CSOs, Polytechnic students, others, reject alleged fresh N120 billion Loan request by Okowa

Thousands of Deltans, Civil Society Organizations, CSOs, Polytechnic students and other concerned Deltans, on Monday February 6, protested against Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa led administration in Delta State, rejecting the N120billion loan purportedly applied for by Dr. Okowa.

Highlights of the Protest;

The protesters, carried banners with inscriptions such as; "We reject Sheriff and the More loans Agenda", “Loans to buy votes, Deltans Beware", “Deltans reject Okowa more loans, No Development", “Any Bank Giving Okowa loans, should be prepared for Court Case May 29th", “If you release loan, we will make this state ungovernable", and “Do not mortgage our future and that of our Children with loans from your Premium Trust Bank".

Our Principal Correspondent, reports that the protesters, expressed displeasure over the loan request of Dr. Okowa, describing it as a move to mortgage the future of Deltans in a new bank, few months to the expiration of his tenure.

Speaking to newsmen during the peaceful protest held at Federal University of Petroleum Resources, FUPRE Junction in Ugbomro, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State, President of Urhobo Progressive Union, UPU, Youth Wing, Dr. Kelly Efemena Umukoro, wondered if the state is sponsoring Dr. Okowa’s Vice Presidential ambition with Delta State fund.

Dr. Kelly Umukoro, addressing newsmen

He opined that for almost eight years as Governor of Deltan State, Dr. Okowa was able to build just one flyover, “without any tangible development”.

According to Dr. Umukoro, increments of Delta State University School fees by Governor Okowa, has brought too much pains on the people, amid the huge monthly allocation due to the state from the Federation account and Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, “yet the governor is still going for more loans”.

One of the banners carried by the protesters

He warned that any bank that gives loan to Dr. Okowa’s administration, “is doing so at its detriment”, describing such loan as giveaway, “because he (Dr. Okowa) has not used the money available to him judiciously”.

“Any bank that gives more loans to Okowa, should be ready to face legal action May 29, 2023 when Okowa’s tenure will end”, he cautioned.

The President, Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, CDHR, Dr. Kehinde Prince Taiga, who also addressed newsmen, accused Governor Okowa of maladministration and waste of the state’s resources.

Another protester, Comrade Emmanuel Onoriode, pointed out that Delta State University, DELSU, school fees was 25 thousand naira per session, before Okowa came on board as Delta State Governor, accusing the Ika-Born Delta State Chief Executive, of increasing the school fees to 250 thousand Naira per annum.

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