By Austin Ogwuda
THE immediate past Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, popularly called ‘Ekwueme’ has chested out bragging that he was not all rattled by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) investigation or any form of media trial because his hands are clean.
He stated this on Wednesday when the State Deputy Governor, Sir Monday Onyeme paid him a solidarity visit at his Asaba residence along with some top politicians from Anioma.
His words, “I have said that I am not afraid to be probed or investigated; I may not be a Saint, but I know that I went to Government House as a Governor with the full hope and desire to work with the people, to give the best to ourselves and the State within the limit of our resources to achieve the best we can achieve in a very difficult circumstances in the State for eight years.
“I want to say that the petitions against me before the EFCC are frivolous and those who are involved in such petitions should also be investigated so that if they are found wanting, EFCC should charge them court.
“I am actually very happy and elated seeing you here today; my heart is now at peace because since the unfortunate incident, about two weeks ago, I have received so many visitors, but this visit is very unique to me.
“I have actually received key people here, apart from the leaders of the Urhobo Progressive Union, UPU, leaders of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, CAN and others have come to show solidarity, but unfortunately, some people have criticized the UPU for visiting me.
“That shows that there are some people behind the problem; the Traditional Rulers Council of this State led by the Orodje of Okpe has come to visit me.
“This is my family because I am a politician and what you have done today has given me peace of mind.
“I still remembered that we had a very difficult period for the first two and half years, from May 29, 2015 to the end of September, 2017 where the whole resources of the state put together cannot pay salaries of workers.
“We had to sit down and come to agreement that workers had to receive half salaries for two and half years but by the grace of God, after the period, we started paying full salaries and backlog of pension arrears.
“We had over hundred billion arrears of pension and I want to tell you that I am not afraid of the media trial, neither am I afraid of investigation.
“The petition that is against me”, he went on, “is very frivolous; how can somebody says that somebody misappropriated the sum of 1.3 trillion naira? That is to say that somebody misappropriated the sum of 16 billion naira every month and unfortunately, some people out there believe this.
“The salaries the pension arrears that we paid, the loans that we took and also paid; we paid a lot of money, the ones we met and the ones we took and paid.
“The EFCC has the mandate to investigate anybody and I have nothing against them for doing their job; I want to assure you that I am not disturbed, I have my peace of mind and your visit has added to my peace.
“I want to thank you for this show of love, and may God continue to bless you”, he added.
…..“We are solidly behind you and we will go with you to any length” – Deputy Gov Onyeme
Earlier, the State deputy governor said, “we, the entire leadership of the Anioma people are here to see you because everyone of us is aware of the happenings surrounding you in recent times and we felt that we should let you know that we are very proud of you.
“We are very proud of you and we are solidly behind you and we will go with you to any length. So, we say that we we are solidly behind you, hence, we have come to pledge our solidarity to you. Your administration in a lot of ways, ensured even development of our State”, he concluded.
