It was revealed to Obaland magazine By Ifeanyi Olannye Mr. Olisa Ifeajika, Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta, said the governor was not opposed to zoning the post of state governor.
Ifeajika, who said this in an interview with reporters Thursday at Government House in Asaba, said the clarification had become imperative because it was contrary to innuendo from some quarters. He said it was also not true that the governor came to power by zoning consensus as being sought by some high-ranking people in the state. The PSC said it was imperative to set the record straight so as not to mislead the people of the state and other Nigerians. “There is an innuendo going around; Usually we wouldn’t have bothered to talk about it, but because it comes from very high-ranking people, we have to set the record straight. “It is not true that the governor of this state, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, opposes zoning, especially for the post of governor of this state. “The times he spoke it was loud and clear. He said God would help the people of Delta determine who would succeed him. “But even at that, he told the people that at the right time the PDP leadership will sit down to decide who will be the governor and after that leave it to God to decide ultimately as he cannot play the role. of God, “he said. He added: “This has been his position; therefore, it is not true that the governor opposes the transfer of power to Delta Central or any other senatorial district for that matter. He said insinuations that the governor came to power through zoning were false because people from other senatorial districts participated in the primaries that brought him to power. Ifejiaka explained that there had not been a time in the history of the state when a primary for the post of governor was allowed as the exclusive preserve of a senatorial district. “The implication that it was zoning that Okowa became governor is also false. “We all witness the primaries that brought him to power, people from other senatorial districts in the state other than Delta North, participated in the exercise. “There was no time in the state, especially in this current exemption, that any primary for governor was allowed to be for one particular Senate district. “In all the files that we have, the primaries had been for all the newcomers; people from all senatorial ridings have always been involved in all of this. “For whoever brought Okowa to power in 2015, we know that candidates from the central and southern senatorial districts participated, including a former minister who became a zoning apostle and said the zoning consensus carried the governor of Okowa in power, ”Ifeajika said. . He added: “Indeed, the former chief of staff, Olorogun David Edevbie, came second in this race, which means that if he had come first, they would not have asked him to stay in any way. away and allow Okowa to take the ticket out on the grounds that it was Delta North’s turn to produce the governor. “In other words, it’s not true that it’s zoning Who brought Okowa to power was his person, his pedigree in politics and the grace of God. He also had, as he always does, immense goodwill across the three Senate constituencies. “So what for what we also pray and ask the people of Delta to do is that everyone come together and at the right time the PDP leadership will meet and decide who will be Governor Okowa’s successor, and of course they will be guided by God as the governor himself, had said. “This is what we have to do; thus, the implication that the governor is opposed to the next candidate for governor coming from a particular place is false and it is important to set the record straight. Regarding the defection of Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, representing Delta North, to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its effect on the performance of the PDP, the PSC said this would have no impact on the dominance of the PDP in the state. “The beauty of democracy is that people are allowed to come to any party they like. Senator Peter Nwaoboshi’s move does not translate into APC’s dominance in Delta. “Yes, Nwaoboshi went to APC but I can tell you that the impact of his defection cannot shake PDP in this state. Delta is a PDP state and will remain so.” The fact that the APC now has two senators does not doesn’t mean he can take Delta in the election; they can’t win a twentieth of Delta’s electorate, “Ifeajika said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)