Former Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, has clarified the reasons behind his recent defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) alongside Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.
Speaking on Monday, Okowa revealed that the decision was motivated by the need to strengthen Delta State’s connection to the federal government’s resources and goodwill, which he believes are essential for the state’s growth.
Okowa emphasized that the defection was not driven by personal ambitions but by a collective desire to ensure the state benefits from the abundant resources available in Abuja.
“Our goal was to create a bridge between Delta and Abuja, to ensure that the state gets the support it deserves,” he said.
The former governor expressed that during his tenure, Delta lost significant opportunities while being in opposition, and he felt it was crucial to shift paths for the greater good of the people.
He further highlighted that despite his efforts while in opposition, the state could have fared better with better access to federal resources.
“Governor Oborevwori has been working tirelessly for Delta, but it’s vital for him to align with the federal power to achieve even more for the state,” Okowa added.
“When the news broke on Wednesday that we had decided to change our path, people wondered why. But one thing is very important in a people’s history: there is always a time to change their path for the common good of the people,” Okowa stated, reflecting on the public’s mixed reaction to their defection.
He emphasized that the defection wasn’t just about individual aspirations but about ensuring that Delta has a stronger presence at the national level.
“It was not about me, it was not about the governor, but the fact that there is 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 concluded.
The defection, which has created ripples in the national political scene, signals a shift in Delta’s political allegiance, and both Okowa and Oborevwori are optimistic about the positive outcomes their transition to the APC will bring to the state and its people.
