By Collins Agwam The All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate in the last general elections and his counterpart in Labour Party (LP), Olorogun O’Tega Emerhor and Great Ogboru respectively should apologise to Deltans for distracting them with legal battles they knew were not justifiable, Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has said.
He made the call on Tuesday in Asaba at a thanksgiving service held shortly after the Supreme Court upheld his election as duly elected Governor of Delta State.
Flanked by his wife, Dame Edith, his Deputy and his wife, Kingsley Otuaro and Engr. Ebi respectively, Okowa said the duo of Olorogun Emerhor and Ogboru knew they did not win in the elections, yet, they went to the Elections Petition Tribunal to the Court of Appeal and then, to the Supreme Court, subjecting Deltans and lovers of the state to uncertainties.
“It is time to forgive and move on, I also believe that my opponents, Olorogun O’tega and Chief Ogboru should apologise to all Deltans, because, they knew the people’s choice but, they just wanted to go through this legal process,” he said, reiterating, “I have forgiven them but, I think they need to apologise to Deltans because, they distracted the people.”
He added, “we should forgive them, it is time to love ourselves, see ourselves as brothers and sisters fighting solely for the common good of our people; it is time for us to break away from the past, to begin a new partnership; it is time to have a collective approach to governance – community governance because, on our part, we promise to carry every one along in love and unity.”
Governor Okowa disclosed that he was not disturbed as the legal battle lasted as he had confidence in God and the fact that the people overwhelmingly voted for him, asserting that he defeated his opponents in their homes.
Earlier in a sermon, the Chaplain, Government House Chapel, Ven. Charles Osemenam said, “we are celebrating the unity among us, we are celebrating love among Deltans, God never fails and with God, all things are possible, God is doing great things in our state.”
