From Paul Osuyi, Asaba
Delta State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu has said Deltans were comfortable returning the candidate of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the March 18 governorship election, Sheriff Oborevwori because of the antecedents of the party and its candidate over the years.
Aniagwu said the candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Movie Omo-Agege, is a man of questionable character and integrity, hence he was rejected at the polls by Deltans.
Speaking on a live television programme on Sunday, Aniagwu said Omo-Agege in a desperate bid to become governor, engaged in malicious propaganda against Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and the State Government even when he was not on the same ballot with the governor.
According to him, the PDP has been winning fair and square in Delta and repeated the same feat because the party campaigned vigorously across the 270 wards in the state with visible projects that dots the nooks and crannies of the state.
“The PDP won largely on account of three major factors. One, the performance of Gov. Okowa to the street credibility of Oborevwori and his touch with the grassroot and then the desire of Deltans not to have Omo-Agege as the next governor of the state based on his antecedents,” he said.
Aniagwu said Deltans were not happy with the 2018 mace saga at the floor of the Senate, and thus, were not looking forward to having a governor who is associated with it.
On claims of violence in some parts of the state during the governorship election, the Information Commissioner said the election was largely peaceful except the APC enclaves where they tried to forcefully have their way against the wishes of the people particularly in Orogun, Ughelli North and parts of Ethiope West.
“You will recall that INEC raised alarm that staff sent to conduct elections in Orogun were held hostage for days by the APC governorship candidate, Ovie Omo-Agege.
“Beyond some of these skirmishes, the election in Delta passed the credibility test in terms of the fact that people were allowed to vote freely and so what the APC are claiming tells a lot more on propaganda rather than the facts on ground,” he added.
Aniagwu said the governor-elect, Oborevwori being Speaker of the state House of Assembly in the last six years was acquainted with the development trajectory of the state and would do everything within his powers to consolidate on Okowa’s projects and programmes for the good of the people.
“Oborevwori has been an integral part and parcel of the very many initiatives of Governor Okowa-led administration and we have enjoyed the support of the legislative arm since 2015.
“Every of our policies were grounded in law because Okowa, having had experience in the Nigeria Senate was able to realise that programmes and policies can be strengthened by taking advantage of legislative procedures,” he said.
He remarked that the Okowa administration had reversed the trend of high unemployment and low skill acquisition in the state by engaging in skills training programmes for youths of the state.
“Through our many training programmes and platforms, under Youth Agricultural and Entrepreneurship Programme YAGEP, we have trained youths in piggery, aquaculture, crop farming among others while many youths were also trained and equipped in various skills under our Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Programme STEP.
“Directly, over 17,000 youths were trained and equipped and they have multiplied remotely to over 120,000 youths across the state with new skills and are now self-employed.
“Delta remains the only state in Nigeria that established three new universities at once and today we have four state-owned universities.
“These four universities are running to the extent that even when other universities were on strike during the eight months strike, our universities and other higher institutions were running because Governor Okowa through the support of the House of Assembly led by Sheriff Oborevwori has been able to provide the much needed environment for them to thrive.
“And so Oborevwori will not only sustain these legacy programmes and projects, he will run with them for the good of all Deltans as he has encapsulated in his M.O.R.E Agenda,” Aniagwu added.