Okowa, Not a betrayal; Edwin Clark and fellow travellers should shun egoism~ Goodluck Osama Ogbeide

_Would Clark had rejected the VP slot if he was nominated, or would he had complained if Wike had gotten the VP slot? Sentiments in our region_

Popular Nigerian Author and Public Affairs Analyst who hails from Edo State, Comrade Goodluck Osama Ogbeide has reacted to the attack by The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders on the Executive Governor of Delta State, His Excellency, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, for accepting his nomination as the running mate to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the forthcoming 2023 general elections.

Ogbeide said, "I read the acrimonious statement of some Southern and midwest leaders as they disdained in entirety  Okowa's emergence as the running mate to PDP's  Atiku. The grievances and accusation being contained in a statement signed by leaders of four groups which include Chief Edwin Clark,  Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF); Chief Ayo Adebanjo, leader of Afenifere, Dr. Dru Bitrus, the President-General, Middle Belt Forum, Prof. George Obiozor, the President-General, Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide"

The statement read in part, “It bears recalling that the 17 governors of the Southern states of Nigeria, both of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), under     Chairmanship of the Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, met in Asaba, the capital of Delta State on May 11, 2021, and took far-reaching decisions, including that, based on the principles of fairness, equity and justice, the presidency should rotate to the South at the end of the statutory eight years of President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure.

The statement continued, “And this very Governor Okowa was the host of that historic meeting. The Southern governors later met again in Lagos, on July 5, where they reaffirmed their decision, and again in Enugu, on September 16, to restate the call that the presidency should rotate to the South in 2023.

“It is unspeakable and quite disappointing that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, who is currently Chairman of the South-South Governors’ Forum, and a native of Owa-Alero in Ika North-East Local Government Area (one of the Igbo-speaking areas) of Delta State, would exhibit such barefaced unreliability.

“It is, therefore, most unfortunate that the Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa who should know better, accepted his appointment as running mate to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. We do not have anything personal against Ifeanyi Okowa but his action is treacherous and tantamount to a despicable pawning of the political future of the people of Southern Nigeria.

Statement continued “Governor Okowa has, by his action, betrayed the trust reposed on him by his colleagues; the southern governors, the entire good people of southern Nigeria and all well-meaning Nigerians. He has made himself persona non grata, not only, with SMBLF but all citizens who treasure our oneness and yearn for a more united and peaceful Nigeria”

Ogbeide added "It is obvious that the group are chasing shadows and empty wind. My question is, where was the Southern and midwest group when Atiku picks the presidential ticket? Was Okowa also the cause?  Would Edwin Clark reject the VP slot if he had been nominated?  Or would he has complained if his Son had gotten the VP slot? The answers to this crucial questions seal our further speculation. It is high time we started shunning politics of bitterness and egoism. It is obvious Clark as an Elderstateman is not fair with the juxtaposition. Would he had complained if Gov . Nyesom Wike had won the VP slot, offcourse No. Lets avoid sentiments and work for Atiku's emergence"

In conclusion, the award winning Author said, "The statement by southern leaders is strictly an aberration upon the southern youths which believes in development of the region and not for selected few whom are in for their personal gains, haven siphoned  the region's resources with their mortgaged closed door socio- political groups.