2023 Presidency: Mixed reactions trail Okowa’s selection as Atiku’s VP
…Ohanaeze vows to vote against PDP
Following the announcement of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as the Vice Presidential Candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party, reactions have continued to trail the nomination of Governor Okowa.
Recall that the Party’s Presidential Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa emerged as the running mate of the Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar for the 2023 election.
Delta State PDP yesterday promised to pull the maximum votes needed to deliver the party at the Federal level in the 2023 general elections.
In a congratulatory message to Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, incumbent Governor of Delta State on his emergence as the PDP Vice Presidential Candidate, on the joint ticket with His Excellency, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, as Presidential Candidate for the 2023 general elections, the leadership of Delta PDP, Barr. Kingsley Esiso hailed the choice as well-merited and described it as a tremendous call to service, in the quest by the PDP to rescue Nigeria from the suffocating leadership of All Progressives Congress, APC, in 2023.
Former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, said the choice of Ifeanyi Okowa as running mate to Atiku Abubakar, gives the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) an extra advantage in the forthcoming presidential election.
Ekweremadu made this assertion in a brief statement on his official Facebook page where he joined party leaders, party faithful, and supporters in congratulating Governor Okowa on his emergence as the vice presidential candidate.
“This is a sound choice by our presidential flag bearer, H.E Atiku Abubakar and our party.
“No doubt, Okowa bringing the PDP ticket is highly resourceful and he is prepared for the office of the VP,” Ekweremadu stated.
In addition, the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has congratulated his Delta State counterpart, Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa on his emergence as the running mate to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
Obaseki, in a statement, said Okowa’s emergence will translate to victory for the party in the forthcoming elections.
“I heartily congratulate you, my friend and brother, His Excellency, Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa on your emergence as the Vice Presidential candidate of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“An energetic grassroots mobiliser; Okowa, a two-time governor, senator and commissioner, has the needed experience that would guarantee victory for our party in 2023 elections in our bid to rescue the country and place it on the path of progress and prosperity.
“As we embark on this all-important mission to rescue Nigeria, we must now all work together in unity, as a people and party, to reclaim our country,” the Governor charged.
Former minister of Aviation and member of the Peoples Democratic Party shared his thoughts in an interview about choices made by the party on their representatives in the next presidential elections.
When asked how the party felt about choosing Ifeanyi Okowa as the Vice President flag bearer and not his counterparts.
Chidoka said, “Though he’s not part of the process that chose Okowa but he could see there’s a wide acceptability amongst the party people, of course his counterpart would be disappointed.
“Okowa being a party man, he was the chairman of the electoral panel and he shows great interest in the party and is not new to leadership. He started from the grassroots to the level he is now so his appointment was highly welcomed.”
Chidoka continued by saying the choice was a strategic one as Okowa being an Igbo in the south-south and being present in politics is an interesting fact, looking beyond the geopolitics is also the fact of what he brings to the table.
Using Delta state as an example on how Ifeanyi Okowa would balance diversities he said, “Delta state used to be a hot zone for rivalry but during Okowa’s reign as Governor, Delta has been a peaceful state interestingly.
“There’s nothing we need in Nigeria other than making a peaceful and harmonised country by managing our diversity which the opposition party, All Progressives Congress (APC) has damaged,” he said.
He moved on by saying, promotion of peace is critical for nation building,Okowa brings a very interesting array of experiences being a Senator, Local Government Chairman, Commissioner, Governor and now aiming to be the Vice President of the federation.”
He believes Okowa would represent the grassroots since he has been there and knows how it is.
“We have here a Vice President who has executive experience and lastly his resumé as a person, from his school certificate being an all A student and becoming a medical student at the age of 22. In all he thinks he’s a good ticket for his party.”
Lastly, having asked how he thinks his party candidate would pull it off at the elections since they are competing with candidates respectively from larger political zones, the south-west and North west, he stated that it’s up to the people to decide and PDP has their winning strategy which he’s not obliged to share but the vote is up to the people’s interest and not about how strong a geopolitical zone is.
Using the 1997 election as an example he rounded up by saying, that the candidate with the most acceptability and party with the best movement across the nation and creating a one Nigeria momentum is most important.
However, the apex Igbo Organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has reacted to the emergence of Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa as the running mate of the Party’s 2023 flag-bearer, Atiku Abubakar.
The group, in a statement made available to Nigerian NewsDirect yesterday said that Atiku will lose the 2023 general elections for selecting Okowa.
The statement signed by Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, the group’s Secretary-General, Okowa’s selection has sentenced PDP to ‘extinction’ in 2023.
It read in part; “Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide has described the nomination of Delta State Governor as the PDP running mate to Atiku Abubakar as a chaotic selection for a party not ready to win the 2023 elections.
“Ifeanyi Okowa is a minus for Atiku, as his choice will decline PDP’s fortunes in Delta and Southern Nigeria, a man who misled the Southern Governors agenda will never be trusted for the votes of Ndigbo. Igbos will never vote Atiku and Okowa.”
Southeast knows the political directions to go in 2023, but certainly not the PDP.
“Ndigbo will decide the political direction to go but not the PDP, for shunning the southeast, Atiku will face the consequences of his actions.”
