Okowa denies marginalizing any ethnic groups in Delta

Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

Delta state government has described as untrue allegations that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s administration is discriminating against Ijaw or any other thnic groups in the state, saying that all the ethnic groups in the state are one family.

Chief Press Secretary to the state governor, Charles Ehiedu Aniagwu in a statement issued in Asaba in reaction to the allegations by former Minister of Niger Delta, Godsday Orubebe that the governor has embarked on marginalization of the Ijaws, among other things, describing it as frivolous and inflammatory laced with pathetic fallacies.

‘Let me make it very clear that the PDP in Delta state is one strong family under the leadership of the state governor and the party remains committed to the development and empowerment of the entire 25 local government areas, and not any particular section,” Aniagwu said

He said that Orubebe as one of the key members of the PDP family, has contributed to the development of the party in the state and had also earned his respect in this regard, regretting that his allegations on the marginalization of the Ijaws, clearly shows he may be far from the reality on ground.

“We do not emphasize ethnic groups in Delta state because we have grown together as one Delta. And we try as much as possible not to emphasize those fault lines of ethnicity because it does not and will not take us anywhere,” he added

The governor’s media aide disclosed that despite difficulties in embarking on projects in the riverine communities, Gov. Okowa within the last four years has been able to reach out to Ijaws communities in the state by embarking on lasting projects, appointing sons and daughters from the riverine communities into his administration and empowering the youth.

“What about Vice President Yemi Osinbajo”s visit to the riverine communities where he commissioned road projects constructed by Gov. Okowa?

We need to educate Orubebe on the following; Oporoza internal roads, Okerenkoko internal roads, Burutu township road, phase one and two, Youbebe – Biniebi Ama Road, Obotobo 1,Sokebo Yokiri Road and many others carried out by the administration of Gov. Okowa,” the aide stated

He dismissed as untrue that Delta state has been taken over by the Ika nation, saying that “I don’t want to believe that what was ascribed to Orubebe that a particular ethnic group is marginalized or the state taken over by Ika nation.”