By Correspondent in Abuja.
(L-R). Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
The presidential candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for 2023 electíon, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has announced the Governor of Delta State, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa as his running mate.
He made the announcement on Thursday at the at PDP National Headquarters, Wadata Plaza, Wuse, Abuja.
Abubakar said his decision on Okowa was based on his wide consultations with the governors of the party and its other stakeholders.
He said: “In arriving at the decision, I held wide consultations with various stakeholders in our party, including our Governors, National Working Committee, Board of Trustees, and other leaders to seek their inputs and their wisdom.
“In these consultations, I made clear that my running mate would have the potential to succeed me at a moment’s notice, that is, a President-in-waiting.
“With the convention behind us, we have arrived at the stage for me to pick a Running Mate, because this is a joint ticket. I am very happy to announce today that I have reached a decision on that.
“In other words, the person must have the qualities to be President.
“He must understand the great suffering that most of our people are going through and the urgency of relieving them of that suffering; understands the critical importance of economic growth and development to provide our young people with jobs, hope, and a pathway to wealth.
“The person must appreciate the critical importance of education in the development of modern societies so we can prepare our young people to be able to compete in the increasingly competitive and globalized world.
“My running mate must understand that without security, development will be very difficult because local and foreign investors who have been scared away already, would not return to invest in our economy.
” Thus, my running mate will be a person who will stand by me as I confront the frightening level of insecurity in our land.
“My running mate has to be ready to start working with me, from day one, in addressing our country’s challenges. Nigerians will not accept anything less.
“He is a serving State Governor who has demonstrated, in his State and through his conduct, that governance is about service to the people.
“Please join me in welcoming to the ticket the next Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Governor Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa.”
The PDP Presidential candidate commended the Party for organizing and concluding, “arguably, the best and rancour-free Convention”, which produced him as its flag-bearer for the next year’s Presidential Election.
He also gave kudos to his fellow aspirants in the contest, for their sportsmanship, adding that they put up spirited fights because they cared and cared for Nigeria.
Atiku,who said he personally went round to thank them, solicited their cooperation for the struggle ahead.
He noted that PDP unity remained critical, not only for the members of the party to prosecute a winning campaign, but also provide good governance that Nigeria “seriously deserves and our people earnestly yearn for.”
Abubakar, who noted that the task of winning the coming elections would be a tough one, urged members not to take anything for granted.
“Today in Nigeria, we face huge challenges which leave us little room for drama. We have to win the elections and get to work immediately.,” he said.
According to Manpower.com.ng,Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa was born on 8th July 1959, into a Christian family in Owa-Alero, Ika North-East Local Government Area Delta State.
He attended Iroro Primary School, Owa Alero (1965-1969), and later enrolled at the prestigious Edo College, Benin City, from where he obtained the West Africa School Certificate (1974) and Higher School Certificate (1976).
Later, he proceeded to the University of Ibadan, Oyo State, where he qualified as a medical Doctor in June 1981.
Before then, he did his internship with the Central Hospital, Benin City (1981-1982), and thereafter, completed his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) with the Primary Health Care Department in Ahiazu-Mbaise Local Government Council, Imo State (1982-1983).
Dr. Okowa was employed by the Bendel State Hospitals Management Board in 1983 and worked at the General Hospital, Uromi, and Government Hospital, Igbanke, at different times. He resigned from government service in 1986 to establish Victory Medical Clinics at Igbanke and Boji Boji, Owa.
He ventured into politics in 1991 and became the Secretary of Ika Local Government Council.
With the creation of Ika North East Local Government Area in the same year, he became its pioneer Executive Chairman (1991-1993).
With the truncation of the Third Republic in 1993, Dr Okowa resumed his medical practice but returned to politics in 1998 with the lifting of the ban on politics by the then Military Government.
Since the inception of the Nigerian Fourth Republic in 1999, Senator Okowa has had the privilege of wholesome engagements in the governance of Delta State.
He was Commissioner of Agriculture and Natural Resources (1999-2001), Water Resources Development (2001-2003) and Health (2003-2006).
Dr Okowa resigned in October, 2006 to contest in the election for the office of the Governor, Delta State, on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He was runner-up at the PDP Gubernatorial Primaries, and later led the campaign of the Party as Director-General.
He served as the Secretary of the Government Transition Committee in April/May, 2007, an assignment he also had the privilege to perform in 1999.
In June, 2007, he was appointed Secretary to the State Government (SSG). He resigned in July, 2010 to contest the senatorial election for Delta North Senatorial District, an election he won convincingly.
Senator Dr Okowa was elected the fourth Executive Governor of Delta State on April 11, 2015, and was sworn in on May 29, 2015.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
