Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, the immediate former governor of Delta State, has vehemently denied claims that he embezzled N1.3 trillion in oil derivation funds while in office.
He claimed that the charges are baseless and the result of petty political ambitions rather than a sincere desire for responsibility.
Such accusations, according to Okowa, are a part of a larger plan to damage his reputation and divert attention away from the accomplishments of his administration.
As he feels he has served the people of Delta State with integrity and dedication during his time in office, he said he is not worried about his invitation from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and expressed confidence that he would come out of the investigation unscathed.
He reaffirmed his dedication to openness and responsibility, claiming that Deltans always benefited from his decisions as governor. Throughout this process, Okowa is confident that the truth will come to light and that his reputation will be maintained.
Okowa spoke when he received the leadership of Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, at his residence in Asaba.
He said: “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 state’s revenue was insufficient to cover salaries during the first three years we were in office, which were 2015, 2016, and 2017.”
“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. I know that the governor of the state has a lot to offer this state, so let me reassure you that I will continue to support him and the UPU as much as I can. The former governor added.
Published by Ejoh Caleb
