Elder statesman, nationalist, and head of the Ijaws in the Niger Delta from Nigeria, Chief Edwin Clark, has accused Ifeanyi Okowa, the outgoing governor of Delta State, of using public funds to support Atiku Abubakar’s campaign for president in 2023.
This information was revealed by Chief Clark during an interview with Reuben Abati that was broadcast live on Arise Television.
He described how Okowa convened the 17 governors of the southern area for a meeting when it was decided to promote and endorse a candidate from the region for the president.
According to Clark, Okowa disregarded the meeting’s decision by endorsing Atiku’s campaign rather than a southern candidate.
His words:
“A meeting of the 17 governors of the south. He provided accommodation for every one of them. They drafted the communique supervised by him and gave it to Akeredolu (ondo state governor) to read.
“Then they all went to Lagos to confirm it, they went to Enugu to confirm it. Not knowing that the same Okowa was spending our money on Atiku.”
Chief Clark added that Okowa deceived and betrayed his colleagues as he described the former Delta State governor as quiet, deceptive, and crafty.
He said:
“He deceived his colleagues…only to team up with Atiku to betray us. All the governors know about that. He’s a man who is very ambitious, quiet, giving a wrong impression about himself that he’s a very good man, very crafty man.”