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Tag: Delta 2023

  • Delta 2023: Sheriff won, not Omo Agege – By Tony Okoh

    Delta 2023: Sheriff won, not Omo Agege – By Tony Okoh

    By Tony Okoh

    Governor Sheriff Oborevwori versus Obaisi Ovie Omo Agege is an intriguing narrative- the struggle between reality and illusion.

    Since the triumph of Oborevwori in the March 18, 2023, Delta governorship election, Omo Agege has been asking for the impossible. He wants the moon!

    It is a laughable longing.

    Heavy facts mock Omo Agege’s fantasy. Oborevwori won fair and square in 21 out of 25 local government areas in Delta, under the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Aniocha North, Aniocha South, Oshimili North, Oshimili South, Ika North East, Ika South, Ndokwa East, Ndokwa West, Ukwuani, Ethiope West, Ethiope East, Sapele, Okpe, Warri South, Warri North, Warri South West, Bomadi, Patani, Burutu, Isoko South and Isoko North.

    Omo Agege of the All Progressives Congress, APC, could only claim 4 local government areas. By plain statistics, the margin of victory was overwhelming.

    Oborevwori secured a whopping 360,234 votes to lead Omo Agege who trailed behind with 240,229 votes.120,005 ballots, far apart.

    Assailed by defeat, he headed to the courts protesting flawed voting.

    A bizarre irony.

    The most disturbing irregularities in the Delta governorship polls were recorded in Omo Agege’s local government area – Ughelli North. At Evwreni community, thugs went on rampage, attacked and wounded INEC officials, destroyed over three BVAS machines, and set electoral materials on fire.

    The murderous thugs prevented a team of journalists monitoring the elections from entering the community.

    Armed hoodlums disrupted voting in several polling units in Orogun, the birthplace of the former deputy senate president.

    Five persons reportedly lost their lives on election day at Mosogar and Oghara, both in  Ethiope West Local Government Area.

    Reports indicated that some security personnel, deployed to the communities compromised, and allegedly supervised the disruption process.
    The persons died after an exchange of gunfire between security operatives and angry youths.

    This brazen hooliganism manifested in varying intensity in other parts of the state, staged by vile agents of destabilization allegedly acting on the orders of the APC candidate.

    This episodic violence all happened in Omo Agege’s constituency as the then senator representing Delta Central senatorial district.

    It took the uncommon tenacity of Deltans and supreme will of God to stop and defeat the reactionary anti-democracy forces.

    Local and international observers had since documented the tragic electoral occurrences.

    Credible debates across Delta and even discussions on the streets invariably assert that Omo Agege did not win the March 18, 2023, gubernatorial elections.They insist that the votes he managed to garner were manufactured through massive rigging and heightened violence, perpetrated by his alleged supporters in desperado fashion.

    Majority of the people wished the votes he snatched are annulled, and stiffer measures of prosecution is meted, to save democracy from one man’s famed impunity and terror.

    Now guess who is seeking justice!

    Where is morality? Where is law and the lawyers? How can the aggressor become the aggrieved? The bully, the bereaved?

    While it is better at this time to be circumspect in a matter before the courts, it is safe to conclude that Deltans know who they voted for on Saturday March 18, 2023.

    The symbolism is embedded in the hearts of the Urhobo, Anioma, Itsekiri, Ijaw, and Isoko people among others.

    The divine lifting of Sheriff Oborevwori is untouchable by grace.

  • Delta 2023: Oborevwori leads in three separate polls – By Dr Festus Okubor

    Delta 2023: Oborevwori leads in three separate polls – By Dr Festus Okubor

    The Delta State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori has thrice in the last five days demonstrated that he is the leading candidate in next month’s governorship election.

    This new pointer to his being the leading candidate in the election emerged from three different polls freshly conducted with results analyzed and released a day ago. The three bodies that conducted the opinion polls are; Good Governance Alliance (GGA), A New Order Now (ANON) and The Future of Delta (TFD). While the first two, GGA and ANON are Lagos and Asaba based organizations respectively, TFD is a Warri based research think tank. While GGA and ANON conducted their polls online, TFD conducted a hybrid poll deploying online and real time.

    The polls spread across the twenty-five local councils and ensured the participation of people of different age groups and professionals as well as market women.

