Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta has tasked political leaders to always speak the truth at all times and stop lying to their followers.

The governor gave the charge while receiving some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal Constituency, who defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at Government House, Asaba.

He said that as leaders, the onus lies on them to speak truth to their followers always and not to tell them lies because of the quest for political power.

Mr Okowa was reacting to a statement credited to Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, a chieftain of the APC in the state, who had made some scathing remarks about his administration’s performance in Delta.

“What I am trying to emphasise is that only recently, one of our brothers sitting very high up there at the Senate, lied to the people of Delta,” Mr Okowa stated. “I usually don’t like to talk about people, but for the Deputy Senate President, to make comments that he knows that is not true, is a very unfortunate thing.

Mr Okowa asserted that “only a blind man will look through Delta and say that under the current circumstance that this administration is not doing well.”

He narrated that with the current financial burden besetting the state, his government has churned out activities in peace building, development of infrastructure, health services, education, human capital development, and entrepreneurship programmes.

 “It has been acknowledged that we are doing well. With all that is being done, somebody out there says there is nothing being done?” The governor queried. “It is wrong for people in high offices to send a wrong message to the people.

Mr Okowa emphasised that leaders must shun partisan mischief and work assiduously to attract development to their people.

“Wherever development comes from to our state, it is in the best interest of our state; whether you are of any political party or not, and for those who do not belong to any party, do your best to attract development to our state because our people will benefit from them.”

Mr Okowa said that no amount of mendacious lies would derail or trivialise the rescue mission of the PDP, his party.

Earlier, Sylvester Ogokunu, a leader of the APC delegation, said that the group was established in November, 2020, adding that they decided to return to the PDP to contribute their quota to enable the governor finish strong.

He noted that both returning and fresh members of the APC decided to join the PDP because of the governor’s leadership style that has distinguished him across the nation.

The PDP State Chairman, Kingsley Esiso, Delta North Chairman of the party, Deacon Moses Iduh, State Secretary, Engineer Daniel Ossai, and Political Adviser to the Governor, Chief Isaac Anwuzia, were on hand to receive the new members. 

(NAN)