Former Governor of Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has stated that he will no longer tolerate disparaging statements from the former Republican Minister of Information, Chief Edwin Clark, after his eight years as the state governor.
Okowa, who expressed worries over the purported campaigns of calumny against him, advised the elder statesman to engage past and current governors in the South- South Region in a “father and son” relationship rather than attack successive administrations.
He urged the foremost Ijaw leader to be bothered about what he would be remembered for, and not engaging former governors in incessant acts of deriding statements and bringing them to public ridicule.
Reacting through his Spokesman, Olise Ifeajika, in Asaba on Thursday, to Clark’s allegation that he is a traitor and fraudulent, he said the elder statesman goofed in all the issues he raised against the former governor.
He warned that any form of misinformation in the public space against the character of Okowa will no longer be tolerated for posterity sake.
Ifeajika said that Okowa will never be tired of setting the record straight over the alleged N150 billion loan, which was reduced to N91 billion and approved as bridging finance discount by the state House of Assembly.
He said that Okowa used the allocation that accrued to the state under his eight years’ administration judiciously for the growth and development of Delta State.
According to Ifeajika, “For the elder statesman, whom we reverred and placed in high esteem, to have asked Okowa, who diligently appropriated the finances of the state as governor, to come and account for the eight years’ allocation to the state, was not salutary to a man that has performed superlatively.
“This was a man that built a multi-billion Naira floating market on a deep sea, constructed roads for vehicles to move with ease on riverine terrains, built three new universities that are now admitting and serving the students, took them out of the streets and generated employment, among others.
“He couldn’t have developed the state with his spit or sand, if not with the allocation accruing to the state. In youth development, Okowa ranks among the best among the best in Nigeria.”
He decried the allegation that the former governor owns the controversial Premium Bank in Asaba.
“We know Okowa to be a medical doctor turned politician. He is not a businessman. He didn’t study Banking and Finance. So, to tie the ownership of one particular bank in a desperate bid to run him down, is again unfortunate and uncharitable to his quality service delivery.”
Ifeajika advised that instead of demeaning Okowa, the elder statesman should commend the former governor for his financial prudence, transparency and good governance.
“Whether the naysayers believe it or not, Okowa has done creditably well during his eight years as hovernor of Delta state”, ifeajika said.
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