By GRADE-ONE CLARK
If huge billboards, glossy posters, bareface lies and propaganda were the only ingredients for winning elections, Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa and his ever fumbling puppet, the PDP governorship candidate, Sheriff Oborevwori, would have again picked the trophy as reward of service. Unfortunately, they are not. The late very cerebral UNN doyen of public relations, Prof. Okechukwu Nwosu, had said that an organization or government requires 90% performance and just 10% publicity to showcase its performance in serve delivery to its various publics. But as it is, Okowa and the PDP, want to turn this time tested hypothesis on its head. The governor has so far scored below 30% in performance, in his 8 years in office, but wants to give this liliputian performance 100% publicity.
His spin doctors are everywhere, wasting Delta State money on television and radio appearances, flooding the airwaves with half truth, and adorning lies in fancy colours. His paid agents in newspaper houses come up with frivolous advertorials of make beliefs. Non of these can change the truth, Gov. Okowa has not performed. It is impossible to carve a beautiful image using a rotten piece of wood. Anyone travelling through Delta State will see billboards at every corner, and even in the most remote forgotten hamlets, where not even a single classroom teacher can be found, talk more of a government facility like hospital. But he has now remembered them because of elections.
When he was accused by Pa Edwin Kiagbodo Clark of maladministration, non accountability and corruption, in an open letter, Okowa’s pretentious piousness came handy. Through various platforms, the governor said he spent the over N4.10 Trillion that have so far accrued to the state, on building a film village, paid pensioners (they are still crying over non payment of their gratuity after 7 years), constructed a flyover and built a new secretariat. Imagine the humbug and hocus pocus!
Anyway, Okowa had long lost his sleep to permanent insomnia, because of the Obarisi of Urhobo Land, Sen. Ovie Omo Agege’s appearance in the state governorship race. The Omo Agege ferocious team of political eggheads, Elder Omeni Sobotie and Elder Godsday Orubebe, have broken all barriers, into Okowa’s political fortress, capturing every ambassador of worth and the vibrant intelligentsia, stripping the PDP bare of its fighting forces. Even the most frivolous suit the PDP brought against the DSP was roundly thrown out in court, as lacking substance, by discerning judges, leaving the Owa Alero traitor more frustrated.
A few day ago, Okowa made another botched attempt to secure Ijaw top leaders endorsement, for himself and other PDP candidates. As stated earlier, again his efforts ran into a brickwall. The governor had through his man Friday, Chief Michael Diden, alias Ejele, PDP senatorial candidate for Delta South, approach Prof. Ben Okaba, President of Ijaw National Congress INC, the Ijaw worldwide socio cultural umbrella body. Despite all cajoling and many promises, the erudite academic, at his country home in Kpakiama, turned down Ejele’s pleading, on the ground that he lacks the mandate to endorse any political group for his people.
In the same vain, Speaker Sheriff Oborevwori, also went to seek endorsement from the Pere of Ogulagha kingdom, in the Burutu Local Govt. Area, HRM Pere Capt. Timiyan. The Ogulagha king is a thorough breed scholar, he is presently a doctoral candidate of political science. If the speaker sought to see him in his palace, he would oblige, but the meeting won’t translate into votes for Sheriff. His Royal highness will never allow himself to be used by anyone. A widowed mother of five adult children in my neighbourhood was invited to attend a supposed state organized empowerment programme, at Warri in one of the secondary schools. At the venue, they were made to sit under the blazing sun, where a sugar coated tongue PDP woman leader came to address them.
She promised them heaven and earth, but that they must vote PDP, and also impress it upon their adult children to do same, before any of them would access the promised empowerment. At the end of her address, N2000 was given to each attendee, with a promise of transferring additional N3000 into their bank accounts at a later date, which they have not done. She told me they all felt very insulted by the charade. And that the organizers thought they were ignorant women, who don’t see the mess the Okowa administration, has made of the state. The PDP has become very desperate, it daily devices tricks to hoodwink the electorates. The more his foot soldiers try, the more doors that are slammed on their faces.
The latest effort to save the fortunes of the PDP, is the party’s resort to criminality. The PDP has branded assorted vehicles in APC colours and logos, which they kept in the premises of the Premium Trust Bank, which belongs to the Okowa’s family, situated along Mariam Babangida Way, in Asaba. The intention is to assign the vehicles to thugs, for the purpose of wreaking havoc and terrorize innocent citizens, and pass the blame on to the APC, as the party responsible. This again has been blown open to their shame. The PDP can’t stop cutting its nose to spite its face. All the shenanigans won’t styme the tide of defeat that looms over Okowa’s head.
The bell now tolls to decide the fate and residency of Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa, whether he will retire to Owa Alero permanently, or move to the presidential villa in Abuja. And whether he can also pull off a caper to retain the Dennis Osadebe House for his boy, Sheriff Oborevwori, eleven days from today. However, the problem is that the sword of Damocles now dangles dangerously over their fate, threatening every hope. The odds are stacked against them, for taking the masses for granted over years.
It is now time for Okowa to confront his sins. The governor and his lackeys might have forgotten how they drove through markets in sheltered convoys, blaring sirens to scare the people, and sending many scampering for safety. The die is now cast, Deltans say they won’t vote PDP again. The governor’s tearful praise singers are at a loss on how to help their master. Eight years ago, the people welcomed him with open arms, they are now chasing him out with cudgels. It is the end of an era.
Grade one Clark
13/02/2023