Charles Aniagwu, the Delta State Commissioner for Information, has said that the excellent performance of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State was responsible for his emergence as the Vice Presidential slot of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 presidential election.
Aniagwu who was reacting to an open letter by the Elder statesman and Ijaw national leader, Chief Edwin Clark on Thursday where he noted that Okowa should have turned down the offer of running mate to Atiku Abubakar, pointing out that the development has nothing to do with the betrayal of any section of the country.
In a statement signed by the Commissioner, stated that “We have read with keen interest the open letter to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa by elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark.
“First we accord him his due respect as an elder statesman and a respected father in our state, but we state categorically that his letter is not a true reflection of the state of affairs in Delta State as the massive achievements in infrastructural and human capital development recorded in the state in the last seven years are visible to all and sundry.
“On the allegation of unaccountability and dictatorship, it is on record that Governor Okowa has been very accountable to the people as he has always briefed Deltans on the state of affairs in the state. He holds quarterly media interactions with journalists in the state where issues across the state are discussed and questions asked and relevant answers provided.
He added, “The Governor has had cause to relate with the State House of Assembly on all matters concerning the state finances at all times. How can a Governor that ensured full autonomy for the State’s legislature and the judiciary be said to be dictatorial?
“On the allegation of misuse of N250billion 13% derivation fund, nothing can be far from the truth because the said fund is being paid in quarterly installments, and as at last record we have only received four installments totaling N19.6billion.
Aniagwu further stated, “Because of the time value of money and inflationary tendencies we decided to discount N100billion. On application to the state House of Assembly, we listed some landmark projects to be completed from the fund and of them including the Ogheye Floating Market, Koka Flyover and Interchange, Maryam Babangida Leisure Park, Film Village and Zoo, Mother and Child Specialist Hospital and Advanced Diagnostics Medical Centre have been completed, inaugurated and currently operational.
“We are also aware that our leader, Chief Clark has made his own political choice by endorsing a presidential candidate of another political party which we agree and respect as his own fundamental right, but we hold the view that it is not democratically nor constitutionally out of place for other persons to also have right to associate with others which is equally legitimate.
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