    GGA based its poll on yardsticks that are the pillars of good governance such as: manifesto, vision and mission, campaign content, character and integrity, acceptability, education and knowledge, understanding of governance and development issues in Delta State and Consensus building in a multi-ethnic state. Of the two thousand respondents who participated in the poll seventy-two percent of them gave thumbs up for Oborevwori as the candidate whose track records, manifesto, vision and mission and campaign content suit Delta State.

    They also rate him very high in terms of acceptability and understanding of governance and development issues in Delta State. Oborevwori scored distinctively on consensus building in a multi-ethnic state. The respondents ascribed sixteen percent to the Senator Ovie Omo-Agege of the All Progressives Congress (APC) whom many of them described as having abandoned real campaign issues and taken on abuses, inflammatory language and hate speech. All the respondents scored him zero on consensus building.

    The polls also projected Oborevwori to win in twenty-one out of the twenty-five local government councils. Omo-Agege is projected to win three while Chief Great Ogboru of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) who got twelve percent will win one.

    Similarly, the poll conducted by ANON also puts Oborevwori far ahead of the other candidates. ANON based its poll on the following: manifesto and campaign message, capacity and the ideals of Delta State, antecedents and trust as well as pan-Delta vision. The respondents scored Oborevwori high on all the yardsticks and he chalked up seventy-one percent of the three thousand respondents’ approval. Omo-Agege and Ogboru came second and third with nineteen and ten percent respectively. However, Oborevwori is projected to win twenty out of the twenty-five local councils, while Omo-Agege and Ogboru will win four and one respectively. Omo-Agege again scored zero on pan-Delta vision.

    The polls by the Warri based TFD also projected Oborevwori as the clear winner. The criteria used here are: manifesto and campaign content, reception of campaign message, pan-Delta character, integrity, acceptability and character. Oborevwori again did very well accumulating seventy-two percent from the two thousand respondents. However, while Ogboru came second with sixteen percent, Omo-Agege came third with twelve percent therefore marking a difference with the other two polls. The TFD polls projected Oborevwori to win in twenty-one local government councils, while Ogboru and Omo-Agege shared the other four with both of them winning two each.

    Many of the respondents rated Oborevwori high for what they called his political consistency, staying power and learning the ropes cutting across executive and legislative arms.

    They also ascribed a lot of political experience to him for running the most stable House of Assembly in the history of Delta State and for being the longest Speaker ever with the rare feat of being re-elected. As for the issue of integrity and character, most of the respondents said that the Supreme Court rested that matter and cleared him last year.

    They also see him as a pan-Delta leader who will run the State as one and based on consensus. His manifesto which he anchored on MORE (Meaning development Opportunities for all, Realistic reforms and Enhanced peace and security) was also highly rated because the respondents saw it as speaking to the peculiarities of Delta State.

    They consider him as one with demonstrable capacity.

    The three opinion polls coming just about one month to the Delta State governorship election should be seen as a final predication on the outcome of the election.

    Hon. Oborevwori has, as the three polls indicated, done well in articulating the right message and perspective in his bid to govern Delta State. He has also taken his message round the State in an amicable manner.

    The majority of Deltans have also come to identify with his message and aspiration.

  • INTERVIEW: My reason for going into politics is people-centric – Oborevwori, Delta PDP guber candidate

    INTERVIEW: My reason for going into politics is people-centric – Oborevwori, Delta PDP guber candidate

    …says I am the most qualified candidate to take over from Gov. Okowa

    … the welfare and security of Deltans is going to be my watchword if voted Governor

    … the welfare and security of Deltans is going to be my watchword if voted Governor

    Rt Hon Sheriff Francis Orohwedor Oborevwori, is a grassroots politician who in the last two decades had exhibited rare dexterity in the political affairs of Delta State. He is the incumbent speaker of the State House of Assembly, in this interview with selected journalists, he spoke extensively on many burning issues including his emergence, ambition, vision, and the PDP in the State.

    Please, can we meet and know you by way of self-introduction?

    “I am Chief Sheriff Francis Orohwedor Oborevwori. I am from Osubi in Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State. I am the incumbent Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly and also the Delta State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). I am married with children. Thank you”.

    So, why do you want to be Governor of Delta State?

