Leaders of the Delta State All Progressives Congress (APC) on Sunday welcomed Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru into the party along with thousands of his supporters.
The event, which took place at the Ughelli Kingdom Hall, had in attendance leaders and members of Delta APC, led by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace, Olorogun Festus Keyamo (SAN); Director, NEXIM Bank, Hon. Stella Okotete; Member Representing Ughelli/Udu Federal Constituency, Hon. Francis Waive; Chairman of Delta APC, Chief Omeni Sobotie; Chief Paulinus Akpeki; Hon. Halims Agoda; Delta APC founding leader, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor; Godsday Orubebe; and Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei, among others.
Addressing the mammoth crowd, Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru thanked members of the party and the College of Leaders for welcoming him back to the APC.
He said: “I thank you for welcoming me back to this house. A special thank you to the Hon. Minister, Festus Keyamo (SAN); State Chairman, Omeni Sobotie; Stella Okotete; and to all who have remained steadfast in the quest for good governance and the democratization of our state. This house is getting stronger and better.
“I have come to join hands with the College of Leaders of Delta APC to continue from where we stopped, to give our all, and to ensure that one day, it will be said that when the APC took over Delta State, the lives of the people changed for the better.
“I also thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his encouraging statement to the College of Leaders on Delta State during their recent visit to him. He (Tinubu) has assured us that he is with this body.”
In his goodwill message, the Minister of Aviation, Olorogun Festus Keyamo (SAN), who welcomed Ogboru and his thousands of supporters, noted that they had always been part of the party.
He said: “There is nowhere in politics where someone can stop people from joining a party. It is not done. You cannot close the door on people who want to join the party.”
He frowned at the move by some individuals who, in an attempt to sabotage the event, made false announcements on a radio station claiming that the event had been canceled.
“I have never seen this level of desperation in my entire life. Ogboru, who has won over 12 LGAs, Senate, and Assembly seats at the height of opposition in Delta State when PDP was PDP in Delta, did this without federal power or appointments. He is an authentic opposition leader. And come 2027, PDP will fall.”
On her part, Director of NEXIM Bank, Stella Okotete, expressed joy at joining other leaders in welcoming Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru back to the party. She stated that Ogboru was betrayed by his own brother in 2019 due to his ambition for 2023, which, according to her, marked the beginning of the betrayal.
“But thank God, Delta State APC is now stronger than ever before. It was a shame that we could only deliver 14% of the votes nationally. It was a poor outcome because some of us, who were critical stakeholders of the party, were shut out of the process. It was an ‘aide’ affair. But this time, we are going to win by a landslide for APC in Delta State, securing the governorship seat, three senatorial seats, House of Representatives seats, and Assembly seats.”
Earlier, Chief Paulinus Akpeki, who officially presented Ogboru to the College of Leaders, described the ceremony as a historic moment for everyone present. He praised Ogboru as a remarkable political leader and a man who has seen it all.
He said: “Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru’s return to APC is a significant milestone for the party. He brings with him a wealth of experience, wisdom, and an unyielding spirit that will undoubtedly propel our great party to new heights. We are excited to rally behind you. As we welcome everyone today, we call upon every member of our party to embrace unity.”