Why Ibori is Fighting Delta Governor Okowa
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State has incurred the wrath of James Onaefe Ibori, the controversial former governor of the state. The fight between the two top political players in the oil rich state is getting messier by the day, and may go out of hands if prompt efforts are not made for reconciliation.Ibori, who recently returned to Nigeria after serving jail term in the United Kingdom (UK) over his fraudulent activities as a governor, is fighting Okowa over what his camp termed lack of respect and impunity.
On Thursday, 31 August, the State House of Assembly dissolved the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC) led by Moses Ogbe, a stooge of Ibori and the ex-governor believes the development is one of the antics Okowa is using to manipulate the state’s council elections coming up in a matter of months.
The dissolution, according to Tim Owhefere, the Majority leader of the House, was inevitable because there were deficiencies in the laws that established the commission. He opined that the dissolution will enable the House to work on a proposed new DSIEC law that would enhance the electoral process in the state.
But Ibori is convinced that the dissolution of DSIEC is the handiwork of Okowa, and he is quite bitter because the governor did not consult him before taking such action. He sees it as a big insult and has sworn to high heavens that Okowa and his cohorts will regret their actions.
An aide of Ibori was quoted to have explained that “Though I am not permitted to speak on the issue, I can authoritatively tell you that my boss felt slit by Governor Okowa without any form of consultations before going ahead to sack the commission. Oga was very furious and that Okowa is biting more than he can chew. For some time now Okowa has been doing things to slit Oga, he has been taking Oga for a ride, and Oga has not been happy with him. The commission is statutory and that’s supposed to end next year.
“The other day, my boss, His Excellency, former Governor James Ibori read with pain on the news how Governor Okowa sold off Delta Line Company to an Ibo man without consultations, he is running DESOPADEC as his own personal estate against the wishes of the people of the oil bearing communities in the state and so many other things he is doing which does not go well with Oga.
“The present local government administration will elapse in October and for fear of defeat, Governor Okowa has decided to use all available tactics to put in place a new board that can sit down and write results for his handpicked candidates. He has failed the people. He promised not to use caretaker committees, but with the hand writing on the wall Okowa will end up using them. What a failed administration.”
