The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders’ Forum (SMBLF) yesterday turned the heat on Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for agreeing to run as the vice presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in next year’s election.

The SMBLF said in a statement that it was appalled by the governor’s action which it said ran contrary to the May 11, 2021 joint decision of Southern state governors hosted by Okowa himself in Asaba.

The camp of Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike remained in shock yesterday over the decision of the PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar to overlook the Rivers strongman in picking his running mate.

Wike, sources said yesterday in Port Harcourt, was reviewing the situation.

The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders’ Forum (SMBLF) in a statement said it was “unspeakable and quite disappointing that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, who is currently Chairman of the South-South Governors’ Forum, and a native of Owa-Alero in Ika North-East Local Government Area (one of the Igbo-speaking areas) of Delta State, would exhibit such barefaced unreliability.”

It recalled how Okowa hosted the 17 Governors of the Southern States of Nigeria, both of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), under the Chairmanship of the Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu in May last year and “took far-reaching decisions, including that, based on the principles of fairness, equity and justice, the presidency should rotate to the south at the end of the statutory eight years of President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure.”

It added: “And this very Governor Okowa was the host of that historic meeting. The Southern Governors later met again in Lagos on July 5, where they reaffirmed their decision, and again in Enugu on September 16, to restate the call that the presidency should rotate to the south in 2023.

“It is essential to underline that the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders’ Forum (SMBLF) applauded the meeting of the governors, given its significant representation and the gravity of the outcome; we followed up and issued a similar statement after our meeting in Abuja on the 30th of May 2021, asking that the presidency should rotate to the south, and went further, on several other occasions to caution political stakeholders from the South, including serving and former governors, ministers, senators, etcetera, not to, on any account, allow themselves to be appointed or nominated as running mate to any presidential candidate if the presidency is not zoned to the south and that we will work against such person or persons.

“It is, therefore, most unfortunate that the Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, who should know better, accepted his appointment as running mate to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. We do not have anything personal against Ifeanyi Okowa, but his action is treacherous and tantamount to a despicable pawning of the political future of the people of Southern Nigeria.

“Sadly, it is also now common knowledge that he spent extensive sum of money to lobby for the position. And that explains why he never made any statement when his party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), thoughtlessly jettisoned the zoning principle, which has become established as a norm and an intrinsic part of the nation’s political trajectory.

“It is difficult to fathom how a political party can claim to be on a supposed ‘rescue mission’ with such false footings of unfairness, injustice, duplicity and gross insensitivity to national outlook.

”It is regrettable that while most of Governor Okowa’s southern and northern counterparts have maintained gallant, patriotic deference to the unity and peace of the country, above blinkered political considerations, by their resolute stance on the rotation of the presidency to the south in 2023, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, the Chairman of the South-South Governors’ Forum, of all people, would gullibly and slavishly capitulated to the bonbon of absurdity. Thus, acceding to a situation whereby one person rules for eight years and hands over to another of his stock in a country of at least 360 ethnic groups. What a shame!

“The people of southern Nigeria chimed at Asaba, Lagos, Enugu, Uyo, Port Harcourt, Umuahia, and Abuja, continuously, on the zoning of the presidency and warned that another northern presidency, after the eight years of President Muhammadu Buhari, would be injurious to the unity and peace of the country.

“Governor Okowa has, by his action, betrayed the trust reposed in him by his colleagues, the southern governors, the entire good people of southern Nigeria and all well-meaning Nigerians. He has made himself persona non grata, not only with SMBLF but all citizens who treasure our oneness and yearn for a more united and peaceful Nigeria.

“We, therefore, reject Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and his Vice Presidency, and leave him to his lot, but let the world know that this is a betrayal of the highest order. And that this is not a matter of loyalty to one’s political party, but rather a greedy, parochial and unpatriotic action committed against the general interest of his state, Delta State, the Niger Delta region and Southern Nigeria.

