Members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ughelli Local Government Area, Delta State, has disclosed that the refusal of Delta State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Chief Great Ogboru, to engage in a debate with the PDP’s governorship candidate, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, is a sign that he had already lost the election.
The members made the disclosure during the flag-off of PDP campaign in Ughelli Township Stadium on Thursday.
They said under normal circumstances, Ogboru should have used the call to a debate to showcase to the people of the state what he would do should he become Governor of Delta State, but lost the opportunity because he has no plan for the development of the state.
They said Ogboru’s refusal to debate was a sign of defeat and pointer to the fact that he has nothing to offer the people.
They also wondered how Ogboru could dismiss a chance to project his intentions to the people he claims he so much loves and desires to serve.
The Media and Publicity spokesman of PDP Campaign Organisation in Ughelli Local Government Area, Chief Sunny Onuesoke spoke on behalf of the PDP members.
“Ogboru turned down the offer of debate because he has no programme or what we called in our undergraduate days ‘manifestoes’.
“If you cannot express yourself and tell the people what you have for them, how do you expect them to cast their votes for you?
“How do you expect them to know what you want to offer them should you become governor of the state?” Onuesoke enquired.
As for becoming the Governor of Delta State, he advised Ogboru to start his political career from lower cadres and move upwards, stressing that he does not have the political structure to win the governorship race.
“There are factors that help one to become governor, not Okada and Keke riders. There is no way APC can take over Delta State from PDP. Politics is all about structure. APC or Ogboru does not have the structure in Delta State.
“Besides, with the good performance of Okowa in the state, APC’s dream of taking over Delta State is a figment of their own imagination,” he said.
Chief Onuesoke accused Ogboru and his APC followers of being only interested in taking over the rein of leadership in the state without having any plans for the people.
The PDP chieftain explained that the heavy crowd that witnessed the PDP flag off was a testimony that Okowa was soaring higher and higher because of his numerous achievements in the state, adding that it was an evidence that no party could take over the state from PDP.
He advised the people of Delta State to cast their votes for Okowa and other PDP contestants because of what the party has achieved in the past and the goodies expected in the future.
According to him, ”It is a fact that Okowa has performed excellently well in the last three and a half years. Despite financial constraint, he has been able to stretch development to all nooks and crannies of the state.
“Name it, is it construction of good roads, provision of health facilities, industrialization, provision of jobs or qualitative education?
“Deltans got all through Okowa just under three and half years. He should be given another four years to enable him to complete the good work he has started.”
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