By Ebi Perekeme
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State has said that God will determine who becomes the next governor of Delta State in 2023.
Speaking at a media quarterly briefing in Asaba, Okowa expressed his personal view that his successor should come from Delta Central but the choice ultimately was beyond him, adding that PDP will continue to work towards achieving a situation that keeps the people United, realising that working together makes the party stronger.
His words, “I am not God. I don’t make a governor. Nobody makes a governor. It is only God that can make one.
“The important thing is we want to ensure there is unity and equity and we will continue to work towards achieving a situation that keeps us united as Deltans realising that working together makes us stronger as a people.”
He said the huge debt profile of Delta State was not adversely affecting governance as his administration has devised smart approaches to tackling its indebtedness.
He added that his administration was not piling debts for his successor as new contracts are planned to chime with expected receipts.
He said Delta State had at October 2018 exited from payment of the bond taken by the previous administration by making a monthly payment of N1billion from 2015 to 2018.
He declared with the restructured debt the state pays a manageable N1.5 billion monthly.
He said his administration “was planning its economic approaches in a manner that his successor will be debt-free save for old restructured debts.”
Okowa, however, admitted to taking short term loans for contracts that are financed through Irrevocable Standing Payment Orders (ISPO).
He said the huge figures credited to Delta State are not the actual debts accumulated by the state but includes both capital and the interest rates computed over a period.
Support Quality Journalism in the Niger Delta Region
Join us in our mission to bring development journalism, cultural preservation, and environmental awareness to the forefront. Your contribution makes a difference in the lives of the people of the Niger Delta. Donate today and be a part of the change!
