Governor Ifeanyi Okowa successfully dismantled James Ibori’s political empire to actualize his main aim of installing his candidate as the next Delta State Governor.
OKOWA IS NEW SHERIFF IN DELTA
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) supporters in Delta State have described Governor-elect Sheriff Oborevwori as the NEW SHERIFF IN TOWN on account of his victory in the poll and his name.
But this writer thinks otherwise. I strongly think outgoing governor, Senator Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa is the new Sheriff in Delta. He fought a difficult but victorious battle to install his man as his successor.
Okowa’s political dynasty may have begun as James Onanefe Ibori’s reign may be over with the emergence of Oborevwori as governor-elect. A new chapter or book may have been written on Delta politics by Ika-born Okowa.
Recall that there was a fierce battle between Ibori and Okowa over the choice of PDP flagbearer in the March 18 Governorship election during the primaries.
This led to litigations against Oborevwori who equally is the outgoing Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly. The court actions were to stop Oborevwori from parading himself as PDP candidate.
But he or do we say Okowa’s camp won the case leading to this election. Oborevwori got his party’s ticket riding on the crest of his godfather, Okowa.
Critics opine that Ibori wanted to hang on to power in the state and ensure his political dynasty which produced Emmanuel Uduaghan to succeed him and then Okowa continues by installing Okowa’s successor.
But that dynasty was battered by the prolonged money laundering case against Ibori in the United Kingdom. The absence of Ibori who was in faraway United Kingdom gave Okowa the room to tidy up things and build his structure which produced Oborevwori.
Okowa needed to take control of the state he has governed for eight years. That was the Genesis of the cold war over Oborevwori’s candidacy against the choice of Ibori which was David Edebevie.
Finally, Okowa has dismantled whatever remained of Ibori’s political myth and might. With Oborevwori as governor, Okowa can only cruise on hoping that his godson doesn’t betray or stab him at the back as we have witnessed in several cases and states in the past.
Indeed, Okowa is the real and new Sheriff in town.
© DESMOND EKWUEME