“It is, certainly, also not in the interest of the nation at large.”

The group commended “the patriotism of all Nigerians who cherish our unity and progress as a country and further urge all such Nigerians, in the North and the South, young and mature, the high and mighty, irrespective of religion and tribe, to remain steadfast on the centrality of the presidency rotating to the South in 2023, in the national interest.”

Signatories to the statement were Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, Leader SMBLF/PANDEF; Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Leader, Afenifere; Dr. Dru Bitrus, President-General, Middle Belt Forum; and Professor George Obiozor, President-General, Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide.

I won’t join issues with you,Okowa tells Clark,Adebanjo, others

Asked yesterday to respond to the SMBFL statement, Okowa said his acceptance of the PDP vice presidential slot was purely a party decision and as a loyal party member he was bound by its decision.

He spoke on Arise television.

He said: “I want to respect our leaders, I believe that they have their opinions, and I also believe that they are well-meaning leaders. So, I won’t join issues with them. But the important thing is that I belong to a political party and I was part of the decisions of that political party, and we did agree that the best pathway to rescue this nation was to throw the presidential race open in our party.

“And having agreed upon Atiku Abubakar, the former vice president, the honour is now for us to support him since we can’t have a president from the North and also a vice president from the North.

“That would lead us further into divisions in this country, and we are talking about rebuilding this nation, and to a very large extent, we have to take the right decisions. And within our party, I think that having submitted myself to be a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, I will have to submit myself to the decisions of the party and that’s what has happened.

“That doesn’t mean it’s a disrespect for the views of those leaders. They are leaders I respect so much, but under this condition, they have to understand that I have committed myself to the PDP. I am a politician. If I were not a politician, it might be different. I am a politician and I am entitled to my views.

“I want to appeal to them that they need to actually look at this issues as it’s, that while we are making our comment as it concerns Nigeria at this time that we have crises within the nation, the rebuilding process is that we need to rebuild confidence. And in rebuilding confidence, we have to be very cautious about the stance that the take. We have to be cautious about what we do. We need to understand that the unity of this nation is important and we need to move forward from wherever we are at the moment.”

Ohanaeze spokesman: Okowa, Igbo prodigy with special grace

In a statement that seems to contradict the position of the Ohanaeze President General, Professor George Obiozor in the SMBLF statement, the spokesman of the pan Igbo socio cultural group, Dr. Alex Ogbonnia, welcomed the choice of Governor Okowa as PDP presidential running mate.

Ogbonnia hailed the Delta State governor as “an Igbo prodigy with special grace.”

His words: “The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide heartily congratulates an Igbo prodigy, an astute administrator, sagacious politician, brilliant physician, creative visionary, prudent resource manager, detribalised patriot, purveyor of morals and a poster personality, His Excellency, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, the Governor of Delta State as he secures the highly coveted Vice Presidential candidacy of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).

“Ohanaeze Ndigbo has watched with keen interest and admiration the phenomenal trajectory of an University of Ibadan trained medical doctor from the Secretary to Ika North East Local Government; Chairman, Ika North East Local Government; Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources; Commissioner for Water Resources Development; Commissioner for Health; Secretary to the Delta State Government; Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; ECOWAS Parliamentarian; Governor of Delta State and today the Vice Presidential Candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).

“Available records indicate that from birth, God endowed Okowa with a special grace. It is only grace that explains the mystery behind the profound achievements by a few in various areas of life which paradoxically present enormous challenges to many others.

“Perhaps, this explains why Okowa ennobled the various offices he held with remarkable skill, exceptional diligence, elegance and panache.

“The life of Senator Ifeanyi Okowa is a veritable tribute to humility, sincerity, simplicity, hard work, perseverance and centrality of morals in the dynamics of power.

“As a governor, Okowa had a clear vision which he pursued with incandescent passion, valour, candour, honour and unassailable accomplishments.

