Former Governor of Delta State Ifeanyi Okowa has explained why he alongside his predecessor, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and his cabinet members dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the APC.
Speaking at the APC welcome ceremony for the defectors on Monday in Abuja, Okowa said the defection was in the best interest of Delta State. He pointed out that he was motivated by the desire to connect the state to the seat of power in Abuja.
Oil-rich Delta State has been under the leadership of the PDP since 1999 when Nigeria returned to democratic rule. But the move to the APC amid discontent with the current government shortly after Okowa was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) shocked many who alleged he moved to avoid being prosecuted for alleged corruption when he was governor of the state.
Okowa, who was the PDP Vice Presidential candidate in the 2023 election, however said, “When the news broke on Wednesday that we had decided to change our path, people wondered why, but one thing is very important in a people’s history: there is always a time to change their path for the common good of the people.
“As I did tell people that day, it was not about me, it was not about the governor, but the fact that there is a need for us to connect to Abuja, that goodwill that is in Abuja, that resource that’s in Abuja of which Delta State is a large contributor, there was a need to connect to it.”
Okowa described the defection of Delta political leaders to the APC as patriotic and strategic, saying Delta lost a lot during his tenure because the state was in opposition.
“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, and we know that 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 and resource and goodwill in Abuja,” the ex-governor said.
Therefore, he called on Deltans who are already in the APC to embrace and work with them to make the ruling party dominant in the state.
While calling for support for President Bola Tinubu’s administration, Okowa said it’s time for the people of Delta State to stand strong in support of President Tinubu and Governor Oborevwori.
