Kehinde OsasonaAbujaThe People Democratic Party (PDP) youth across the country have called for the immediate release of former Governor of Delta state, Ifeanyi Okowa from the detention facility of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja.
They also warned the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) that nothing must happen to the embattled former governor.
Okowa was also a running mate to former President Atiku Abubakar in the 2023 presidential election.
The EFCC arrested the former governor over alleged N1. 3 trillion fraud.
He was arrested by the anti-graft agency in Port Harcourt when he reported at its office.
Giving the warning in Abuja on Tuesday in Abuja, the Deputy National Youth leader of the party, Timothy Osadolor, who spoke on behalf of the youth stakeholders, added:
“We want to put on record that PDP youths across Nigeria and especially stakeholders in the Southern part of Nigeria want to put President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his Agency the EFCC which is now a political arm of his government on notice that nothing must happen to Ifeanyi Okowa and nothing must happen to the key leaders of the PDP. “We want to put on record that PDP youths across Nigeria and especially stakeholders in the Southern part of Nigeria want to put President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his Agency the EFCC which is now a political arm of his government on notice that nothing must happen to Ifeanyi Okowa and nothing must happen to the key leaders of the PDP.
“It is an open secret that this government has made it a hubby to pick on key leaders of opposition, especially those with capacity to give them a run and guide the people against the evil that this current government is unleashing on the people.
“Former governor Ifeanyi Okowa was a running mate to former President Atiku Abubakar in the last presidential election, and he was walking free until former President Atiku Abubakar shredded the economic policies of President Tinubu
“I am surprise that a man who came to the EFCC office himself was detained, and till now, he is still under detention. The man was not avoiding arrest. The man is a global figure, and he is robbed around humongous figures, which is not true. Delta state government has not said that its money is missing. EFCC PortHacourt and EFCC Abuja are playing both the role of a litigant and also that of the prosecution and going to the media with an investigation that was purportedly ongoing. The development is very dangerous and we must condemn it.
“Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi state has been declared wanted for over a year now, he comes to EFCC at his own convenience, he works in and out and many EFCC officers did not even know that he was in their premises. Former Gov. Badaru, we all know the role he played in the Abacha gate. He is a principal officer in the government of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and nobody has asked him any question till today. We have heard the security report on former Gov. Matawalle who is also a principal member of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government. He is going about freely with policemen and other security agents paid with tax payers money and nobody has invited him for questioning. What is the difference with what has happened in the case of Gov. Ifeany Okowa if not mere politics?
“We want to put on record that PDP youths across Nigeria and especially stakeholders in the Southern part of Nigeria want to put President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his Agency the EFCC which is now a political arm of his government on notice that nothing must happen to Ifeanyi Okowa and nothing must happen to the key leaders of the PDP.
“We saw what happened recently in Edo state when they invited the Accountant General of Edo state. All these are targeted at killing the opposition in this country. Democracy without viral opposition is close to monarchy.
“Our demands are that the EFCC will see itself as an extension of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC or the Presidency. It should be a neutral independent body that investigates financial crimes. But he has taken it upon himself to be the chief financial hunter of opposition leaders in this country.
“We are calling for a total overhaul of the EFCC Act so that no president, no matter how powerful he is, can appoint directors for the EFCC. Let the judiciary or the Senate be the one that will appoint chairman or board members of the EFCC. It should be removed from the exclusive control of the presidency.
“Gov. Okowa should be released, and media trials and embarrassment of opposition leaders must stop. We should also know that there is a pattern, from the arrest of Okowa, by next week he will go after Gov. Obaseki. This is a plan targeted at opposition leaders in this country. We are not saying that political office leaders should not be called to account, but it should be devoid of political sentiments.”
