Delta State  Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, on Monday, urged leaders to speak truth to the people at all times to sustain their credibility in governance.
Okowa gave the charge while receiving All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders and members from Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal Constituency who defected to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at Government House, Asaba.
He stated that as leaders, the onus lay on them to speak truth to their followers always and not to tell them lies because of quest for political power.
The Governor who was referring to a statement credited to Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, said that he was disappointed in the lawmaker’s comment over his administration in Delta State.
“There is a lot going on and we thank God for all that we have seen and all that is going on in Delta.
“What I am trying to emphasise is that only recently, one of our brothers sitting very high up there at the Senate, lied to Deltans.
“I usually don’t like to talk about people, but for the Deputy Senate President, to make comments that he knows that is not true, is a very unfortunate thing.
“The truth is truth and it cannot be hidden; it is only a blind man that will look through Delta and say that under the current circumstance that this administration is not doing well.
“Under the current financial burden that we have in our nation and looking through all the activities of government both in terms of peace building, development of infrastructure and whatever we do in providing services in the health and education sectors, human capital development, and entrepreneurship programmes, it has been acknowledged that we are doing well.
“With all that is being done, somebody out there says there is nothing being done?
“It is wrong for people in high offices to cast a wrong message to the people. I am not going to start comparing myself to the government of APC because whatever I do, I do it out of the fact that the wisdom of God rests upon me and has enabled me to do those things.
“Leaders must learn to communicate right and not to speak lies to their people; even the community he went to speak about in Ughelli South, we are building a bridge across the Orere River.
“That bridge as at the time of the award was N10 billion and the bridge is just a stone throw from where he went to. Construction work is ongoing there day-in, day-out.
“I only wish and pray that rather than make statements that deceive the people, we can all play our roles to attract development from wherever we find ourselves,” he said.
Okowa added that “as a governor, I am doing the best that I can, and as Deputy President of the Senate, I also expect that he will attract the levels of development and not deceive our people.
“That is what we  are supposed to do – to collaborate with each other to work in the best interest of the people.
“Wherever development comes from to our state, it is in the best interest of our state; whether you are of any political party or not, and for those who do not belong to any party, do your best to attract development to our state because our people will benefit from them”.
“Our children will attend the schools developed; so all of us should work hard wherever we find ourselves to strengthen the level of infrastructure and to provide services that will enable our children and our people live more comfortably. That is the kind of thing I expect.”
He restated that no amount of mendacious lies would derail or trivialise the rescue mission of the PDP, saying, “talking about rescuing Nigeria, we are in a very difficult position and everybody knows that there are issues in this country and I believe that the more we talk about it the better for us.
“The more we think about solutions the better for us. I am not a man who rise to speak with vile words; when I make a comment people should always check my comments and the truth will be found in the comments that I make and it is always in the best interest of our nation, Nigeria and the best interest of our state.
“We need help as a nation because the challenges that confront us are high and when we collectively work for the good of this nation.
“I believe that things will be done much better and the people will heave a sigh of relief so it is my prayer that we all collectively work together as a people.”
The governor expressed gratitude to Deltans for their support over the years, adding that he owed his success to their cooperation.
“I owe my success to the willingness of Deltans to work with me and ensure peace and I thank God for providing us with that opportunity.
“I must commend INEC for the introduction of the BIVAS Technology which will to a large extent, guarantee the credibility of our electoral process and I urge them to develop this technology and upscale it to conduct the general elections.
“Let me use this opportunity to call on the President and the Federal Government to give the much-needed support to INEC to develop the BVAS technology to conduct a more acceptable election in the nearest future.
“As a person I have always believed in the integrity of elections and such integrity would also be brought to bear in our party primaries,” he assured.
Earlier in his remark, leader of the delegation, Mr Sylvester Ogokunu, had said that the group was established in November, 2020, adding that they decided to return to the PDP to contribute their quota to enable the governor finish strong.
He described the APC as a “horror house of commotion and gangesterism” noting that both returning and fresh members of the party decided to join the PDP because of the governor’s leadership style that has distinguished him across the nation.
State Chairman of the PDP, Chief Kingsley Esiso, Delta North Chairman of the party, Deacon Moses Iduh, State Secretary, Engr. Daniel Ossai and Political Adviser to the Governor, Chief Isaac Anwuzia were on hand to receive the new members.