•Ojougboh is a distraction –govt
From Paul Osuyi, Asaba and Ben Dunno, Warri
LEADERS and elders of the All Progressive Congress (APC), in Delta State have called on the House of Assembly to immediately commence impeachment process against Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, over what they described as lack of capacity, incompetence and alleged fraudulent practices.
Addressing newsmen at Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area of the state, coordinator of APC Leaders of Like Minds, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, who said Deltans are tired of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led administration, added that they cannot wait for 2019 to effect a change, hence the call to impeach Okowa.
Ojougboh listed Okowa’s ‘sins’ to include running a blank budget for 2017, diversion of bailout fund and Paris Club refunds, fraudulent loans, arrears being owed pensioners, fraudulent sale of Delta Line transport corporation among others, and said the APC is the true face of democracy, ready to take over government in the state.
“The over N20 billon refund released by the federal government has vanished. Okowa released 50 percent as commission to the so-called consultant, his family member and converted 50 percent to foreign exchange, to finance his super ranch in Atlanta Georgia, the United States of America and his housing estate in South Africa.
“The bailout was never used for payment of salary arrears. It was completely stolen by Okawa and family. Pensioners have now habitually turned Asaba to protest ground, on daily basis. They are owed two years arrears. The money meant for their payment has been mismanaged, misappropriated, misapplied and embezzled.
“The Nigeria Labour Congress bided N2 billion to purchase 51 percent of Delta Line. But, Okowa sold 60 percent of the company for N160 million, owing workers 12 months salaries. We call on DTHA to annul the sales and investigate this heinous crime. The DTHA has approved over 15 tranches of loans for the personal use of the governor. We have the copy of the illegal approvals that were assented to, without details attached.
“The government as constituted lacks capacity to run a state. The PDP government has failed and impeachment proceedings should commence immediately,” said Ojougboh’.
Regardless, Okowa’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Charles Aniagwu described Ojougboh as “a distraction to the governor,” and insisted that “the administration remains focused on giving vent to the mandate given to it by the people.” He added that the administration would not react to every unfounded rumour by anybody or group of persons.
Meanwhile, Senator representing Delta Central Senatorial District of Delta State, Ovie Omo-Agege has described Okowa’s administration as a monumental failure and insisted that the recent allegation that the governor made a blank allocation in the 2017 budget should be probed.
Omo-Agegetold newsmen in his country home in Orogun, Ughelli North Local Government Area, at the weekend that the allegation raised by Ojougboh should not be swept under the carpet and demanded that both the state Executive and Legislature should set the record straight by responding to the indictment.
He said it was unfortunate that rather than present a copy of the 2017 budget submitted by the governor and assented to by the state assembly to the public for verification, since its a public document, those indicted resorted to trivialise the issue by insulting and carrying out personal attacks on individuals.
According to him, “Cairo Ojougboh recently dropped a bombshell but till today I haven’t seen what journalists have done about it… and I have also not seen any objective response by Governor Okowa about addressing the issue, it has been personal attacks, personal attacks without addressing the issue.”
Omo-Agege added that the Delta state governor has failed to tell Deltans what he has done with the 13% derivation funds that accrued to the state since he assumed office in 2015. he noted that it was time the people challenged the state government on the use of funds that supposedly ought to accrue to DESOPADEC.
He said Okowa has squandered the goodwill he enjoyed in 2015, and stressed that come 2019 the APC will take over Delta state because the “poor performance of Okowa is so obvious and glaring to the people.”
He denied that there was crisis in the APC in the state and described what obtained in the party as “the leaders running at cross-purpose”, which he said was not different from what other political parties as big as APC had passed through and still going through as long as politics has to do with group or individual interest.
His words, “like every other political party, including the PDP which also have pressure groups, APC has it own pressure groups that are being used to forge alliances. Once a credible governorship candidate is picked every one, and groups would fall into line.
“There is a hunger to reclaim the Government House. The people of Delta state are suffering. The people of Delta state want change. They gave Okowa the benefits of the doubt but the man has failed. Teachers are in pain, civil servants are crying, they can’t even feed themselves, pensioners can’t get their entitlements, in fact everyone is in trouble in the state and they are in a hurry to get rid of Okowa so I can assure you we will win come 2019.
“All we are doing is shopping for a good candidate, an acceptable grassroots candidate. A candidate that the electorates will own and call their own and who can wipe Okowa out of that place and we are very confident about winning.