Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and former First Republic Federal Commissioner for Information Chief Edwin Clark clashed publicly on Thursday. In an open letter dated 2 February 2023, titled “Your dictatorial government and the reign of unaccountability in Delta State,” Clark warned Okowa that his ambition to become the nation’s next vice‑president would not succeed. Okowa is the running mate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar.
Clark’s letter, released to journalists in Abuja, demanded that Okowa apologise to colleagues in both the All Progressives Congress and the PDP for agreeing to serve as Atiku’s running mate. He also gave the governor until 29 May to account for the ₦250 billion 13 percent derivation fund that he allegedly received from the federal government, a claim first raised by River State Governor Nyesom Wike. Failure to provide an explanation, Clark warned, would result in court action.
Accusing Okowa of betraying southern governors, Clark wrote, “Today I say with certainty that you are more dictatorial than any military administrator who has governed Delta State since its creation in 1991. I can therefore understand why you have deliberately and immorally betrayed your colleagues of Southern Nigeria and the people for your selfish ambition by wanting to land on safer ground by accepting to serve as running mate to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. No, by God’s grace, your prayer will not be answered. Perhaps you have forgotten the gravity of the offence you have committed against the people of Southern Nigeria.” He further alleged that Okowa had instructed Delta State delegates not to vote for Governors Nyesom Wike (Rivers) or Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom) during last year’s PDP presidential primaries, directing them instead to support Atiku. The Southern and Middle‑Belt Leaders Forum, Clark noted, had resolved to oppose the joint candidacy and would continue to do so until election day.
In response, Okowa, speaking through his Chief Press Secretary Mr Olise Ifeajika, dismissed Clark’s accusations. “If Clark thinks he can take the place of God, we will know whose prayer God will answer,” Okowa said. He questioned Clark’s standing in the PDP and recalled the party’s decision to open the presidential ticket, noting that the Ortom‑led committee had ruled out zoning, which led Peter Obi to leave the party. “By God’s grace, Atiku/Okowa will be in government come 29 May 2023. Okowa never betrayed anybody; he sticks to the party’s decision to throw its ticket open,” he added.
Regarding the 13 percent derivation fund, Okowa pointed to an earlier explanation by State Commissioner for Finance Mr Fidelis Tilije, who detailed how every kobo of the fund was being spent. He asserted that the Okowa administration had been transparent in its financial management.
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