By Austin Ogwuda
Vociferous Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Ned Nwoko has carpeted Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for allegedly refusing to buy into his suggested plan on how to actualise the step-down of Okpai Power Plant on the ground that the State is passing through financial difficulties.
Nwoko described the excuse adduced by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori that the State has no money because he is servicing the humongous debt inherited from his political godfather, immediate past governor Ifeanyi Okowa as untenable because Delta State receives monthly Federal allocation equivalent to what the entire five States in the South East region get.
He spoke in a leaked video which has gone viral during his recent courtesy visit to the President-General of Ndokwa Neku, General Mike Ndubisi (rtd), at his Ezhionum residence in Ukwuani local local government area of the State.
His words “I have had meetings with the governor, our governor and I said to the governor, there are two options either the Governor brings the money and pay it to the contactors to go to work immediately.
“If I were the governor that is what I will do. I wouldn’t waste time I will say go to site; how much you need, we pay them off so that there will not be any stories.
“I have discussed it (Okpai project) with him (governor) even last Saturday but he is saying there is no money, there is no money but I know there is money in the State.
“Delta State gets more money more than any other State… The money we get in Delta State, the average money for the past three months, five months have been about N40 billion a month. In fact, what we get in Delta is exactly what Anambra, Ebonyi, Imo, Enugu and Abia put together, get. One State versus five States.
“But of course, the governor said that he is paying back money borrowed by Okowa. I have had issues with him and I will tell you here. If you ask ‘okenmo’ ( pointing to Gen Ndubisi), the first and only PDP caucus meeting we (Delta North) had, they asked me to move a vote of confidence for the governor, the deputy governor was also there, ask those from this area, when I spoke because when I speak I don’t fear anybody.
“Life”, he went on, “is only one life for every body and when I have a mandate, my mandate is very important,the governor was there, Okowa was there, House of Assembly members and so on and so forth.
“I told them that before that (vote of confidence), let me say my mind, my mind is very clear and I said, look, my Governor, you have done well well in Warri, you have done well in Osubi and those areas you awarded contracts of over N100 Billion to Julius Berger to do Flyovers and Bridges. But the ones I have been telling you to do for my people (Delta North) you have not done, so I mentioned Okpai Step down.
“I told him (Governor) to pay for it and he can pay for it. I told him about Ogwashi Uku Dam, which I will come to you later.
“The fact is that there is a big gap between what is happening in Delta North and what is happening in other senatorial districts.
“I said to the governor if he does not want to pay for the step down in Okpai that I can arrange for the money through a finance company from abroad. They will pay the money to the contractor, the company will do the work and they (finance company) will collect their money from billings; all I just want from the governor is to give a go ahead and that will be done.
“As a business man with my exposure, I understand international finances so it is very easy. I have two companies waiting”, Nwoko stated confidently.