By Dr. Hilary Ibegbulem
My attention has been drawn to a purported interview attributed to Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei in which a number of assertions were reportedly made regarding the political career, leadership record, and current aspirations of former Delta State Governor and Senator, Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa.
At the outset, it is necessary to emphasize that the interview in question is referred to as “purported” because I have not independently verified its authenticity. This distinction is important to ensure fairness and to avoid attributing statements to Ochei that he may not have made.
However, if the comments being circulated accurately reflect his position, then it becomes imperative to place certain facts and historical realities before the public for the sake of balance, context, and truth.
One of the central themes reportedly advanced by Ochei is that his political actions have consistently been motivated by a desire to challenge political impunity rather than personal ambition. While every politician is entitled to define his own motivations, the political history of Delta State offers valuable context that the public should not ignore.
In 2014, Ochei was reportedly presented with an opportunity to pursue the Delta North Senatorial seat under the then-ruling party while supporting Senator Okowa’s governorship aspiration. The proposal, made in the presence of respected political leaders, would have allowed both men to pursue complementary political paths.
Rather than embrace that option, Ochei chose to challenge Okowa for the governorship ticket. Following the primary election, he left the party and later contested for the Senate under the Accord Party platform. The outcome remains part of Delta’s political history. He was defeated by the late Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, securing victory only in his local government area while losing in the remaining local governments within the district.
Given these facts, observers are entitled to ask whether those political decisions were driven by collective regional interests or by personal political ambition. Ultimately, that judgment belongs to the public.
Ochei reportedly referenced Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s efforts to persuade him not to contest against Senator Okowa. Such an intervention should not be interpreted as an acknowledgment of Ochei’s electoral strength. Rather, it reflected the widespread view among many political stakeholders that Senator Okowa’s experience, national profile, and extensive public service record make him exceptionally qualified to represent Delta North in the Senate.
Few political figures in Delta State can boast a public service trajectory comparable to that of Senator Okowa. A medical doctor by profession, he graduated from the University of Ibadan at the age of 22 and subsequently built a distinguished career in both public and private service.
Over the years, he has served as Executive Chairman of Ika North East Local Government Area, Commissioner in multiple ministries, Secretary to the State Government, Governor of Delta State for two terms, and Vice-Presidential candidate of a major political party. His contributions to governance and public administration remain well documented.
Against this backdrop, attempts to diminish his record for political advantage appear difficult to reconcile with the facts.
Equally noteworthy is Ochei’s reported criticism of Senator Okowa’s decision to contest for the Senate while his daughter seeks re-election to the Delta State House of Assembly.
Such an argument raises important democratic questions. Since when did family relationships become grounds for disqualifying qualified citizens from seeking elective office? In every democratic system, the right to contest elections belongs to citizens, while the right to choose leaders belongs exclusively to the electorate.
The people of Ika North East are fully capable of evaluating the performance of Marilyn Okowa-Daramola and determining whether she deserves another term in office. That decision rests with voters—not political commentators or rival aspirants.
It is equally important to address the allegation that Senator Okowa is promoting an in-law for elective office.
The facts simply do not support such a claim.
If the reference is to Emmanuel Osazuwa, the APC candidate for the Ika Federal Constituency House of Representatives seat, then the assertion is demonstrably incorrect. Osazuwa is from Oza-Nogogo in Ika South Local Government Area, while his wife hails from Osun State. There is no known blood relationship, marital connection, or family affiliation between him and Senator Okowa.
Attempts to portray his candidacy as an extension of Okowa’s family interests are therefore inaccurate and risk misleading the public.
Political debate is healthy and necessary in a democracy, but it must be grounded in verifiable facts rather than assumptions or narratives designed to fit predetermined conclusions.
Ochei also reportedly suggested that Senator Okowa alienated those who supported his political rise. Yet available evidence points in the opposite direction. Many individuals who stood with Okowa throughout his political journey continue to maintain cordial and productive relationships with him. His enduring influence across Delta State is itself a reflection of the goodwill, trust, and loyalty he has cultivated over decades of service.
Fairness also requires public figures to submit themselves to the same standards they apply to others. Political observers may legitimately ask what became of the numerous individuals who contributed to Ochei’s emergence and growth in public life, and how many political leaders he has, in turn, helped to build and sustain.
Furthermore, portraying Senator Okowa as a product of political privilege ignores the realities of his journey. His rise was not inherited. It was earned through professional excellence, discipline, hard work, and years of dedicated service to the people of Delta State.
As political conversations surrounding the 2027 elections continue to gather momentum, the focus should remain on competence, experience, capacity, and proven leadership.
The people of Delta North are politically sophisticated and capable of distinguishing between rhetoric and reality. They understand that leadership is ultimately measured not by political soundbites or media narratives but by tangible achievements, service delivery, and the ability to advance the interests of the people.
The fundamental question therefore remains: who possesses the experience, network, credibility, and track record required to effectively represent Delta North at the national level?
On that score, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa’s record continues to speak for itself.
Res Ipsa Loquitur — the facts speak for themselves.
