The Niger Delta Rights Assembly (NDRA) has described the choice of Delta Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, as running mate to the Presidential standard bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as the best for Nigeria and Niger Deltans in particular.

The NDRA which comprises mainly youths drawn from across the Niger Delta states in a statement issued in Lagos on Sunday, June 19, 2022 and signed by its president, Chief Israel Bokromo, thanked Atiku and the PDP leadership for picking Okowa, describing him as the best man to complement Atiku in the onerous task of tackling the challenges facing the nation if voted into office in 2023.

The statement reads inter alia: “We consider Governor Okowa as the most qualified for the position of running mate to Atiku and ultimately, if the electorate wills it, the vice president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from May 29, 2023.

“We recognize the wisdom of PDP and thank the party for considering other sons and daughters of the Niger Delta region as running mate to the party’s standard-bearer. We are even more grateful that the PDP leadership in its wisdom, chose Okowa who has always been our top choice among the lot.

“We had earlier recommended Okowa not just because of his loyalty and commitment to the PDP but because among all those being considered, he has the best comportment, temperament, human capital development performance index and electoral value to swing votes in favour of the PDP.

“Okowa has both private and public sector experience, starting out from private practice as a medical doctor to the public sector where he was involved as both secretary and chairman of his local government at different  times, and later as Commissioner in different portfolios,  Secretary to the State Government, Senator of the Federal Republic and now as Governor for seven years. Okowa has also played critical roles for the PDP at different times by delivering credible, rancour-free conventions.

“At this time when Nigeria earnestly desires a unifier and nationalist, Okowa comes in handy as we can see the peace that he has wrought in Delta state by actively engaging the youths of the state and bringing development to the once restive communities.

“We are confident that given his outstanding performance in Delta where he has connected with the people through infrastructure development, reliable healthcare delivery, quality education, restoration of the state’s sporting glory, youth empowerment through diverse skill acquisition programmes and general human capital development, he would add real value to governance at the centre.

“We want to use this opportunity to caution all those condemning the choice of  Okowa to desist from their evil schemes as this will not in any way diminish the rising profile of Governor Okowa as a performing governor, a refined democrat and an icon of good governance.

“We refer critics of the choice of Okowa to the statement of Atiku Abubakar on why he settled for Okowa. He said: ‘The person I have chosen as my running mate personifies not only the seriousness the current moment represents for our country but also the future that our young people yearn for and deserve. He is a serving state governor who has demonstrated, in his state and through his conduct, that governance is about service to the people’. It is on this note that we maintain our earlier standpoint that Okowa is best for Niger Delta and best for Nigeria,” the statement said.