The All Progressives Congress (APC) Delta State Chapter has expressed concern over the judgement of the Federal High Court Abuja Division presided over by Justice Donatus Okoronkwo which awarded the sum of $1.638 billion dollars as derivative arrears to the government of Delta state.
The party in a statement by Mr Pius Ituru of the Directorate of Media and Publicity congratulated Deltans who are the beneficiaries of the landmark judgement but, however, noted that it would not forget in a hurry the existence of ‘vultures’ in the administration of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, who are waiting to feast on the common patrimony of Deltans.
Delta APC in the statement said, “Delta PDP under Governor Okowa is most popular for failed and wicked policies that have led to the collapse of infrastructural institutions, plunged the economy of the State into doldrums at a staggering height that has resulted in dehumanization especially pauperization of the citizens of the State.
“APC, therefore, seizes this opportunity to sound a very strong note of warning to the Dr Ifeanyi Okowa led PDP administration on the need not to see the said judgmental sum of $1.638 billion dollars derivative arrears as another source of public funds to be looted and wasted by allies and cronies in their usual profligate fashion that has now become customary to the present government of Dr Ifeanyi Okowa.
“The repercussions, particularly on the people of the oil-producing communities, who have little or nothing to show for the humongous amount of funds that have been derived from oil exploration in their communities.
“This is more, given the fact that the Delta State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (DESOPADEC) that was created as an interventionist agency to utilize the enormous resources for the development of the oil-producing communities have failed woefully in its mandate and has now turned into a cash cow for the Owa Alero emperor and few of his loyal stooges.
“The State House of Assembly Committee on Urban Renewal had last week raised an alarm that there is a concentration of projects in some areas, especially Owa Alero, why non was executed in certain local government areas.
“The Chairman of the Committee, Hon Oboro Preyor and a member of the Committee, Hon Emeka Nwaobi had lamented, warning the Commissioner in charge of the ministry, Chief Arthur Akpowhowho when he appeared before members to defend the 2022 budget estimates of the ministry at the state Assembly Complex in Asaba.
“Also, in the light of recent revelations of cases of missing public funds that have come to the attention of the people of the State. A case in point is that the missing funds of the State House of Assembly involving the speaker and the officers of the House is one among many.
“It is therefore imperative that the people of this State must as a matter of urgency put the government of Dr Ifeanyi Okowa to task to judiciously deploy the said judgmental sum for the benefit of the entire people of Delta State.
“We, therefore, urge all Deltans to be at alert to ensure that the funds are properly channelled into addressing the decades of developmental decay that the state has witnessed under successive PDP administration. Steps must be taken by this administration to ensure that any ulterior motive or sinister design to once again loot our common patrimony for personal aggrandizement by a coterie of evil men, should be immediately jettisoned.
“The Party hereby calls on the people of Delta State to rise up and be ready to hold the Okowa led government accountable and constitutionally fight for their rights” the party statement concluded.
“The party went further to state that “this warning has become all the more necessary given the history of massive embezzlement of public funds by past PDP administrations in the State
“Most importantly, the APC in the state wishes to commend the strength and erudition of the judiciary in maintaining its traditional pedestal as the bastion of our democracy and indeed the hope of the common man. “It is a testament that the present administration of President Muhamadu Buhari has nurtured our democracy to greater heights.”
