N150bn bridging finance not a fresh loan, but an advance – Okowa

Says PDP Primary would be fair, transparent and credible

Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa has said that the N150 billion “Bridging Finance” facility which the state is sourcing from Zenith Bank was not a fresh loan but an advance from the N270 billion owed the state by the Federal Government.

Okowa disclosed this on Thursday during the quarterly media briefing at the Press Centre, Government House, Asaba.

He said that the N150 billion had been tied to projects embarked upon by his administration and his predecessor, explaining that the reason people questioned the approval of the facility by the House of Assembly was due to a lack of information.

He pointed out that his administration would not take any decision that will jeopardise the peace, unity and overall transformation of the state.

Governor Okowa equally used the forum to debunk rumours of his endorsement of any aspirant in all elective positions ahead of the 2023 general elections, promising that the primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would be fair, transparent and credible.

“I have not endorsed any aspirant for any elective positions in the forthcoming general elections in the country. We shall provide a free, fair, transparent and credible party primary,” the governor said.

On the allegation that he hijacked the list of delegates, he described it as the handiwork of mischief makers, stressing that those who were out to derail the process did not succeed.

For those criticising the policies and programmes of his administration, Okowa advised them to be factual and assured them that nothing would derail him from fulfilling all his electioneering campaign promises.

Meanwhile, the governor cautioned political office holders to speak truth to power at all times, irrespective of party affiliation.

He said the allegation of N2 billion allegedly spent on political appointees was untrue, and dismissed the statement as “most unfortunate”.

Okowa also called on Deltans to place a high premium on the protection of public infrastructure in the state.

He noted that the level of vandalism of public infrastructure in the state was quite alarming, adding that community leaders should join hands with the state government to ensure that the ugly trend was nipped in the bud.

According to him, recent events had clearly shown that furniture and other valuable items in primary and secondary schools have become targets for vandals, pointing out that the situation was quite unfortunate.

“The issue of vandalism of public infrastructure is very disturbing at the moment. I want to appeal to our young ones who indulge in such acts to desist from it.

“People coming to destroy windows, ceilings and other infrastructure in government facilities in the state was unacceptable.

“Government cannot police all the schools in the state; there is a need for community leaders and other stakeholders to partner with government in protecting public infrastructure,” the governor said.

On Warri Uvwie and Environs Development Agency (WUEDA), the governor promised to look at what is happening in the agency with a view to ensuring that all is well.

He pointed out that a lot was being done about the security situation in Warri, adding that his administration was doing everything within the limit of available resources to deliver the much-needed dividends of democracy to Deltans.

Justifying the establishment of three new state-owned universities in the state, the governor said over 4,500 students have been offered admission in the new universities which, according to him, had helped bridge the admission gap in the state.

On the 2023 presidential election, the governor said he has not been led to run for the presidency of the country even though there was a lot of pressure on him to run from different parts of the country.

“I have not been led to run for the presidency of the country in the 2023 general elections even though there is a lot of pressure on me to run from different parts of the country,” he added.

Meanwhile, the governor urged journalists in the state to join hands with his administration in preaching peace and sensitising the people against indiscriminate dumping of refuse in drainage channels across the state.

Earlier in his remarks, the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu noted that journalists in the state have been very supportive in propagating the policies and programmes of the state government, even as he urged them to sustain the tempo of partnership.

In his speech, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Delta State Council, Comrade Michael Ikeogwu expressed appreciation to governor Okowa for what the state government had done in the secretariat of the union in the state.