CSO Coalition faults protest against Okowa at EFCC, insists ‘godfathers’ fighting back

The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations condemned a protest against the immediate past governor of Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa at the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, alleging that he that he misappropriated the sum of N1,077,450,286,552.77.

The Coalition which comprise of over 3,000 registered CSOs in a statement which was signed Dr. Onwubuya John Abraham Breakforth, National President of Global initiative for African Development (GIFAD) and two other executives of the Coalition lampooned at the former Minister of Information, Chief Edwin Clark as being the brain behind the falsehood against the former governor and the Vice Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The Coalition urged the anti-graft agency to thread with caution the ongoing arrest of ex-governors stating that such exercise should not be driven by emotion, as Chief Edwin Clark has been notorious for blackmailing of governors who refused to service his political interest or recognize him as their political godfathers.

The Coalition explained its member organizations such as Global initiative for African Development (GIFAD), Integrity and Accountability Monitoring Awareness Initiative ( IAMAI), Greater People’s Centre (GPC), Socio- Economic and Accountability Reporteur (SEAR), Institute of Conflict Management (ICM) and others that operates in the Niger- Delta Region and had their offices in Asaba Delta State, have monitored projects embarked by Okowa-led administration and could attest that he did more than his predecessors in office.

The statement which was sent to CAPITAL POST on Tuesday in Abuja, explained that the allocation to Delta State harmonized under the DESOPADEC and was used for development, including construction and rehabilitation of access roads in rural areas across the State.

The statement reads: “Fortunately in respect of the 50% legally prescribed allocation to Delta State Oil producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) from the 13% Oil Derivation fund for rehabilitation and development of the Oil producing Areas in Delta State has been the primary focus and commitment of the immediate past governor of Delta State Dr Ifeanyi Okowa.

“From 2015 to 2023, Delta State government has invested over N3.7 trillion naira into rural and urban infrastructural development and women and youth empowerment programme of the prosperity for all Deltans.

“Hence, this is a far cry from the N1.077 trillion as well as it is unpatriotic and a detraction of good governance in Delta State. If chief EK Clark and enemies of Deltans are accusing Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, so where did he get over 3.7 trillion he invested through DESOPADEC for the grassroots development and rehabilitation of projects in Oil Producing Areas of Delta State.”

The Coalition declared that a petition to the EFCC by Edwin Clark and the protest by some unpatriotic elements who were mischievously sponsored on Monday against the former governor was unfortunate, misguided and politically motivated.

They throw their weight behind the former Commissioner of Information in Delta State, Charles Aniagwu when he said Chief Edwin Clark and his co-travellers have progressed in error.

Charles Aniagwu was quoted to have said: “It is unacceptable, as Edwin Clark was speaking nonsense. That Chief EK Clark did not know that he was speaking. We were quick to conclude that the elder statesman who supposed to be a father, and promoter of peace in the Delta is under manipulation by some perceived enemies of the State against Dr. Okowa to cause embarrassment and drag the good name of the immediate past Governor to ridicule and rubbish his good deeds for Deltans for the past 8 years.”

The Coalition recalled with regret that this has been the habit of the elder statesman from the time of Chief James Ibori, ex-Gov Emmanuel Uduaghan and now Ifeanyi Okowa, stressing that his advance age placed a demand on him to play a role of bridge building and should not allow himself to be manipulated.

They appeal to well meaning Deltans and Nigerians and the EFCC not to allow themselves get carried away by the antics of Edwin Clark, which advising the octogenarian to promote peace and harmony among political leaders in Delta State.