The Governor of Delta State and Vice Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ifeanyi Okowa, says the sweeping victory recorded by the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, during the February 25 poll was due to religious and ethnic sentiments.
The Delta governor made this in Asaba, the Delta State capital comment on Monday, March 13, 2023, while reacting to the outcome of the contentious presidential poll.
Recall Mr Peter Obi won in southeastern states of Abia, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo and Anambra. He also won in Okowa’s state, Delta, as well as Cross River and Edo states.
Speaking on Monday, Governor Okowa said, “A lot of factors contributed to the sweeping victory of Obi in South-South and South-East.
“The agitation that the Presidency should come to the southern part of the country, religion and Igbo presidency are key factors.
“The Obidient movement is a movement that swept across the South-South and South-East. The people wanted Obi as a change. They believe it is the turn of South-East. I believe that people have exercised their rights in a democratic process but INEC did not follow the Electoral Act.”
On whether he had been in talks with former governor James Ibori over affair of the PDP in the state, Okowa said, “It is a private issue for us as politicians and I can’t disclose to you our talk.”
The governor, who said he had fulfilled his electoral promises to the people, said built over 2,000 kilometres of road and over 1,000km of drainages.
He urged the people of Delta to vote for the governorship candidate of the PDP to ensure continuity.
“Continuity is something that works in Delta; so if I cannot finish them, I believe the incoming administration will continue where I stopped.”
In response to the criticism by the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress and the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, Okowa said he had no regrets for establishing three new universities in the state.
The Delta Governor said, “I do not regret establishing three new universities. As of today, four universities are functional in Delta State.
“Those critising me because they want to be governor of this state and telling Deltans lie over the new three universities are doing so for selfish reasons.
“The three new universities have done first and second intake of students of not less than 5,000 students.
“The important thing is that I have brought education closer to the my people. The tuition fees of these institutions are low compared to other institutions.”
“While the Federal Government keeps students at home over eight months strike, Delta State universities graduated students, while others are moving to next class.”
