Former Governor of Delta, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, has said that the allegation that he misappropriated N1.3 trillion oil derivation funds of the state while in office was puerile and preposterous.
He stated when he received the national leadership of Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) led by its President-General, Chief Ese Owe, which paid him a solidarity visit at his residence in Asaba on Tuesday.
Okowa, who was speaking publicly on the issue for the first time since his return from honouring an invitation by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), said that he was not worried by the anti-graft agency’s invitation, because he was confident that he would come out clean having served Deltans well as governor.
He disclosed that the petitioners were driven by mundane political considerations but asserted that he would continue to support Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to deliver on the mandate freely given to him by Delta people.
“It was a petition written several months ago, but unfortunately, with the politics of our time some people decided to ensure that Okowa must be invited by EFCC.
“People are genuinely uncomfortable about Okowa and I was actually invited and I went there by myself and the first thing I saw was that they said I misappropriated N1.3 trillion and I said, do you know the kind of money you are talking about?
“To successfully take N1.3 trillion, it means you have to be taking between N16 billion and N20 billion every month into your pocket. I don’t even know if the President of this country will be able to do that, not to talk of the governor of Delta State.
“They have forgotten that the first in three years we came into office – 2015, 2016 and 2017 – the money that was coming into the state was not even enough to pay salaries at all.
“Some local governments like Ethiope East were owing as much as 15 months salaries and even in the state here some people were getting half salaries.
“Delta State is the highest salary-paying state in this nation; our salaries grew to the level that salaries and pensions went up to over N11 billion in a month.
“There are some states whose total staff strength is less than 18,000, but here in Delta, we have over 56,000 workers.
“Workers always received their salaries promptly while we also embarked on all the projects that were done, and nobody thinks about it, especially the projects we did in the riverine areas. But, I know that the people are not happy with those who wrote the petition.”
“Personally, I am not against investigation because the EFCC has to do its job, and I know that I have done everything how it ought to be done.
“For every allegation, they will investigate, and when they have found the truth, they will stop, but for those who sent a wrong communication, it is rather unfortunate.
“I just pray for them because when you allow yourself to be used as a tool, when the evil starts to come, the impact will be so much, but I pray that God will forgive them.
“I know that by the special grace of God we have done the things we ought to do to the best of our ability and by the special grace of God, Governor Oborevwori is beginning to do a lot.
“I believe that by next year he will do a lot more. So, let me assure you that I will continue to support the UPU and the governor of the state as much as I can because I know that he has a lot to offer this state.” The former governor added.
He commended the UPU for its support to him over the years, saying:
“I thank the UPU and the Urhobos because they supported me a lot and they also believe in equity because I always got more votes from them than their sons who contested against me.”
Earlier, the President-General of UPU had said that their visit was to thank the former Governor for supporting their son, Rt Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, to emerge as Governor of the state.
He expressed the union’s appreciation to Okowa for all his support to it throughout his tenure and out of office.