    “To answer that question, I should begin by telling you about my mission in politics. It is really about the people. And I have come to understand quite early in life that the most important means of affecting the people for good is politics. When I was growing up, I saw a lot of deprivation and poverty in society and my biggest wish was to see how I can be of help to free people from lack and deprivation. As I went through primary and secondary schools the role of politics and government in making life better for the people was made central in our social studies, government and economics lessons and textbooks. We also got taught that the surest and legitimate way into government is politics. So from childhood I carried the burden of taking up the responsibility of making life better for the people. That was my motivation. Now joining politics at the grassroots saw me growing and evolving. I served as a councilor and I also served different governments as special assistant, senior special assistant and as special adviser. I made sure I put the interest of the people and loyalty to the government above my personal consideration.

    “Then the good people of Okpe constituency decided that they wanted me to represent them in the Delta State House of Assembly. I contested and won the election and became a member of the State House of Assembly. Not too long after, my colleagues and fellow lawmakers elected me as the Speaker of the House and by that I became the head of an arm of government in Delta State. This marked a turning point in my political career and evolution. I was no longer just a Member representing the Okpe constituency, but the Speaker presiding over the State legislature. That act made me a Pan-Deltan and it changed my consciousness and perception”.

    “As Speaker of the State House of Assembly, the entire state became my constituency. That position enabled me to appreciate what Delta State is all about, her development aspirations, her challenges, and the colourations and preferences of the people. After the general elections in 2019, my colleagues in the House of Assembly expressed a vote of confidence in me by returning me as Speaker for a second time, that gesture opened my eyes to new vistas of possibilities for me and Delta State. My return as Speaker is unprecedented in the history of Delta State. My colleagues said that they were returning me as Speaker because I am a Pan-Deltan and that I easily build consensus. They also said that I showed a deep understanding of the development challenges of Delta State and that for the State to develop without obstruction, I should continue to lead the legislative arm. I took time to evaluate what my colleagues said and I realized that I have unconsciously promoted politics in the service of the people in the House of Assembly and by extension the State. I soon started receiving encouragements to take my peoples’ politics ideology higher by seeking to be governor of Delta State. I am not one to run away from a challenge especially when it has to do with people.

    “I thought seriously about it. I also prayed. As a political scientist who is in practical politics, I thought of so many possibilities. I sat down to collate my thoughts arising from my burning desire to use politics to promote the welfare of the people. I also asked myself, after speakership, what next? How else do I serve the interest of the people? It was at that point that I resolved and listened to the call to run for the governorship of Delta State. So, the response to your question on why I want to be governor is to serve the people of Delta State and enhance their welfare and security. My reason and justification is people-centric. It is all for the people”.

    Do you have what it takes to be governor of Delta State?

    “Yes, I have more than what it takes. Besides the basic points of being a Deltan and the age as well as the basic educational qualification, I am most qualified to be the Governor of Delta State. I am well educated in the art and science of politics having studied political science up to postgraduate level. I also must point at my experience in politics. I have been a councilor at the local government level. I was special assistant, senior special assistant and special adviser handling very sensitive positions. I then crossed over to the legislature after winning an election. I have been elected Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly twice and I am the only one to be so elected and the longest serving Speaker in the history of Delta State. So far, I have worked with three governors since 2003 when I was appointed as a special assistant.

    “I have both legislative and executive experience. As Speaker, the entire state is one big constituency for me and apart from the incumbent Governor, His Excellency, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, no other politician has the kind of knowledge that I have about Delta State in terms of her development aspirations and challenges. Besides these, I have also undergone political leadership and management courses in some of the best universities in the world. I am well trained in executive and legislative leadership, development studies, ICT, advanced leadership and the New World Order in universities in the United Kingdom and the United States. I have acquired skills and strategies in creative and critical thinking, development thinking and modern governance. I have what it takes. My capacity is formidable”.

    What about the controversy about your educational qualifications?

    “It is unfortunate that what was supposed to be a minor mistake arising from names used and names not used in the course of schooling was twisted to cause mischief in an attempt to undo me. Let the truth be told. Many people who have three or more names have used them differently at one point or the other. This was my case. The names that my detractors pointed at are all mine. There is no doubt about them whatsoever. The schools I attended at different times have the records and they can verify that the names refer to one and the same person which is me. I have never claimed that the schools I attended are no longer in existence. I can direct you to my schools from primary, secondary to university. I am well educated. I might not have gone to school in quick succession due to my background, but I had the benefit of western education up to postgraduate degree which is the Master of Science degree in political science that I obtained from the Delta State University, Abraka. My school mates and many of my teachers at different stages of my education are alive. I affirm that my educational qualifications are solid and genuine”.

