Obaro Elelewor Asaba
Delta State Governor lfeanyi Okowa, has refuted Senator Ovie Omo-Agege’s allegation of spending N2 billion on political thugs.
He described the statement as “untrue and most unfortunate”.
The governo urged the senate President to get his facts right to ensure that he does not misinform Deltans for political reasons.
The Senator had alleged at rally in Agbor, Ika South LGA, that a whopping N2 billion was spent by the Okowa’s administration on political thugs.
Okowa spoke Thursday at the quarterly media briefing in Asaba, the Delta State Capital.
He said, ” I try not to make comments as to political statements by APC because when people are highly placed, I expected that they should be able to get enough information, and ensure that the communication to Deltans is such a communication you know you are speaking the truth.”
He said, “But when somebody rises and says that we are using N2 billion to pay political thugs is a very unfortunate statement, a mere statement for political reasons, and you know you are passing wrong message to stir people up for political gain.”.
Although he did not state the exact amount accruing to his political aides, Okowa said total payments was a far crycc N1 billion.
He said, ” I am aware the total payment for political appointees in the state is not anywhere near N1 billion, not to talk of paying N2 billion to political thugs”.
” I don’t even know those he calls political thugs because we are not violent people, the same person who talks about thugs are the same people who try to create violence in the State”.
Okowa said N150 billion “Bridging Finance” facility was not a fresh loan but an advance from the N270 billion owed the state by the Federal Government.
He said the N150 billion had been tied to projects embarked upon by his administration and his predecessor.
He said a lack of information was behind uproar over the approval of the facility by the House of Assembly
He pointed out that his administration would not take any decision that jeopardise the peace, unity and overall transformation of the state.
Okowa debunked the rumour that he had endorsed any aspirant ahead of 2023 general elections, promising that the primaries of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would be fair, transparent and credible.
“I have not endorsed any aspirant for any elective positions in the forthcoming general elections in the country. We shall provide a free, fair, transparent and credible party primaries,” the governor said.
On the allegation that he hijacked the list of delegates, he described it as the handiwork of mischief makers, stressing that those who were out to derail the process did not succeed.
For those criticising the policies and programmes of his administration, the governor advised them to be factual, and assured that nothing would derail him from fulfilling all his electioneering campaign promises.
