Delta Guber: UPU Will Congratulate Okowa When We Confirm That The Election Was Free, Fair, Credible —Omene

–Says Okowa Worked Hard To Win, Ogboru Depended On Federal Might

–Blames Urhobo Nation’s Political Woes On Ibori & His Urhobo PDP Co-travellers

By Daniel Dafe

The President General of Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, Worldwide, Chief (Engr.) Joe Omene, has said that Senator (Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa, the Delta State Governor, worked very hard through his campaigns to be re-elected, adding that unlike previous times, Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru, UPU’s endorsed candidate, did not do much during his campaigns for the 2019 guber election, but was rather over-dependent on federal might.

Chief Omene who spoke to Oasis Magazine (OM), during an exclusive chat in Mosogar, added that UPU will officially congratulate Governor Okowa over his re-election after they confirm that the election was free, fair and credible.

According to him, personal information at his disposal however showed that the election was rigged in favour of the ruling party in the state.

He added: “Okowa deserved to win the election because he worked very hard. That is the truth. He touched the nooks and crannies of Delta State during his campaigns. They even came to me, just that I declined to have a meeting with him. He campaigned to both friends and foes and he worked very hard. He was everywhere.

Chief Joe Omene, PG, UPU, Worldwide

“Everyone knows that I am for Ogboru, but he (Okowa) worked harder than Ogboru. Maybe Ogboru was relying on federal might. In his previous elections, Ogboru campaigned very well. Okowa deserved to win the 2019 elections.”

Furthermore, the outspoken PG opined that Ibori and his Urhobo co-travellers in PDP are to blame for Urhobo Nation’s political fall in Delta State.

He said: “Ordinarily they brought about this gang up by first of all weakening Urhobo to make sure that Urhobo is not well focused. That is the problem Urhobo is going through today.

Continuing, he stressed that personal interest is what motivates the likes of Ibori on this mission against Urhobo Nation.

He said: “Ibori told his kinsmen that it is a fight between him and Ogboru. He knows why and we all know why. I don’t want to go into that. Ibori has said anybody else can win, but not Ogboru.”

He continued: “The quickest way out of this mess for Urhobo Nation would have been to vote out all Urhobo politicians in PDP and then a new system comes up because as long as they are there, they are not fighting for the interest of our people, but for their personal interest.”

“When they want this interest, they will use Urhobo name, after getting what they want, they will negotiate Urhobo out,” he averred.

He called on Urhobo Nation to keep hope alive and not give up, saying that in 2023 even if he is no more the PG, there would be someone occupying the position that would defend Urhobo interest and make sure it gets to Delta Central, contrary to claims by Ijaw Youth Council that they would produce the next Delta State governor.