    What do you think are the challenges or problems of Delta State?

    “The challenges of Delta State are essentially the same with those of Nigeria and other Third World societies. The challenges which are also the problems include poverty, unemployment, inadequate electricity, inadequate ICT, infrastructure deficit, inadequate healthcare, poor education, low industrialization and poor agricultural productivity and insecurity. There are also problems associated with growing population and shrinking resources. There are other social ills like armed robbery, cybercrime, youth unrest and others which disrupt life occasionally, but once the major ones I mentioned are tackled and overcome then we would have a stable and prosperous society”.

    What is your vision for Delta State and what do you want to do about the development challenges of the State?

    “My vision for Delta State is double fold. First is to ensure the welfare and security of the people and second is to make sure that the State and her people are not left behind in the race to the New World Order which is anchored on the Fourth Industrial Revolution. If you look at the challenges that I enumerated which are also the challenges of Nigeria, they are the roadblocks which I am set to dismantle. I must admit that previous administrations and the present one ably led by Governor Okowa have done so much for the State to prepare us to take off and to go higher. There are already things that we can build upon. In the education sector, we have primary and secondary schools and what we need is to recruit and re-train more teachers with incentives and then upgrade learning infrastructure by introducing and promoting the use of ICT. Delta State has the highest number of tertiary institutions in Nigeria and we will encourage them to refocus and become solution providers to our challenges. Of course we will commit more funds, but we will make our tertiary institutions to become incubators of development.

    “The healthcare sector is already receiving attention and we will build on what is on ground. I am aware that our health insurance scheme is the best in Nigeria having crossed the 80% national threshold. So we shall expand and upgrade our health facilities including the tertiary health sector to modern global standards with the hope of providing good medicare for our people and also making Delta State a medical tourism hub. This is possible. I envisage an energy revolution by way of power supply to all parts of the State no matter how remote. We hope to replicate the IPP model that has given Asaba capital territory and environs stable power supply across the State. We have plans to explore alternative power sources through renewable energy. Our science and engineering faculties and schools will be positioned to produce solar, wind and hydro power. Two other issues have to do with agriculture and industrialization. We need to get our people back to farming through the mechanized mode. Delta State has a vast arable land that can support uncountable number of food and cash crops. My team has produced a list of over 100 food and cash crops that do well in every part of Delta State. We hope to focus on the comparative advantage of each area or community. For example cassava and its value chain can earn Delta State over $20 billion dollars per annum while the oil palm could double that figure if maximally cultivated.

    “What we need to do is to revive agriculture. Delta State can produce enough food to feed the entire South-South and part of the South-East and even have enough for export. We will galvanize agriculture and bring our industries back. We will work with the Federal Government to revive the Warri Port and let it function maximally and open the opportunity for international trade for our people. We will set up a committee to evaluate all the moribund industries in the State, both private and government owned, and see how government through public private partnership (PPP) can intervene and revive them. I have a blueprint for that. We already have two functional airports that will enable investors to fly in and out to do business in Delta State. It is part of my blueprint to further secure the State by enhancing peace and security thereby making the State an investment hub in the South-South and South-East due to our proximity with that region. We also intend to get the oil companies to return to Delta State so that the State can retain her position as the leading oil and gas industry state in Nigeria. I have seen the youths as our biggest capital. We have plans to give them a reorientation beginning from deploying civic education and ICT from primary to secondary through our tertiary education.

    “Delta State already has a variety of youth empowerment programmes that have engaged more than one million youths directly and indirectly in productive enterprises. What we want to do next is to put our youths on the global internet economic community and promote knowledge economy not through cybercrime, but through legitimate global commerce enabled by ICT”.

    “We envisage an ICT revolution that will be targeted at the three senatorial districts so as to make quality internet services affordable and accessible to our people. Part of the big picture is the promotion of SMEs where many of our women and youth are involved. You can see that my emphasis and focus have been on the people wherever they are even in the remotest villages. Part of the plan is to enhance the transportation network to not only include roads, but water for riverine communities. We shall build other physical infrastructure and provide amenities to make life better for our people. We have commissioned a needs’ assessment per community in Delta State to enable me know the particular needs of each community. Life is dynamic and so is politics and development. Nation building is always work in progress so we shall engage new things as they come for the good of our people. What all our proposed programmes point to is the achievement of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

    “Delta State will not miss it under my watch. To firm up my vision for Delta State, a think tank is working day and night to come up with a development strategy. I have charged the think tank to review previous development agenda and see what has not been done so that we can harmonize to match new and contemporary realities”.

