By Gift Mofe
The governor of Delta State, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, has once again attacked the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Great Ogboru, for allegedly relying on political thugs ahead of the forthcoming general elections in the state.
Okowa also challenged Ogboru to come for a public debate and tell Deltans on why he wants to be the governor of the oil-rich state.
Speaking at the flag-off the flag off of the Peoples Democratic Party’s campaign at the Oghara Township Stadium in Ethiope West local government area of the state, the governor accused Ogboru of absconding to Lagos after using thugs to cause mayhem.
Okowa, who boasted he has the support of Deltans to return to the “Osadebe Government”, Asaba, stressed that PDP will win the state square down despite threat by some APC leaders that they will rig him out office.
The governor said, “From the Presidency to the House of Assembly, we will have to deliver all our candidates. I offer myself for debate because, it is not enough for All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate to come out and say he wants to be governor and relying on thugs or run to Lagos after every election.”
Okowa flanked by his wife, Edith, former governor Chief James Ibori and other top leaders of the PDP in the state, emphasized that his administration has delivered on his 2015 electioneering campaign promises and promised to do more when re-elected.
“I thank all Deltans for the votes casted for us in 2015. Together, we have crossed the very difficult times. Our collective efforts have been recognised nationally and internationally, we have delivered on our promises.
“As we move into the next level, we will continue to grow prosperity, but, I cannot do it alone, working with you all (Deltans) we will build a stronger Delta that we will be proud of and others will emulate; what we need is cooperation and peaceful environment.
“I am going into the election, together with all Deltans and we will win in every local government area of the state. Deltans are happy that Delta State is a peaceful. Let us take the message from house to house, talk to everybody, so that before the election, all Deltans will belong to the PDP. Tell them about what we have done, what we are doing and what we will do”, Okowa stated.
The governor revealed that his administration has created over 20,000 jobs through the Job Creation Office, adding that Delta is the only in the country that has awarded over 350 road projects.
According to him, “When we said we were going to create jobs, people thought we were joking but, through the Job Creation office, we have created over 20, 000 jobs. We are organising business fare for beneficiaries of our entrepreneurial programmes.
“We have revamped technical colleges. All the courses in our Polytechnics have been accredited because of peace. Our state has moved from number four to number one in oil production. This is the only state in the federation that has awarded more than 350 road projects.
“We are constructing drainages to check flood and in the course of this year, we will start drainage projects in Effurun/Warri axis of which we have made budgetary provision for to the tune of N3 Billion.
“We have constructed over 4, 738 classrooms; we have awarded contract for the renovation of the Teaching hospital; we are the first state in the country to start health insurance scheme of which we have captured the formal sector and already enrolling the informal sector.”
