Ex-Gov Okowa Makes Public Appearance, Plays Down Import of EFCC’s Summon

*Says it’s impossible for gov to divert N1.3trn Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba

Former Delta State governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has appeared at two public events in Asaba, the state capital within 24 hours, putting to rest speculations that he was still an unwilling guest at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The invitation and subsequent detention at the agency’s facility in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, of Okowa for alleged diversion of N1.3 trillion of oil accruals to Delta State headlined most Nigerian media reports in the last few days.
However, Okowa has played down the significance of his quizzing by the EFCC, saying it was laughable that anyone would imagine that a sitting governor could actually siphon or divert public funds to the tune of N1.3 trillion, blaming the petition to EFCC as the handiwork of political adversaries.
Okowa, Tuesday night, was in company with some eminent guests at the service of songs for the departed mother of a prominent politician in the state, Chief Godwill Obielum, including Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, his Deputy, Sir Monday Onyeme and the state chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Solomon Arenyenka.
The Service of Songs took place at the residence of Chief Godwill Obielum on Okpanam Road, Asaba.
Also, Okowa yesterday played host to members of an Urhobo socio-cultural association, who paid him a solidarity and thank-you visit at his Asaba residence.
Addressing the group, who said the visit was to express their appreciation for Okowa’s unflinching support for their illustrious son, Oborevwori, to becoming governor of Delta.
Okowa stressed that he served the state well as the chief executive officer, dismissing claims that he had stolen from the state during his eight years in the saddle as governor.
The former governor, who said it was impossible for any governor to steal such a humongous amount of public funds, noted that he was not worried about the invitation and interrogation by the EFCC.
According to him, the petition the anti-graft agency was acting upon had been written to the agency months earlier, but that he personally took the decision to respond to the petition by going voluntarily to the regional office of the EFCC in Port-Harcourt.
Nonetheless, Okowa expressed unwavering commitment to the unity and equitable development of all parts of Delta State, urging all Deltans to rally behind Oborevwori.
In a related development, Mr Olisa Ifeajika, then chief press secretary to governor Okowa, has made spirited efforts to absolve his former boss, saying the claims of financial wrongdoing against him would fall flat against the overwhelming documented evidence of prudence, accountability and transparency of the Okowa administration.
“Diversion of such mind-boggling amount of money could imply that Okowa did not pay salaries nor embark on projects in the eight years he was the governor of Delta State,” he noted.

Meanwhile, the EFCC has given an indication that Okowa’s travails over the matter were far from being over as the agency had reportedly seized his vital travel documents indefinitely.