No Room Anymore in PDP for Cairo Ojougboh, Says Okowa

The rift between  Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, and his kinsman and former National Deputy Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Cairo Ojougboh, is apparently far from being over as the governor said he was not bothered if Ojougboh did not return to the PDP.

Okowa gave the hint while advising members of the party to encourage those who left the PDP to return as the party consolidates on its predominance in the state towards the forthcoming local government election as well as the 2019 governorship and other elections.

Speaking at Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area, in continuation of the flag-off of the PDP campaign for the January 6, 2018 council polls in the state, Okowa however stressed that “only one man” was not welcome back to the fold of the PDP in the state.

Making further clarification on his position that the offer of the olive branch would not be extended to the former chieftain of the party, Ojougboh, who also hails from Ika South but who about two months ago defected to the APC, the governor emphasized that he was indeed ashamed of Ojougboh on account of his comments about the state's 2017 budget.

Still on the controversial statement by Ojougboh that Governor Okowa was operating a "blank budget", the Governor noted, "Imagine his statement about the budget! Such unintelligent statement coming from a man who was in school, where he was supposed to have learnt things like what a budget is.

"Some people think I was angry because of his unintelligent comments, but I wasn't really angry; I was actually ashamed of him (Ojougboh).

Nonetheless, Okowa said he was elated at the unprecedented turnout of party faithful at the council election rallies at Ika South, Ika North-East and Aniocha South, and indeed all the six areas so far visited for the flag-off, saying the PDP has put paid to claims that any other party existed in Delta State.

While congratulating PDP supporters in his native Ika North East who thronged the Government Model College, Owa-Oyibu to receive his entourage, Okowa dared other political parties to show evidence of their strength, saying the mammoth crowds clearly indicated that the PDP was not only ready to sweep the council polls come January but set for his own reelection in 2019 as well.

He however stressed that more women should be allowed into all 25 local government councils in line with the decision of the PDP  leadership that each council should have at least three women.