I Am Not Quarreling With Any Party Member –Okowa

By Williams Eghebi

The Immediate Past Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, has said that he is not quarreling with any party member.

He stated this at the Delta North senatorial meeting of APC held at Obiaruku on Saturday. Senator Okowa was responding to the suggestion of Engr. Emmanuel Eboh, who had earlier opined at the meeting that the party would not attain full potentials if the four leaders of the party in the district failed to work together.

The party stalwart who referred to Senator Okowa as the ‘national leader’ of the party in the district, said though he was representing Senator Ned Nwoko at the meeting, his remarks were entirely personal.

The former governor in his quick reaction, said it was not respectful to claim there were just four party leaders in Delta North, adding that the true leaders are in the various wards, working hard to increase membership and install unity.

According to him, those who ride on the crest of the hard work of the party grassroots mobilizers to attain great political heights are privileged, stressing that it was important these hard workers are appreciated and rewarded.

He noted, ” I am not aware that I am quarreling with anyone. I relate very well with the deputy governor who is seated beside me. I relate well with Senator Peter Nwaoboshi. We should learn how to respect others. We may not be best of friends but as members of same party, the leaders must come together for greater effects. I may hold forte in my ward but I do not have that leverage in other wards. Our personal ambition should not come now. Let us put the party first. When there is election, there is a place to talk about it.”

ALSO READ: Anioma State: Idumuje Community Condemns Nwaezeigwe’s “Defamatory Remarks” Against Monarch

While thanking the party leaders in Ukwuani Local Government Area for their unity, Senator Okowa appealed for sustained efforts to increase both party membership and voter’s registrations, noting that there is a very high probability that whoever has a party membership card will mobilize to vote for the candidates of the party during elections.

Earlier, the Delta North Chairman of the party, Chief Adizue Eluaka, noted that figures reaching him on both party membership and voter’s registrations were encouraging but added that more people should continually be mobilized to register. While announcing that the online party membership registration was continuing, he thanked party leaders for supporting the exercise.

Those that attended the meeting include Elder Monday Onyeme, Deputy Governor of Delta State, Chief Omene Sebotie, State chairman of the party; Chief Chris Agbobu, former minister; Mr. Chiedu Ebie, NDDC Chairman; Dr. Martin Okonta, former speaker of Delta State House of Assembly; Dr. Festus Ochonogor, MD of DESOPADEC; Chief Fidelis Tilije, Commissioner of Finance; Hon Pascal Adigwe, Hon Joan Mrakpor, Hon Tony Elekeokuri, DG of Delta Investments and Development Agency; Hon Ifeanyi Eboigbe, Engr. Jerry Ehiwarior, Ika South Local Government Chairman; Hon Monday Hunkanma Odigwe, Ika North-East Local Government Chairman; Chief Obi Nzete, Ndokwa West Local Government Chairman; Sir Steve Ikpade, Engr. Daniel Ossai; Hon Emeke Nwaobi, Majority Leader of Delta State House of Assembly; Hon Marlyn Daramola-Okowa, Elder Moses Idu, Barr Victor Okoh, Mr. Amaechi Igumbor, Chief Sony Obuseh, Mr. Sunday Bamah and Mr. Emeke Aside.

The Delta North meeting held yesterday was the second in the series since last April’s wholesome migration of Delta State PDP into the APC. Since the unexpected defection, party leaders are making efforts to seamlessly accommodate all tendencies to ensure rancour-free party activities.