    Can you briefly talk about your manifesto and link it with your vision for Delta State?

    “Sure. My manifesto is anchored on the aspirations of the people of Delta State and it is the product of months of brainstorming during which I was advised to read the programme of action of societies or nations that came out of the Third World. I was so advised because their conditions were similar to ours in Nigeria. So we thought that looking at what they did, comparing and localizing it in our context will help us. I focused a lot on Malaysia, Singapore, India, Botswana, and Rwanda. It was a painstaking work because I read a lot of books about their history, their struggle and their economy. As a trained political scientist, I knew some of these things, but now I had to read them with a lot of seriousness so that I can apply them to our situation. My team insisted that I must read and show an understanding of the situation of things in those countries and how they evolved before we do anything about the manifesto. I discovered that their idea of development was about the welfare and security of their people.

    “I was happy in discovering that because I am actually in politics for the overall interest and good of the people. That was why at the end of the day we resolved that my manifesto should be about MORE which we coined from the standpoints on which the manifesto is resting which are Meaningful development, Opportunities for all, Realistic reforms, and Enhanced peace and security. Each of these legs is about the welfare and security of the people of Delta State.

    “I have mentioned some of the statements of intentions when you asked about my vision for Delta State. But be rest assured that the manifesto is unique because it blends the local with the global in articulating a development agenda for Delta State. The manifesto takes cognizance of our challenges. It looks at what has been achieved and then goes on to strategically point at how to leverage on what has been achieved to take Delta State and her people into the Fourth Industrial Revolution driven by ICT and the knowledge economy is all about. So we are reaching out to the world from Delta State and very soon we can tell our own story of From Third World to First. It is very possible and the signs are there. We also have to deliberately carry out a lot of public service reforms. We must refocus our public service to be purpose-driven and result-oriented or else we will achieve nothing. The public service drives government and development. Let me say that my manifesto is really the people’s manifesto”.

    What is your understanding of Delta State?

    “Delta State is a multi-ethnic state and it is one of the most naturally endowed places on earth by virtue of her vast arable land that supports food and cash crops as well as many other natural resources including solid minerals. With a population of about five million people, the State has the capacity to undergo an agricultural revolution and industrialize. The State has the advantage of having many rivers and it is by the Atlantic Ocean. The State is dynamic and it is a mini Nigeria in terms of her diversity, talents and resource endowments. I do not want to emphasize on the State’s oil and gas resources, but rather focus on the great use to which we can put our human and other natural resources especially in agriculture that will lead to industrialization. We are also famous for our talents as a people. We are very strong in education, sports, the creative and entertainment industries and in fact every area of human endeavor. Delta State is a leading state in Nigeria”.

    Assess the PDP in Delta State since 1998 when it was formed

    “The PDP is the dominant political party in Delta State. It has grown very strong and it is waxing stronger daily. I think it is only in Delta State that you still find a majority of the founding fathers of the PDP still alive and still with the party. The founding fathers saw tomorrow which is now today and they groomed younger people who have become active leaders today. We have had occasional disagreements which are normal, but the PDP in Delta State remains as one big family. Its influence is felt in every home, every unit, every ward and in every local government area of Delta State. The party has ruled Delta State since 1999 and it will continue to do so. The people of Delta State have come to embrace the party especially in view of the disaster that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has brought on Nigeria and Delta State since 2015”.

    What are your chances of becoming governor?

    “My chances are very bright. In fact I have the brightest of chances among all the governorship candidates. You know my emergence has a history. I was among the twelve governorship aspirants screened by the governorship screening committee of the DC-23 for four months. I was among the three shortlisted aspirants. Then we went for the PDP governorship primaries which I won by a very wide margin. The people, from DC-23, to the delegates and now the overwhelming majority of Deltans are saying that I am the next governor. They have seen my manifesto that it is all about them. I am also taking my campaign message across the State. There are many interest groups declaring support for me every day. I receive endorsement daily. I was surprised to hear about the Sheriffication movement and many people are saying they are sheriffied. My chances are the brightest. I can assure you. The people see my governorship as their project which has been divinely endorsed”.

