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By Oscar Okhifo
Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressive Congress (APC), now chieftain of People Democratic party (PDP) Timi Frank, said on Wednesday that the former two-term Governor of Delta state , Senator Ifeanyi Okowa lobbied and begged profusely to be accepted as the running mate to Atiku Abubakar in the 2023 Presidential election.
Recall that Okowa, after his recent defection with Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to APC said in an interview that he regretted accepting to be the running mate to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2023.
Responding to the claim, Frank in a statement on Wednesday, said even though he is of the opinion that Okowa may not have said so, the fact that the former governor has not debunked the claim after over 24 hours shows he wasn’t misquoted.
Frank said it was therefore very necessary to set the records straight in order not to distort history or mislead Nigerians concerning how Okowa emerged as running mate to Atiku in 2023.
Okowa’s position was an afterthought since he was not only desperate to be Atiku’s running mate but fought , begged on all fours and lobbied to be accepted.
“It is understandable that Okowa is fighting the battle of his life to evade prosecution by the EFCC over corruption allegations against him, but to make Nigerians believe that he now “regrets” taking up the position of vice Presidential candidate of the PDP in 2023 is not only an afterthought but cowardice in full bloom”
“We know how Okowa begged, fought and lobbied to get the position,” he said.
He further described Okowa as a serial liar and betrayer, adding that his recent defection to the ruling party has shown him as a very unstable and treacherous character who suffers from gross integrity deficit and as one who is principally driven by parochial survival instincts.
He said rather than Okowa claiming to be regretful, the PDP should curse the day it was deceived by Okowa’s large army of lobbyists who convince the party to invest part of its future in a politically hollow, unfruitful and unprofitable character.
Frank said, “This is not Okowa’s first attempt as a high level betrayal. The tale of how he stabbed ex-GovernorJames Ibori, his erstwhile godfather, in the back because of power is still fresh in our memory.
“Many of us know how Okowa emerged as Vice Presidential candidate which he was not meant to be because few of us never wanted him because we believed he did not have the capacity and experience to become vice president.”
Frank said he was one of those who doubted Okowa’s competence and trustworthiness. Hence his(Frank’s) preference for Nyesom Wike the current Minister of FCT.
“I’m one of those who felt strongly that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, was a better candidate than Okowa as at that time. But because of the interest of some leaders and elders of the party at that time who were at Okowa’s behest , they were able to lobby and pressurized Atiku to pick him.
“Therefore, Okowa lacks the rectitude to play victim or feign regret over a job and position he desperately wanted.
“We are still of the opinion that if Wike had emerged in place of Okowa in 2023 as running mate to Atiku, perhaps PDP would be in government at the national level today. But we lost out apparently because of the choice of this ungrateful Okowa who never brought real value or political capital to the table.
“Even as a sitting governor and a vice-presidential candidate, his party, PDP, lost Delta state during the last presidential election and because of his emptiness and lack of electoral value his present voyage would equally not benefit the APC.
“I dare say that with his lack of capacity and value, Okowa would remain a liability because even with him in APC, the party would still lose Delta state in 2027 like PDP did in 2023 with Okowa was a sitting governor.”
Frank who is currently the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Ambassador to East Africa and Middle East, said, with the desperation of President Tinubu to remain in office in 2027, APC will accept even criminals into its fold.
“With the likes of Okowa joining APC, it shows the party is now a dumping ground for looters. Okowa did not join the APC because he believed Asiwaju has delivered or that the party is working but because of his atrocities now being investigated by the EFCC.
“However, Nigerians and the international community will watch if the anti-graft agency will soft pedal on his probe because he is now singing: ‘Tinubu, On Your Mandate We Shall Stand,’” he added.
Frank said Atiku was oblivious of Okowa’s treachery when he picked him adding that the choice even affected his (Atiku’s) long standing relationship with former Governor James Ibori who had advised him against the choice of Okowa.
“In fact, Atiku did not know that behind Okowa’s calm mien was a betrayer and an ingrate. It is only God and posterity that will judge Okowa at the end of the day for making Atiku lose the 2023 presidential election because of his unpopularity,” he declared.
He further added that neither Atiku as a person nor PDP as a party would miss Okowa now that he and his former godson, now Governor of Delta State, Hon Sheriff Oborevwori are holding the brooms and dancing shamelessly to APC rhythms.