The former Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has maintained that those behind the charge that he misappropriated N1.3 trillion in oil derivation monies while in office were driven by mundane political motives.
He said he was not scared by his invitation from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, noting that he was convinced that he would come out clean having served Deltans well as governor.
Okowa said while receiving the leadership of the Urhobo Progress Union, or UPU, at his Asaba house.
He said, “It was a petition written several months ago, but unfortunately, with the politics of our time, some people decided to ensure that Okowa must be invited by EFCC.
“People are genuinely uncomfortable about Okowa and I was actually invited and I went there by myself and the first thing I saw was that they said I misappropriated N1.3 trillion and I said, do you know the kind of money you are talking about?”
“To successfully take N1.3 trillion, it means you have to be taking between N16 billion and N20 billion every month into your pocket. I don’t even know if the President of this country will be able to do that, not to talk of the governor of Delta State.
“They have forgotten that the first in three years we came into office – 2015, 2016, and 2017 – the money that was coming into the state was not even enough to pay salaries at all.
“Some local governments like Ethiope East were owing as much as 15 months salaries and even in the state where some people were getting half salaries. Delta State is the highest salary-paying state in this nation; our salaries grew to the level that salaries and pensions went up to over N11 billion in a month.
“There are some states whose total staff strength is less than 18,000, but here in Delta, we have over 56,000 workers.
“Workers always received their salaries promptly while we also embarked on all the projects that were done, and nobody thinks about it, especially the projects we did in the riverine areas. But I know that the people are not happy with those who wrote the petition.
“Personally, I am not against investigation because the EFCC has to do its job, and I know that I have done everything how it ought to be done.
“For every allegation, they will investigate, and when they have found the truth, they will stop, but for those who sent a wrong communication, it is rather unfortunate.
“I just pray for them because when you allow yourself to be used as a tool when the evil starts to come, the impact will be so much, but I pray that God will forgive them.
“I know that by the special grace of God we have done the things we ought to do to the best of our ability, and by the special grace of God, Governor Oborevwori is beginning to do a lot.
“I believe that by next year he will do a lot more. So, let me assure you that I will continue to support the UPU and the governor of the state as much as I can because I know that he has a lot to offer this state,” Okowa added.
Okowa commended the UPU for its support to him over the years, saying, “I thank the UPU and the Urhobos because they supported me a lot, and they also believe in equity because I always got more votes from them than their sons who contested against me.”
Earlier, Olorogun Ese Gam Owe, the President-General of UPU said the visit was to thank the former Governor for supporting their son, Rt Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, to emerge as Governor of the state.
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
