By Victor Lewis
Amid the raging controversy trailing the allegation against Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of diverting an alleged sum of N260 billion 13% derivation refund for the State, a retired Superintendent of Police, Chief John Obie, has called on anti-graft bodies, especially the EFCC to wade in and commence a comprehensive investigation on the State Governor.
Obie, who is a chieftain of the APC from Okpara Inland in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State, made this call on Sunday, while fielding questions from newsmen in his country home Okpara.
The retired police officer also called on Deltans to show concern on the N260 billion as was revealed by Governor Wike of Rivers State, adding that there is absolutely no sense in all the explanations which Okowa has been offering about the money.
While thanking the governor of Rivers State, Mr. Nyesome Wike, for the revelation of the release of such funds to governors of oil-producing States in the Niger Delta, Obie noted that Deltans should speak up and take the governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa to task, to appropriately account for the alleged N260 billion that accrued to the State, arguing that the governor has been very evasive in his explanation of what he did with the money.
“From the revelation which Gov. Wike of Rivers State made recently that he is rapidly developing his State with the money that President Buhari released to the governors of the oil-producing States of the Niger Delta, it has been established that Governor Okowa received the highest amount of N260 billion.
“After the disclosure by Wike, our governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa through the Commissioner for Finance acknowledged the receipt of the 13% derivation refund, but he has not been able to tell Deltans what he did with the money.
“That is why I’m calling on EFCC and other anti-graft agencies to swing into action the process of thorough investigation of Gov. Okowa on what he did with that money.
“I know the governor cannot be prosecuted whilst still in office but, EFCC is free to investigate him pending when his tenure expired in May 29, 2023.
“I’m also using this medium to call on Deltans to come out and condemn the alleged fraudulent attitude of Gov. Okowa and urged him to give account of how he has been spending our money.
“With the volume of revenue coming into the State, Delta is acclaimed to be the richest in the country, but the reverse is the case. We are the poorest and most indebted State in the country. Why?
“Even at the local government level, Ethiope East where I come from is the poorest. What are they doing with our money? Deltans should start asking now?”, he queried.
Obie who is an APC chieftain, called on Deltans to go collect their PVC and ensure they vote out bad government from the state, adding that they should vote for Senator Omo-Agege to bring development to the State.
According to the retired police officer, the achievements of Senator Omo-Agege in Delta Central for the past seven years has been overwhelming, adding that as a governor, he is convinced he would turn things around for good in the State.
“Okowa and the chairman of Ethiope East Local Government Council must give account of what they are doing with our money. We are getting impatient. See how Wike is commissioning projects in Rivers State everyday.
“Deltans must be ready to use their PVC to chase Okowa and the PDP Government out of Delta State in 2023.
“Omo-Agege is just a Senator but his achievements are evident everywhere in Urhobo land and even beyond. Is it in the distribution of transformers? Is it in street lights? Is it in building of school classrooms or in ICT? Omo-Agege’s presence is everywhere.
“If he becomes the next governor, Omo-Agege would do wonders. So, I urge all Deltans to vote for Omo-Agege as the next governor of the State”, he concluded.h
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