The Delta State Governor, Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has said the dissolution of his cabinet is a result of distractions in the governance of the State, stating that he doesn’t want to have an Exco that is divided in the next two years of his administration because he wants to achieve his vision.
Okowa made this revelation while interacting with journalists at the quarterly media interaction in Asaba on Wednesday, May 18.
According to Okowa during the media briefing, admitted that many of the commissioners worked very hard in helping him to achieve the successes his administration had recorded in the last six years, but stated that the cabinet started getting divided, a development he said began to create a distraction in his governance.
While speaking, he commended all the former cabinet members for their contribution and disclosed that God would guide him towards the reconstruction of a new cabinet.
Speaking further, Okowa explained that “At some point in time in the course of an administration, there are always reasons to take some actions. If I tell you that there is no reason for the dissolution, then I would have fooled myself; then why did I have to dissolve the Exco?
“Of course, there are reasons. I believe that I have been in this administration in the past six years but two years in this tenure, while I have two years to go. There have been a lot of distractions among some members of Exco.
“They have been working effectively and strong and so many of them have been very useful to me and I must thank them as I did yesterday; I must acknowledge that a lot of them have worked with me to be able to achieve that which we have achieved.
“But the fact is, in the last two years, we needed to be able to ensure that we reduce the level of distractions in governance and if we do not take that action, I may have an Exco that may be divided in the next two years and that will not enable me to achieve my vision.
“So, I thought that there was a need to re-work the Exco in such a manner that we will operate within the least stress where those in Exco will know that their minds are focused more on what we can achieve in the next years rather than in their private ambitions and beliefs.
“And, that was a key factor, otherwise the gentlemen that worked with me, who also include the ladies, we’re very good; they worked hard, they meant well for the administration and I truly thank them for all that we have done,” he stated.
Also during the interaction, Okowa debunks allegations that he is planning to hand over to an Ijaw man stating that, “It’s only God Almighty that knows who will be the next governor after him.
He said, “I cannot pretend to be God, for I am not; I don’t know who God is going to bring and I don’t have the intention of playing the role of God.
“You will hear a lot more things just as they said I want to handover to an Ijaw man; I don’t think that I have the strength to play God but the issue is when the politics starts, politics will be played and God almighty will take the decision on who will be governor.
“But as I said, at some point in time as a political party, because I can only speak for my party, we will sit down to look at issues to find out what truly will be fair, what truly will be justified, and what should equity mean.”
When asked about power rotation and in which senatorial district the next governor will emerge from, Okowa further urged the people to pray for God’s intervention stating that, “There was no formal agreement signed and no formal meeting was held where the issue of zoning was discussed and agreed upon.
He continued that there was no legal meeting in which a gentleman agreement was reached, there was no former meeting of such and that is the truth as of today.
“It means that whatever we are doing or talking about today is about what is fair, what is equitable, and how to define what is fair and what is equitable and hinged on justice,” he said.
In addition, he also talked about the decisions of the Southern Governors meeting in Asaba stating that “All the discussions and decisions were in the best interest of the country.
He added that the decision was not for the South alone, but maintained that they were decisions that will help unite us the more as a country.
Also, he explained that the decisions will help to bring further development and improve the security situation in the country stating that the decisions reaffirmed the belief and unity of the nation.
In his reaffirmation, he said, “I believe also that the decisions will stimulate hope to our people across Nigeria.”
Meanwhile, Okowa who was with his deputy, Deacon Kingsley Otuaro, thanked the media for their fair reports and for also partnering with his administration in the last six years.
However, in response, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Olisa Ifeajika, also thanked Okowa for making out time to brief the media on what he referred to as the “State of the State”
Ifeajika further commended the State journalists for their reportage on the activities of the government in the State.
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