By Sylvester Imonina
Delta APC and indeed Deltans are nonplussed at the signposting of corruption by Governor Okowa led-Government in Delta State. A serious-minded Government that wants the development of its people does not treat corruption with deodorant and stupefy those that expose it with “otapiapia”!
Recently, the print and social media have been saturated with the news of the financial misappropriation and corrupt practices of one Mr Jerry Ehiwario, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Delta State on Students Affairs. The un-discredited news is that the said Mr Ehiwario corruptly enriched himself with monies meant for students of Delta State origin (NADESTU), amounting to approximately #58Million.
Information at our disposal is that the financial malfeasance was allegedly exposed to the public by one Mr Osedume Francis Iwedike, a Special Assistant to the Governor on Students Affairs and the said financial misdeeds angered the students’ body who has been at daggers drawn with Mr Ehiwario for some time now.
Unfortunately, instead of Mr Iwedike to be praised for exposing corruption in high places, Govr. Okowa got so miffed and ordered his sack as his Special Assistant!
According to the Governor, Mr Iwedike ought not to have taken the matter outside the walls of Government House.
While Mr Ehiwario who has been feeding fat on monies meant for students of Delta State origin retains his position, the said Mr Iwedike is now made to eat the “bread of sorrow”. What a Government!
All hope is not lost. Delta APC learnt that Mr Ehiwario is now one of the visitors of EFCC in respect of this matter.
Though, Delta APC is not unaware of the fact that there are rules that govern political appointees in the course of their employment, it is our firm belief and position that such rules cannot be used as a weapon of oppression to frustrate genuine course that exposes corruption.
If truly the Governor believes in his much-touted “prosperity for all Deltans”, not prosperity for kleptomaniacs in his Government, Delta APC challenges him to sack with immediate effect the said Mr Jerry Ehiwario for bringing the State to opprobrium.
Delta APC calls on men of goodwill and Deltans to take the bull by the horn and call on the Governor to purge his Government of every corrupt element. This is the time to act for the sake of posterity.
Imonina, a lawyer, is the Publicity Secretary (Caretaker) APC Delta State.
