Politics
2023: My Successor Must Divinely Meet The Requirements For Double Portion Anointing – Gov Okowa
Advises Political Appointees Not To Abandon Governance For Governorship Election Politics
By Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe
Governor of Delta State, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, on Tuesday 18th January, disclosed that the emergence of his successor at a later date, will be likened to the biblical scenario between Elisha and Elijah, a leader chosen and ordained by God, to take the mantle of double portion anointing for good governance and spiritual upliftment of the state.
The governor gave the clue at the Thanksgiving Service held at Government House Chapel in Asaba, saying that “my successor will be God’s choice, a leader that will keep the fire of this altar burning nonstop for the spiritual upliftment of Delta State.”
The spiritual implication of the picture painted by the governor is that God must consistently be honoured in the State beyond his tenure, and to make this happen the choice of his successor must of a necessity be based on divine direction through prayers and waiting on the Lord to speak expressly.
Another take home from Gov Okowa’s expo is that Deltans should discard petty rumours here and there about who will be his successor, because the divine signal is yet to drop from the Throne of Grace, which to a large extent may directly or indirectly affect any shortlisted list of aspirants from lobby groups scheming to be king makers in this political dispensation.
Gov Okowa said God has done so much for the state and his administration in the past seven years and still counting, which was why his family had to thank God and to give Him the honour, praise and worship for being a merciful, gracious, loving, caring and a superlative “Big Daddy.”
He sad the very essence of representative government in democratic politics is to provide good governance, and urged political appointees not to abandon their assigned responsibilities to play 2023 politics, adding that his administration will maintain the temple of good governance till May 29, 2023 handover date.
The governor who was accompanied by his jewel of inestimable value, Dame Evangelist Edith Okowa, danced and sang praises to God, and urged Deltans to always seek the face of God, before embarking on any project which include contesting elections, pointing out that he will continue to wait patiently to hear clearly from God, concerning who will be his successor before making pronouncements.
“But one thing is sure, whoever will succeed me must be one who keeps the fire in this altar burning, and God must direct me on the choice of the person
“I can never take the place of God in deciding who will succeed me; I will pray for God to direct me and not man, so that I don’t go in the wrong direction,” he stated.
The governor, therefore, appealed to politicians and other stakeholders who love the state to pray for the oneness and unity in the state, and particularly for him, to enable God to make necessary revelations to him on the choice of his successor, saying we must all pray, including those contesting for positions.
He urged leaders in authority to have faith in God as He alone could direct their affairs.
According to the governor, who was flanked by his wife, Edith, we recognise as a family and as Governor of Delta, that for all the grace of God in the past year and for all the achievements we have made that we must return to say thank you Lord.
“In so doing we are asking for greater blessings and there is no doubt that since 2015 when we assumed office, the hand of God has been strong in this state.
“Going forward, I need no one to tell anyone that the hand of God has been very strong and gracious in our affairs.
“We are now in our seventh year and it is a good thing to give thanks unto God, because if we rest our faith in God we will be able to do all things; we will be able to show love and empathy to the people.
“In governance, until you touch the lives of people you have done nothing and a life in governance without God is a governance for self because it is not for the people,” he said.
He urged Deltans to pray for him to finish strong, adding that “finishing strong is about being able to reach out to the people to lay the foundation that people can build upon.
“Many communities want to honour us and thank us for what we have done for them. But, each time I tell them that you have voted for us and whatever we have been able to achieve we give thanks to God.”
Okowa appealed to all persons in government to pay special attention to the things of God, counseling that “if you are to succeed in what you are doing, you must abide in God.
“As a family we will continue to abide in God because by His grace we are able to continue and finish strong to His glory.
“It is our belief that God will provide the resources and the men to accomplish all that we have started,” Gov Okowa assured.
Chaplain of the Chapel, Ven. Charles Osemenam, in his sermon, urged Christians to put their trust in the Lord as God revealed His secrets to those that fear him.
He advised the people to renew their lives in God, saying that being born again was one of God’s secrets that only those in new birth enjoyed.
The cleric urged people in authority to fear God as citizens could only rejoice when the righteous were in authority.
Deputy Governor of the state, Mr Kingsley Otuaro, some members of House of Representatives, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Chief Sheriff Oborevwori, Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Kingsley Esiso, traditional rulers and other top government functionaries attended the service.