Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, says it was by divine approval that the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Sheriff Oborevwori, would succeed him as the governor of the state.

Okowa also said Oborevwori, who is the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), would not disappoint the people of the state as governor, noting that he has all it takes to move the higher heights.

The governor, who is the vice-presidential candidate of the PDP, stated this in Sapele at the party’s campaign in Sapele and Okpe Local Government Areas of Delta State on Thursday.

He said God has approved Oborevwori as his successor, stressing that “God made it possible for him to be Speaker of the state House of Assembly and he has remained the longest serving speaker in the state.”

“Obviously he has been in a school and God has made it possible for him to become our governorship candidate.

“Sheriff is not greedy and he has good people management skills and he will not disappoint Deltans. He has promised to complete our ongoing projects and execute more projects for the benefit of the people,” Governor Okowa said.

Okowa commended the people for the massive turnout for the rallies, urging them to translate it to votes for all candidates of the party.

“On behalf of our great party faithful, I want to congratulate the people of Okpe on this great achievement because what God has done no man can change.

“We haven’t come here to campaign because we have been equitable and just by supporting your son to become gubernatorial candidate of the party.

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“Only four states score above one million votes and they are all from the North but we must join them by crossing the one million-votes mark,” the governor added.

Speaking about the performance of the All Progressive Congress (APC) at the federal level, Okowa said the ruling party at the centre was synonymous with infrastructure deficit and inept governance.

He said the Federal Government, in its “lackluster administration”, orchestrated collapse of its roads in the state through deliberate neglect and abandonment, noting that the poor attention of the Federal Government to Delta had continued in spite of the state having a son as Deputy President of the Senate.

“All our roads, from Benin to Warri, Sapele to Agbor, everywhere, are all impassable yet we have a son as Deputy President of the Senate. He couldn’t lobby the government to reconstruct roads in the state, yet he wants to be governor,” Governor Okowa added.

Okowa, however, urged the people of the state not to despair, saying: “With God’s will and your support, I will become the next Vice-President of the country and we will attend to all the roads for the benefit of our people.”

The governor charged the people to continue to live in peace and remain united as “the more united we are the greater strength and voice that we will have in Nigeria”.

On his part, the Delta State Deputy Governor, Kingsley Otuaro, stressed the importance of voting all party candidates and urged the people to campaign vigorously across the state.

The immediate past governor of the state, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, lamented that despite the abundance of gas and two power plants in the area the people were still grappling with inadequate power supply.

He however urged the people to vote all candidates of the PDP expressing optimism that Governor Okowa would work towards correcting the present narrative when he becomes the Vice-President of the country.

Also speaking, Oborevwori said it was a homecoming for him, noting that Sapele and Okpe LGAs belong to one Kingdom, Okpe.

“So coming here to campaign is not necessary but we thank you for allowing their son to have the gubernatorial ticket and for the massive road infrastructure and entrepreneurship programmes for our people.

“Some of the challenges being faced by the people are on the exclusive list and therefore urged the people to vote Atiku-Okowa ticket to ensure that Okowa addresses the issues affecting the people,” the PDP governorship candidate said.

At the rallies, hundreds of members of the APC defected to the PDP citing incompetence and the good works of the PDP in the state.

The Star