The good, the bad and the ugly about Atiku Abubakar’s VP, Ifeanyi Okowa

Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike and his Akwa Ibom State counterpart Udom Emmanuel are on the dark side of the choice of the PDP vice presidency.

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state has been selected to be Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s second in command. So what does it hold for the polity?

Mr Atiku introduced his deputy with pleasure on Twitter, who he is hopeful will assist in propelling the party to victory in the forthcoming general elections at all levels.

“He will be by my side as I work daily to provide our people with security, revive our economy, improve education and unite our country. He has both Legislative and Executive experiences”, he said about Okowa.

“Please join me in welcoming to the ticket the next Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Governor Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa,” Mr Abubakar furthered via Twitter on Thursday.

THE GOOD ABOUT OKOWA

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa is not a neophyte in governance. He rose from the Secretary of the Ika Local Government to the then Chairman of the Ika North-East Local Government Council between 1991 and 1993.

For a man who joined the PDP in 1998, the upsurge to the post of commissioner in the Delta State Ministries of Agriculture and Natural Resources (July 1999 – April 2001), Water Resource Development (April 2001 – May 2003) and Health (September 2003 – October 2006) is a positive one can pick from a capable hand.

He also became a senator in 2011, fighting and winning intense battles. Dr Okowa had also been appointed the Secretary to the Delta State Government.

The ovation became louder for the University of Ibadan graduate. He became the governor in 2015 and was reelected in 2019.

The enviable antecedent foretels that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa is not like an uninformed man cutting trees in the forest at night if the PDP climbs the mantle of leadership in 2023.

THE BAD

Not long after Dr Okowa was announced as Atiku’s VP, Delta Centre for Integrity and Good Governance came after him.

They asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to investigate an alleged payment of $3 million between him and some senior officials of the Peoples Democratic Party as part of lobby efforts to clinch the party’s 2023 Vice President’s slot.

If this allegation is true, victory might not be close for Nigeria. If the second in command lobbied evidently to clinch the ticket, he might not be up to the task expected of him in office if his party emerges.

According to public commentators, governance has come with a mixed bag in the last eight years. But, whether good or bad, it may be detrimental for a country trying hard to pick its rhythm to build around irresponsible leadership.

THE UGLY

Following the announcement of Governor Okowa, A former commissioner for Information in Edo State, Kassim Afegbua, gave a notice that he would be leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

It means that many other party stakeholders might also vacate the party. The development will likely truncate the party’s chances at the polls next year.

Additionally, feelers in the party had voiced out that Governor Okowa is not the strongest force that can give the victory they desire. By the way, they feel that one of the other contenders fits the position more than the two-term Delta state governor.

According to a PDP chieftain in Oyo state who spoke to this reporter but preferred to remain anonymous, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar went for Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to other contenders because of the docility of Okowa’s character.

“Atiku Abubakar was once a VP, and he knows how it is run. So he would always want to work with someone he has at least 75% control over”, the source added that the other two contenders might be difficult to boss around.

The polity is heated, and the presidential election is as close as we expect. Keep in touch with News Live Nigeria as we serve you with every intrigue surrounding the crucial period.