There are speculations that the Deputy Governor of Delta State and former governorship aspirant in the just concluded Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) primaries, Barr. (Den) Kingsley Burutu Otuaro, shortly after the primaries had planned to resign from the Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa’s administration.
It was learnt that his decision formed part of what he suffered prior to the PDP primaries which produced the sacked governorship candidate, Sheriff Oborevwori, the anointed candidate of Okowa.
It was also gathered that another reason the Deputy Governor was eager to throw in the towel, was alleged marginalization by his boss during and after the primaries.
Insider sources disclosed that the relationship between Okowa and Otuaro, had gone aour since after the primaries as their paths don’t cross each other except during public functions.
It was gathered that Otuaro, who approached his governor boss on his plans to succeed him come 2023, after a certain clergy prophesied for him did not get the desired approval from the governor before venturing into the race.
It was also alleged that some of Otuaro’s loyalists were threatened into accepting Okowa’s candidate for political reasons while other delegates were purportedly bought over before the primaries.
It was further alleged that Okowa, has politically settled Otuaro with the current member representing Warri north State Constituency in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Martins Alfred.
It was equally alleged that the current Secretary to the Local Government (SLG), to Warri north council, was also a political settlement for Otuaro.
However, Otuaro, who alleged betrayal by Okowa, had concluded plans to resign from his office but was persuaded by top party stakeholders particularly from the Ijaw extraction to have a rethink.
A source disclosed, ‘If not that they pleaded with him, the Deputy Governor would have resigned since after the primaries because he felt betrayed”.
Reacting to the development, a source who simply identified himself as Azuibike, said: “He will be replaced immediately, we are so many that was not accommodated in Okowa’s tenure and will gladly grab any vacant position”.
Also, another respondent who identified himself as Anthony, said: “Definitely not everybody can be accommodated in every tenure. People must feel marginalized one way or the other”.
