ASABA/Nigeria: Immediate past Commissioner for Information in Delta State, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, has vehemently refuted the accusations made by elder statesman Chief Edwin Clark against former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa. In a recent interview on TVC, Aniagwu dismissed Chief Clark’s claims as disconnected from the reality on the ground in Delta State.
Aniagwu pointed out that Chief Clark has been absent from Delta for an extended period of time, and therefore, his information about Okowa’s administration is influenced by political motives rather than actual knowledge. The former Commissioner asserted that Chief Clark is being manipulated by individuals who harbored resentment after losing the gubernatorial contest in the state.
During the interview, Aniagwu revealed that Chief Clark and some other leaders had favored a different candidate in the election, but Governor Okowa’s performance and the credibility of the current Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, led to their defeat. Aniagwu emphasized that the people of Delta, across 21 out of 25 local government areas, overwhelmingly voted for Governor Oborevwori due to the achievements of Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa and the trustworthiness demonstrated by Oborevwori during his six years of service in the State House of Assembly.
Dismissing Chief Clark’s allegations as politically motivated, Aniagwu reminded the public that the elder statesman had been a staunch supporter of Okowa throughout his tenure as governor. He highlighted the elder statesman’s previous acknowledgment of the administration’s successes and milestones achieved, particularly in the creeks and coastal communities.
Aniagwu stressed that, at his age, Chief Clark should engage in discussions that contribute to the progress of the state instead of spreading stories that are influenced by individuals with ulterior motives. He firmly rejected Clark’s accusation regarding the amendment of the DESOPADEC law to favor a specific ethnic group, clarifying that the law was amended to improve the governance structure of the commission. Aniagwu provided concrete examples of the commission’s accomplishments, such as the construction of roads, bridges, jetties, and schools in various communities.
Furthermore, Aniagwu pointed out that Governor Okowa has made extensive visits to the creeks and oil-producing communities in the state, surpassing the efforts of any previous leader. He highlighted infrastructure projects, such as the construction of the Trans-Warri Road with 19 bridges to Ode-Itsekiri, and the implementation of storm drainages in Warri and surrounding areas, which have effectively mitigated the destructive impact of floods and enabled road reconstruction.
Aniagwu also highlighted the Okowa administration’s commitment to improving access to higher education by establishing three new universities and upgrading existing institutions. He proudly noted that throughout the eight-month ASUU strike, all four universities in the state remained operational, as the state government fulfilled the demands of the schools, akin to their federal counterparts.
He affirmed his administration’s pride in their eight years of governance and assured the public of their willingness to provide an account of their achievements whenever necessary.
