The Governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori has advised Senator Ned Nwoko to focus on his legislative role in the National Assembly.
He stated this while responding to the lawmaker’s call for state funding of the Okpai Independent Power Project (IPP).
Nwoko had asked the governor to supply 100 megawatts (MW) of power to local communities
However, responding to Nwoko’s request, Oborevwori emphasised the separation of powers among different government tiers.
He asked the legislator to work with President Bola Tinubu and other National Assembly members to secure benefits for his district.
In a statement issued by his Executive Assistant on Public Enlightenment (Projects and Policies), Olisa Ifeajika, the governor argued that the Okpai IPP, which began in 2002 and was completed in 2005, falls under federal jurisdiction.
“If Senator Nwoko believes in the importance of the Okpai IPP, he should work through the Federal Government, not press the state government to fund it,” Ifeajika stated.
The project was designed to generate power for the national grid, and any issues related to its distribution are the responsibility of the Federal Government.
The statement criticised Nwoko for what it described as attempts to coerce the state government into using state funds for the project, which was not initiated by the state.
It pointed out that the senator’s own constituency faces significant infrastructure issues, such as deteriorating roads, which also require attention.
“Senator Nwoko should focus on advocating for federal action to step down the power as agreed, rather than pressuring the governor to use state funds for federal projects,” the statement read.
The governor’s office called for a collaborative approach between the senator and the state government, suggesting that as the sole PDP senator from Delta State, Nwoko should work constructively with Oborevwori to address both local and federal issues.