Unperturbed that elders, leaders and stakeholders of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party and top government functionaries in Delta State shunned his ceremony on Monday, the representative of Delta North Senatorial District, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, formally declared to succeed Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan next year.
Okowa’s titanic popularity in Delta North Senatorial District started experiencing hiccups immediately a retired Permanent Secretary to Governor Uduaghan, Sir Tony Obuh, joined the race.
It is obvious that the senator is no longer enjoying the kind of favour he garnered during the administration of Governor James Ibori and during the first tenure of the incumbent, Governor Uduaghan, going by the way the powers-that-be in the state kept him at arms length ahead of the 2015 race.
At the popular Oshimili South Arcade, the scene of the declaration on Monday, Okowa, who declared on the platform of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, said he was undeterred either by the numbers of aspirants in the race in the party or that somebody has been anointed.
Those who have indicated interest in the race include a former Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Engr. Victor Ochei; the Chief of Staff to Governor Uduaghan, Dr. Festus Okubor; a former Assistant Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, Chief Godswill Obielum; Lagos-based multi-millionaire, Chief Peter Okocha; the chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, Dr. Ngozi Olejeme; President Goodluck Jonathan’s Special Adviser on Projects’ Monitoring and Evaluation, Prof. Sylvester Monye; a former aide of Ibori and late President Musa Yar’Adua, Chief Clement Ofuani; and a former Acting Governor of the state, Rt. Hon. Sam Obi.
Maintaining that “the fact will speak for itself eventually because my anointing is from God”, Okowa said he was in the race to completely overhaul the way government business is done in the oil rich state.
He vowed to formulate multi-sectoral and multi-dimensional policies on spending policy.
He said: “I have decided to take up the mantle of leadership of Delta State, to be your governor as from 2015.
“As you all know, I have dedicated myself to the service of my people all my life hence I have served in various capacities under successive administrations.
“My vision is to consolidate on a progressive government of peace and security that will add value to the transformation agenda in Delta State.
“We are not coming to fill our pockets but to transform the state into where teeth and tongue shall meet to path no more.”
While he described Governor Uduaghan as “my Oga, my boss, my mentor”, maintaining that having served as the Campaign Director-General for Senator Patrick Osakwe and the incumbent Governor before Osakwe handed over the senatorial seat to him in 2011, he was categorical that “in 2015, Governor Uduaghan will hand over to me.”
He said he will not be disturbed by the speculations making round the state that the governor has anointed somebody, insisting: “With God all things are possible.”