Former Governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, has explained that the recent defection of key Delta political leaders to the All Progressives Congress (APC) was driven by the need to better connect the state to the center of power in Abuja.
Last week, Okowa, alongside his successor, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and several cabinet members, officially left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the APC, a move that has unsettled the PDP, which had governed the oil-rich state since 1999.
Speaking at the APC’s welcome ceremony for the defectors on Monday, Okowa described the move as one made in the best interest of Delta State.
“When the news broke that we had decided to change our path, people wondered why,” Okowa said. “But one thing is crucial in a people’s history: there is always a time to change their path for the common good of the people.”
The former PDP Vice Presidential candidate in the 2023 election stressed that the decision was not personal, but strategic, aimed at accessing federal goodwill and resources.
“There was a need for us to connect to Abuja — that goodwill that is in Abuja, that resource that’s in Abuja of which Delta State is a large contributor,” he added.
Delta Lost Out Under Opposition — Okowa
Reflecting on his tenure, Okowa admitted that Delta State missed out on many opportunities because it was aligned with the opposition.
“I was governor for eight years. I was in opposition. I did my best, but we lost a lot. I do not believe that the governor needs to continue working hard without connecting to the greater source of power and resources in Abuja,” he said.
Okowa praised Governor Oborevwori’s efforts in steering Delta forward and emphasized that the defection was patriotic and strategic.
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He called on Deltans already in the APC to embrace the new entrants and work together to strengthen the party’s dominance in the state.
Additionally, he urged the people of Delta to support President Bola Tinubu’s administration and the state government under Governor Oborevwori’s leadership.
“It’s time for us to stand strong in support of President Tinubu and our governor to secure a better future for Delta State,” Okowa concluded.
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