“Above all other enviable attributes, Okowa resonates as a team player, diverse ethnic manager with a friendly finesse and character comeliness.

“He is one of the few who has sustained in government without the elixir and grandeur delusion that has become the characteristics of many in positions of authority.

“On the other hand, Okowa has served both as sub-ordinate, co-ordinate and super-ordinate to several persons without skirmishes. Dr Ifeanyi Okowa is a quintessential gentleman.

“The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worlwide led by Ambassador Professor George Obiozor is very proud of you.

“We are optimistic that your candidacy will add enormous electoral value to your political party, the PDP.”

Igbo youths too

The Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) also hailed Okowa’s nomination as PDP presidential running mate.

President-General of the group, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike and the Secretary-General, Comrade Obinna Achionye described the governor as a great performer and true son of Igboland.

While noting that Ndigbo were not happy for not getting the PDP presidential slot, they asked: “Should we now throw away the baby with the bathwater?

“Having said this, we reiterate that Ndigbo are happy with his emergence as the vice presidential candidate of the PDP and will accord him all the needed support.

“We urge Ndigbo to support him; we must be strategic this time and not put all our eggs in one basket.”

His landmark achievements stand him out – Ethnic Nationalities President

The Nigeria Ethnic Nationalities Youth Leaders Council (NENYLC) said Okowa’s landmark achievements were the reasons for his choice as Atiku’s running mate.

President of NENYLC, Com. Terry Obieh, said in Abuja that. Okowa’s selection was predicated on his outstanding contributions to the noble development of Delta State and by extension the Nigerian nation at large.

Anger persists as Wike ponders next line of action

Indignation, meanwhile, persisted yesterday in the camp of Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, 48 hours after Alhaji Atiku rejected him as running mate.

Sources close to his camp told The Nation in Port Harcourt that Wike had been ruminating over the matter.

He felt let down, betrayed and embarrassed for the second time in a row by the party he has given tremendous support and commitment, sources said.

Sources recalled how the party allowed Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal to speak twice during last month’s presidential primary in Abuja during which he stepped down for Atiku.

They wondered why the party jettisoned the recommendation of its Advisory Committee, which had chosen Wike ahead of Okowa with 16 to three votes.

One of the sources said Wike’s supporters were waiting for words from him on the next line of action.

The source said the governor was taking his time to review the entire scenario and that he would soon bare his mind.

Wike, though in Port Harcourt, had neither made a public appearance nor spoken on any matter since after Okowa’s emergence.

The foot soldiers of the Governor were said to be spoiling for war, saying it was time to pay PDP back for taking the value which Wike and Rivers bring to the party for granted.

The Rivers State Chairman, National Youth Council (NYC), Chijioke Ihunwo, fumed over the development, describing it as the height of betrayal and ingratitude.

He said the party had laid a foundation for a woeful performance in next year’s election with the choice of Okowa, insisting that the Delta governor lacked the capacity to win elections.

Ihunwo urged Wike to reject any entreaties to make him the Director-General of Atiku’s campaign organisation.

He said: “Governor Wike stood up to ensure that the PDP survived. Those holding positions in the party today are serial defectors. Atiku has been junketing to different parties but today he is flying the party’s flag.

“What happened at the primary was abnormal. An aspirant spoke, came back a second time to speak again. But Wike ignored all that to pursue the unity of the party.

“Okowa cannot win election in Delta State. They have betrayed Wike.

“PDP has not been fair to Wike. This is a man who has stood for the party. He ensured the opposition did not crash PDP but they are coming to pay him with evil.

“I won’t advise Wike to accept any offer for a campaign DG to Atiku. Why will he fund Atiku campaign when they betrayed him despite all he did to rebuild the party?

“There must be consequences. 80 per cent of Nigerians love Wike. They wanted Wike to either be the President or the vice-president. PDP, with what they have done, has shown signal for total failure in 2023. Even those who feel they are on ground did not invest money to build this party.”