Rousing Welcome as Asaba Shuts Down for Okowa
I’m an Igbo man in Delta State, insists PDP VP candidate
Asaba, the Delta State capital, was for about eight hours practically shutdown as the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the state government organised a grand reception for Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of the state, who formally returned "home" since receiving the PDP ticket as vice-presidential candidate and running mate to the Presidential candidate of the party for the 2023 general election, former vice-president Atiku Abubakar.
But speaking at the reception, Okowa thanked God, the party leaders, Atiku and the people for their loyalty and support, assuring them that with the Atiku-Okowa presidential ticket, the PDP was set to execute its mission to rescue Nigeria from the maladministration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2023.
He said he only accepted to be Atiku Abubakar's running mate, because he was convinced that the PDP's presidential standard bearer had a comprehensive blueprint to effectively address the fundamental challenges confronting Nigeria, including revival of the nation's economy and youth unemployment.
According to Okowa, the former vice-president in the Olusegun Obasanjo government, has been voicing concerns about restructuring of the country for over 35 years, since 1986.
He appealed to Nigerians to remain resilient and trust God that the much-awaited national salvation was on the horizon with the anticipated victory of the PDP in next year's general election, saying the rescuing process would depend very much on the Nigerian youths and women.
"We understand that we have to build the economy of this nation," the governor noted, saying the youths and women should obtain their PVCs, because of the crucial role they would play in eliminating problems like prolonged strike by lecturers in the nation's higher educational institutions, by voting the Atiku and Okowa.
"I have no doubt that Atiku-Okowa is ticket of hope that will rescue Nigeria. God has endorsed it, so let us be resilient. God wants to use the youths, so appeal to our youths, don't get carried away by empty promises of those who are merely talking.”
Meanwhile, speaking in an interview with Channels TV, Okowa, who said his emergence as the vicepresidential candidate of the party was by the grace of God, insisted he was an Igbo man in Delta State.
He said himself and Atiku would bring a vast wealth of governance experience to the table and hit the ground running by initiating wide ranging economic reforms.
He said with Atiku’s wealth of experience as a former vicepresident and head of the privatisation programme of the former President Olusegun Obasanjo-led administration, he would bring to the table a vast governance experience to steer the ship of state to fruition, adding that he was also offering his experience in government, having served at all tiers of government, notably, local government, state and federal levels of government.
He said the inability of the ruling APC to pick a vice presidential candidate was a palpable sign of confusion, stressing that, contrary to the belief in some quarters that he betrayed the South-east's long drawn quest for the presidency, the time for a president from the zone will come.
"I am an Igbo man in Delta State. South-east has a right of agitation. The North-east also has a right to agitation. North-east has not had the presidency too. Both zones feel they are entitled to the presidency. Both the South-east and North-east lay claim to the presidency, which is not wrong. As the South-east continues to agitate for the presidency, a time will come when the Igbo man will be president," he said.