The immediate past governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has explained why he and Governor Sheriff Oborevwori joined the All Progressives Congress from the Peoples Democratic Party.
Speaking during a ceremony conducted at the Cenotaph in Asaba on Monday, where they were formally admitted into the APC, Okowa said the decision was taken in the best interest of Delta State and its people.
“People wondered why, but one thing is very important: in the history of a people there is always a time to change their path for the common good of the people, and whatever decision we took was based on that common good and the need to change our path in the best interest of our state,” he said.
According to Okowa, the defection was required to allow Delta State to better engage with the federal government and capitalise on the resources and goodwill available in Abuja.
He stated, “As I did tell people that day (when I defected), it was not about me; it was not about the governor, but about the fact that there is a need for us to connect to Abuja.
“That goodwill that is in Abuja, that resource that is in Abuja, of which Delta State is a large contributor — there was a need to connect to it.
“I was governor for eight years; I was in opposition. I did my best, but we lost a lot, and I did not believe that the governor needed to stay working very hard without the needed support. We are very supportive of Governor Sheriff because he’s doing a lot, but as the governor is doing a lot for us, he also needs to connect to the greater source of power, resources, and goodwill in Abuja. When we sat down after stakeholders’ meetings, we thought it was necessary to make this move.”
He hailed his decision as “bold, strategic, patriotic, and well-intentioned.”
He asked party members to unify and work together, claiming that the defection will boost the APC in Delta.
“We must defend our state. Our state stands far beyond us, and I believe that this decision is in the best interest of all. It is time for us to embrace each other — our brothers and sisters who were already in the APC and those of us that have come into the family. We need to embrace each other and work with oneness of heart.
“It is time for us to stand together in great support for Mr President and Mr Governor, because together we can truly dominate the politics in Delta State. I believe there will be no other party with this move that we have made.”
Last Monday, Oborevwori, Okowa, and all Delta State Peoples Democratic Party members declared their defection to the APC.
