Delta APC rep waive begs Okowa for operational vehicle -

The member representing Ughelli North Ughelli South Udu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives Hon. (Rev.) Francis Ejiroghene Waive has begged Delta Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa for an operational car.

Rev Waive, a fierce preacher of morality, in a letter addressed to Governor Okowa dated December 19th, 2022 and received at the office of the Chief of Staff to the Governor on 20th December 2022, begged the Okowa to consider him as one of the beneficiaries of the car gift to Delta lawmakers.

Okowa following the tradition set by his predecessors gave a contract for the purchase and supply of 19 Toyota Land Cruisers for the 10 House of Reps members from Delta State.

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The contract, which was allegedly awarded to Governor Okowa’s kinsman, Hon Victor Nwakolo, a member of the House of Reps from Ika Federal Constituency, it was gathered was paid for in full.

However, while the other nine members of the House of Reps from Delta State, including Hon Ben Igbakpa, an New Nigeria People Party Reps member, got their own vehicles Waive’s car was allegedly withheld.

It was rumoured the vehicle is parked at the residence of one of the Governor’s associates in Abuja.

In the letter, Rev Waive lamented that of all ten members of the House of Representatives from Delta State, he is the only one yet to receive his Toyota Land Cruiser.

Rev Waive is the only APC member from Delta State all nine others are PDP.

The letter titled: non-receipt of my car, reads: “First, let me thank you Sir for your magnanimity in upholding the tradition of our dear State in assisting members of the National Assembly with operational vehicles. In this 9th Assembly, you have been gracious in providing a Toyota Land Cruiser Jeep to all other members of the House of

Representatives except myself the Honorable member representing the entire people of Ughelli North Ughelli South Udu Federal Constituency in the House.

“Your Excellency, I believe overzealous aides are responsible for my exclusion. I bring this to your kind attention so that you can direct a more senior officer to reach me with mine.

“I have called your phone number a couple of times and sent a few text messages without any response. I understand the huge demand on your time first as our Governor and at this crucial time of electioneering campaigns. I thus decided to write hoping that this letter will come to your attention and you will use your good office to ensure I am not shortchanged, oppressed or denied before your very eyes.”

A PDP House of Reps member, a colleague of Rev Waive, who pleaded for anonymity, said it is a usual practice not to give operational cars to members from opposition parties.

When queried why Hon Igbakpa, an NNPP member was given, the lawmaker said: You and I know that Hon Ben is PDP by heart, he is just in NNPP to use their platform for electoral purposes, if not PDP runs in his vein, but for Waive you don’t empower your enemy.”

Another source at the office of the Secretary to the State Government challenged Rev Waive to decamp to the PDP, noting that if he does, he will get more than a car.

“He cannot be working in Shell and goes to Chevron for salary, if he needs a Jeep, let him decamp, simple.”

An aide of Waive, Comrade Ochuko Ovus while reacting to the insinuation that the lawmaker went to beg for a car, said the issue is not about Rev Waive but that the entire Ughelli/Udu constituency is being deprived by actions of certain people in the state government.

According to him, Rev Waive rode his first brand new Toyota Prado in 2007 courtesy of his former employers, adding that Rev Waive is a contented man but will not keep quiet in the face of deprivation, oppression and wickedness.

Ovus noted that though the tenure of Gov Okowa runs out in four months, one should expect a man who aspires to be Vice President not to exhibit pettiness against the entire federal constituency, especially in an election year.

“Deploying the car that is due to our constituency for his Vice-Presidential bid will not help Gov Okowa, so he should prove us wrong that he has nothing against the people of Ughelli North, South and Udu federal constituency because his actions lately betray his “Prosperity For All Deltans” slogan,” he said.