Secret Reporters No place to hide
… Says he won’t dissolve DESOPADEC
Fejiro Oliver
Despite the much publicized Uvwiamuge Declaration by the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) which has garnered headlines as being adopted and agreed on by all Urhobo kings; the teeming supporters of topnotch guber candidate, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa who were present at Wednesday campaign rally can go to sleep knowing full well that the Delta Central voters belongs to Okowa, as the arguable number one king of Urhobo land made it clear that he will not only pray for Okowa win but also bless him.
The campaign train which zoomed off from Asaba berthed at the Orodje of Okpe palace, where they were received by the King and his Chiefs. Speaking to the King and all those present, Okowa promised to carry the people of Okpe along in his government if he wins the February 28th guber race. As a man who has the grassroots connection; he promised the people that he would build a befitting modern market in Okpe, a promise which received applause.
His Royal Majesty beaming with smile told Okowa that a land is ready for him to build the market when he mounts the saddle of leadership. Quashing the Uvwiamuge declaration; he stated that he will not be among a group of persons endorsing only a singular candidate above the rest, no matter the aspirant origin. This is not unconnected with tradition which forbids him, his prime minister and the most eldest man in the council community from taking part in partisan politics.
“I don’t want to be like that father (Mbaka) that talks with double mouth. So don’t be surprised if another person comes here tomorrow and I support him by praying for him to win, because I am not God”, the Orodje declared.
Leaving the palace to the Model Primary School field for the campaign, Okowa pleaded with the people of Okpe to give him their mandate to enable him deliver the true dividends of democracy to their doorstep.
He emphasized that he loves the people of Okpe and Urhobos than the politicians who don’t stay in Delta to pay tax but fly in every four years to contest election and find a way to divide the people. “At the end of my regime, there will be no Urhobo, Isoko, Ijaw, Itsekiri or Anioma, but Deltans”, he stated. Preaching oneness and unity; he went nostalgic to the days of Bendel State when everyone was proud to be a Bendelite without knowing the tribe they were from; an attribute which will be brought back during his time.
He pleaded with the huge number of supporters to believe in him by giving him their votes and go home to sleep while their votes work for them. He dismissed the rumors that he will remove the government house annex from Warri or dissolve DESOPADEC.
Okowa promised to turn Okpe into a city saying “In our urban renewal program that we want to turn our towns to cities, Okpe will be one of them”
A crowd never seen in the history of political campaign in Sapele came out to welcome Okowa to their soil for campaign. Coming home to prove his grassroots connection, he began to speak pidgin to the jubilant people. In his usual manner, he pleaded with the people to vote for him and not politicians who bring strange parties to the State every four years likening them to a man who is not a pagan or a muslim but brings in another woman every four years and drives them away.
He promised to bring back technical education to Sapele while completing the near abandoned Sapele market within six months in office.
