It was Niccolo Machiavelli that said that titles do not honour men but it is men that honour title. But according to a recent revelation by a Delta State born good governance activist, Fejiro Oliver, the outgoing Governor of Delta State Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa plunged N3billion in ‘buying’ up media titles and honors.
According to Oliver, the sum of N105,000,000 (One Hundred and Five Million Naira) was withdrawn by Gov. Okowa from the Directorate of Government House and Protocol account on the 8th of January 2019 with which he curried 2018 SilverBird Man of the Year as well as Daily Independent 2018 Man of the Year Awards.
According to a post shared on his verified social media handle, the state bank transaction description he exclusively obtained showed “Awards as ‘2018 SilverBird Man of the Year’ and ‘Daily Independent 2018 Man of the Year’ by Silverbird Communication and Daily Independent Newspapers respectively.”
The withdrawal was said to be made under Head 412A B11 (iii) Government House Publicity/Press Relations indicated that the money was approved and fully paid to the Governor on 8th January, 2019.
Fejiro Oliver frowned that the the Governor could spend that large sum even when the state pensioners were crying to be paid their pensions.
He wondered why a governor’s personal awards and media titles should be paid from the state’s purse and asked the relevance of a “bought award” to a state that has borrowed its future away as a result of poor governance.
He said that in 8 years, Okowa has spent over N3 billion buying media awards across the country.
“N3 billion will clear over 30% pensioners but he chose to waste it.
He said if Okowa stooge, Sheriff Oborevwori is not voted out come the next governorship election, Okowa would continue to wreck havoc on the state treasury using Sheriff Oborevwori. He opined that only a man like DSP Ovie Omo-Agege of APC can end this reign of idiocy.