionaries, party leaders, bubbling youths, women and party faithfuls besieged Asaba to celebrate their political associate, leader, brother, friend, father and boss, Gov Okowa of Delta State.
As early as 7am, party faithfuls and prominent sons and daughters of Anioma Nation started arriving. By 9am the venue became a carnival of some sort; the rich Anioma cultural drum and gong beats spiced with elegant dance steps of Anioma women melted my heart.
Past governors of Delta State, Chief James Onanefe Ibori and Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan as well as Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State also arrived and the atmosphere gathered steam to welcome the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus and Deputy Senate president, Senator Ike Ekweremadu.
The reason for the occasion, His Excellency Senator Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa in comapny of his virtuous and prayerful wife, Dame Edith Okowa, members of Delta State Executive Council, political appointees and chieftains of PDP took their turn and the event began.
Speaker after speaker eulogies the Smart Governor for his giant strides in infrastructure and socioeconomic development of the three senatorial districts within three years in office despite the harsh economic conditions occasioned by APC recession.
Gov Okowa was seen dazzling and exchanging pleasantries with royal fathers, political associates and Prince Uche Secondus. He came wearing a sparkling white with complete Anioma traditional attire, same with first lady of Delta, Dame, Edith Okowa.
It was funfair, speeches and accolades. The grand event was indeed a superb reception in its colourful sense and class. What was meant to be Anioma event turned out to be a mega political jamboree wherein the three senatorial districts were adequately represented in terms of participation, solidarity and display of love and.support for Gov Okowa.
Royal fathers of Anioma Nation, elders, leaders, youth and women declared Gov Okowa as their sole candidate in 2019. The arena charged with thunderous ovation, signalling the smooth ride to governorship election victory for the Smart governor.
Gov Okowa's landslide victory was confirmed by the Anioma Nation endorsement, taking a queue from Delta Central which earlier at a mega rally in Sapele adopted Gov Okowa as sole candidate.
At a meeting of PDP Delta South mid last year, former Governor of Delta State, Dr Uduaghan and other leaders in that senatorial district also adopted Gov Okowa as sole governorship candidate. A Delta South Mega rally may be held soon to further put paid to any doubts peddled by the opposition.
As it is today, the APC and its leaders in Delta State will start working ahead for 2023 gubernatorial elections for the following reasons; there is no APC candidate that will get 10% votes from Delta North and South.
Secondly; there is no APC governorship candidate from Delta Central that will score 10% of votes cast from Delta North and South. For political reasons, Delta South is not qualified to present a governorship candidate from any political party because Dr Uduaghan did their slot and handed over to Delta North.
Let's take an initial assessment of some of the APC Delta North governorship aspirants. Prof Pat Utomi is not rooted and connected to the grassroots politically. He is a media politician and banking on the support of Comrade Adams Oshiomole and some Buharists to "try his luck." He may never get the party's ticket.
Barrister Victor Ochei, is a popular aspirant but for obvious reasons especially his alleged profile of financial deals relating to the Delta Independent Power Project (IPP) and other heart breaking unscrupulous deals may put him off.
Ochei, being a wise politician coupled with the calibre of Anioma sons and daughters at today's endorsement of Gov Okowa for 2019, will certainly jettison his governorship ambition. This endorsement is for sure the last straw that broke the camel's back. He may run for Senate to keep his name alive in the realm of partisan politics, not to win.
Dr Ibe Kachukwu may come later as a last card but that too cannot see the light of day. He is a technocrat who may not want to dabble into the highly deceptive political game. He may want to assist any Anioma candidate to win in 2019 as par agenda; confirmed today by the timely endorsement of Gov Okowa for re-election. His tenure will expire on May 29, 2023, by the finger of God.
As for Great Ogboru in Delta Central, nothing good will come out of his fourth governorship ambition. His case has been worsened by the legislative rascality of his major political partner, Senator Ovie Omo Agege.
The duo shall suffer for Omo Agege's sins and at the end defect to APGA party for ready-made Governorship and Senatorial tickets respectively.
The good people of Urhobo Nation will not bother to waste their precious votes for the likes of Agege and Ogborul in 2019. The duo have proven to be overzealous, selfish and lacked the moral justification, pedigree, and good conscience to lead. Agege's gross misconducts and criminal sagacity stinks to high heavens.
Ogboru's companies are practically dead and bankruptcy took a fatal toll on Fiogreat Limited and other subsidiaries and still persists. Ogboru is a good example of a bad manager of financial and material resources.
Ogboru was described by AMCON as a "CHRONIC DEBTOR." Such a high profile debtor can never be trusted with the common treasury of the people.
In all, Gov Okowa is standing tall with a resume that cannot be faulted. His political career and long history of public service is worthy of emulation and commendation.
He was a Councillor, Council Chairman, Tripple Commissioner, Secretary to Delta State Government, a distinguished Senator of the federal republic of Nigeria, now executive governor of Delta State.
It is on record that Gov Okowa is one of the few politicians in Nigeria that is a political bridge builder, peace ambassador, job and wealth creation leader, fondly referred to as "Mr Infrastructure" by the good people of Delta State.
Congratulations to a worthy boss and great achiever in public service, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, the smart governor of Delta State over your endorsement as the sole 2019 governorship candidate by the good people of Anioma Nation.
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