Delta 2023: Okowa Promised Free, Fair PDP Primaries, Cannot Endorse Oborevwori –Edevbie

By Daniel Dafe

A strong supporter of Olorogun David Edevbie to become governor of Delta State, come 2023 and also a close family relative of the guber aspirant, Emmanuel Edevbie, has debunked reports making the rounds that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has anointed the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Sheriff Obrovwori to succeed him.

Publisher of Secret Reporters, Fejiro Oliver in a Facebook post on Monday said that based on inside information, Oborevwori is Okowa’s choice to clinch the PDP ticket.

In a statement on Monday made available to Oasis Magazine, Edevbie said those behind the reports which he described as mere rumours are bent on bringing Okowa to disrepute.

He said that Okowa promised free and fair primaries and there is no way he would turn around and impose an aspirant.

According to him, “some disgruntled elements who have resorted to looking for cheap popularity have taken it upon themselves to keep bringing mischievous information and misleading the general public astray.”

The statement reads in part: “Okowa is a party member and the leader of the party who will not want to destroy his house at the moment. As the political terrain is getting tough, Okowa stands in a very sensitive position to make a decision that will be in favour of his party but not to the detriment of the party.

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“The general public should disregard any information emanating from these disgruntled elements that are out there to bring the name of the Governor to shame. All members of the party have the constitutional rights to contest. It will be out of place for such information to be taken by the general public as Okowa would never in his wildest dreams destroy a party he stands as the leader.

“Okowa also stands in a position to make sure that the party comes out victorious by conducting free and fair primaries without taking sides. So, those looking for cheap popularity and favours from governorship aspirants should desist from this act as it will not help the party in these times or in the nearest future.

“I am also calling on the general public to disregard this information as it has a way of spoiling the name of Governor Okowa. This is the hand work of other political parties who have tried many ways to bring the name of Governor Okowa into a disrepute. Governor Okowa remains a gentleman and as he has promised, he will continue to be a gentleman.”

According to him, “all the aspirants contesting have the capacity to rule the state as Governor Okowa has done for the past 7 years and as such, he will not be the one to destroy the party he has enjoyed and a system he has equally benefited from because the PDP Is Okowa’s family.”

“It is a customary law that no leader or father of a house will deliberately put his own house on fire. So, the news going around of Okowa’s endorsement of Oborevwori is nothing but mischief by political enemies of PDP.

“We are also using this medium to call on the general public to know that there has never been a time that Okowa conceived the idea of endorsing an aspirant knowing full well that the danger of endorsing a particular aspirant would not be healthy for the political party, PDP.

“Other outgoing governors have tried it and they all failed. In record, it was often reported then that Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, the former Governor of Delta State endorsed an aspirant but the primaries justified the means and as such, no Governor would make the mistake. The general public should not rely on such because Governor Okowa would not make the mistake speculated about the former Governor Uduaghan,” he added.

“Governor Okowa should be very careful of his aides who are seeking for cheap slot to remain in the corridors of power by misleading the good people of Delta state. The party does not need these unhealthy acts to be perpetuated by these enemies. Our Governor has done well and he shall finish strong just as he promised. Our Governor will not probate and reprobate.”