By Magnificient Onome Tanno
The Delta State PDP Campaign Council navigated its campaign train to Isiokolo and Obiaruku in Ethiope East and Ukwuani LGAs respectively on 10th January 2023 in a colourful reception characterized by the M.O.R.E. “Yellow Colour” with thousands of party supporters present.
The campaign train was led by the PDP Vice Presidential candidate and Governor of Delta State, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, who assured citizens of Ethiope East, Ukwuani and Deltans at large that the Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Sheriff Oborevwori would continue with ongoing projects and programmes of his administration when elected.
Okowa, while assuring party supporters of the credibility of the PDP governorship candidate, reaffirmed that Oborevwori stands prime to consolidate on the prosperity agenda for Deltans of his administration being well experienced with the credit of the being the longest-serving Speaker of the State House of Assembly. “I have known Oborevwori for many years now and he has been Speaker of the House of Assembly for six years and as the longest serving speaker, he has understudied our programmes and policies. He has learnt a lot and has assured that he would be fair to all parts of Delta and ensure that no ongoing project is abandoned in any part of the state.”; the PDP Vice Presidential candidate reaffirmed.
Further assuring the people of Ukwuani, the Ekweme Governor of Delta State said; “Aside ongoing projects, he will also ensure the continuation of our youths and women empowerment programmes”. The Governor also said that the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC-led Federal Government had spoilt the country in all economic indices, but assured that the PDP Atiku-Okowa manifesto would unite the country to fight insecurity “because there is strength in unity”. He said that a PDP administration would be willing to assist states to set up their own police systems to complement the federal police and other security agencies in fighting insecurity across the country.
While berating the performance of APC-led federal government for the past 7 years, Okowa lamented; “They have killed our economy such that they have borrowed over N100 trillion but we will recover and rebuild our country because we did it before in 1999″. “All our federal roads in the state are impassable; twice I wanted to intervene for the Sapele-Agbor road and they stopped us because it’s a federal road. But thank God that I am going to Abuja and we will ensure that all federal roads are attended to.” “The APC also destroyed our education sector with the eight-month ASUU strike that kept our children at home for so long. But throughout the period of strike, all our universities in Delta were in session. “They were in session because we have taken care of all they needed for the educational advancement of the state. “So, for Delta to continue on the path of progress and development, let’s vote for all candidates of the PDP”.
Other speakers in the campaign include the immediate past Governor of the state, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, who encouraged party supporters to vote all PDP candidates to ensure continuity of the good legacies PDP has created in Delta State, and ensure Governor Okowa becomes the Vice-President of Nigeria. He said a vote for the party would ensure proper allocation of oil resources produced from the state.
While commending the performance of PDP State Government in the LGA, the governorship candidate, Chief Sheriff Oborevwori and his deputy Sir Monday Onyeme, commended Okowa for the many projects in Ukwuani L.G.A., including a Technical College at Obiaruku, ongoing construction of 27 kilometres of roads with over 70 per cent completed, and added that no fewer than 400 indigenes of the area had benefited from the state’s empowerment programmes.
The PDP governorship candidate promised that his administration would complete ongoing projects of Okowa’s administration and commence new ones when elected. “I’ll construct Amai, Arhagba-Orogun roads”; the Delta State House of Assembly Speaker assures, as he promised that no project or stone would be left unturned.
Chairman of the party, Chief Kingsley Esiso, commended the leaders and party faithful for the massive turnout for the rally, and bemourned the ills the APC-led federal government had brought upon Nigerians while urging party supporters to chase them out of Aso Rock.
Director-General of the State Campaign Council, Chief Funkekeme Solomon, said that PDP was in Ukwuani to renew its mandate with the people to continue with its development of the state. “We have come here to renew our mandate because you don’t change a winning team. PDP has been winning here since 1999 and the party has led well developing the state over time. “As Deltans, the 2023 election is an opportunity for us to rise up irrespective of our party differences to vote for Atiku-Okowa ticket to enable our illustrious son become the next Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.
Present in the campaign rally were the PDP Delta North Senatorial District candidate, Prince Ned Nwoko who reassured the good people of Delta North of optimum and accountable representation, PDP House of Reps. candidate for Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal Constituency, Hon Nnamdi Ezechi who reaffirmed hopes for the ever loving and hospitable people of Ndokwa/Ukwuani federal constituency and Ogbuefi Chukwudi Ogoana Dafe. Others include the present Commissioner for Finance, Sir Fidelis Tilije, Delta State House of Assembly Deputy Speaker, Rt. Ochor C. Ochor and the Chief Host and Chairman, Ukwuani Local Government Area, Bar. Possible S. Ajede.
The campaign rallies witnessed massive defections from the APC and Labour Party, with former LP Delta North Senatorial candidate, Ebuwa Kelvin and Chief Alex Imarah among the defectors.