    What do you have to say about your opponents?

    “In truth and frankly speaking, I do not see them as my opponents. They are my friends, people that I know and once upon a time fellow PDP members especially the APC and the SDP candidates. They have their ideas about Delta State and I respect that. However, I believe that in the end when I would have emerged as Governor they will fold up their canopies and rejoin the PDP which is one big family with a big enough umbrella to cover all of us.

    What is your relationship with former Governor, Chief James Ibori and Chief David Edevbie?

    “I smell mischief in this question. But I must say it again that His Excellency, Chief James Onanefe Ibori, the former Governor of Delta State, is our leader and my leader. When I started this journey of becoming governor I went to consult him and he prayed for me. He remains my leader and he is supporting my ambition and all that I am doing. Chief David Edevbie is my brother. We contested against each other and we struggled for the ticket. He remains my brother and friend. There is a picture of the two of us shaking hands, embracing and laughing. That is the relationship between Chief Edevbie and I. People out there are saying a lot of things that are not true about us. Be rest assured that we have a good relationship”.

    What do you have to say about the allegation of you being a stooge of the incumbent governor and also about the massive borrowing and indebtedness of Delta State?

    “These are very unfair and unkind allegations. I am not a stooge and I have never been a stooge. I have been a grassroots politician all my life and somehow I know my way around in politics. The stories of borrowing and indebtedness in Delta State are also not true. They are exaggerated and manipulated by political enemies to make His Excellency, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa and the PDP to look bad and score cheap political points. The State Government using the appropriate organ has come out with explanations and I urge the people of Delta State to believe the explanation. The opposition is using lies and propaganda to want to deceive the people. Do not believe their lies. We must remember that that was how the APC told lies against President Goodluck Jonathan in 2014 and they deceived Nigerians. Look at what the APC has done to Nigeria. They brought our country to ruins. If not for the managerial skills of Governor Okowa, Delta State would have collapsed.

    How many of the states governed by APC are paying salaries regularly?

    “Delta State pays the highest wages in Nigeria. Delta State is also the best State in terms of human capital development as indicated in education, healthcare services, sports and workforce. Delta State has the highest number of state owned universities in Nigeria. Look at our world class technical and vocational schools. Look at the bridges completed and ongoing ones. Take a look at the Stephen Keshi Stadium that hosted the recent National Sports Festival best ever even by African standards. What about the Ogheye floating market the first of its kind in Africa? Apart from the bad federal roads, Delta State has the longest network of good roads in Nigeria. Governor Okowa has done well by matching human capital development with infrastructure and peace and security, but bad belle politics is making opposition politicians to tell lies. So the people should not allow the opposition elements to deceive them. They have nothing to offer other than lies and destruction. We have seen it at the national level”.

    What are your final words?

    “I appeal to the good people of Delta State to vote for me and all PDP candidates all the way from the State to the national level. Delta State is on the momentum to greatness and we should not abort it. I have outlined a robust vision that will take our State work for the good of our people. This is possible and we can do it. Thank you”.

  • TRENDING! Omene takes Omo-Agege to the cleaners, alleges he is a serial betrayer (Video)

    TRENDING! Omene takes Omo-Agege to the cleaners, alleges he is a serial betrayer (Video)

    A video clip has surfaced online showing a top notch Urhobo Chief, Joe Omene slamming All Progressives Congress APC guber candidate, Ovie Omo-Agege as a serial betrayer.

    Omene in the 6.57mins clip trending in the social media networks did not spare the DSP describing him as a politician who has stepped on the toes of those who allegedly helped him to rise politically in Delta State.

    In the clip he said, former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori and Chief Great Ogboru who helped him to climb up the ladder were all betrayed.

    Watch:

     

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  • Delta 2023: Sen. Omo-Agege congratulates APC candidates

    Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege, Deputy President of the Senate and governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2023 governorship election in Delta State, has felicitated with those that emerged victorious in the party’s primaries.

    In a statement by Ima Niboro, Director, Communications and Media Strategy, Ovie Omo-Agege Campaign Organisation, he expressed confidence that the winners would defeat the PDP in Delta in the various elections next year.

    Thenewsguru.com reports that the APC had adopted Sen. Peter Nwaoboshi unopposed as its Delta North Senatorial District candidate for the 2023 senatorial elections.

    Other senatorial aspirants returned unopposed by the party are Chief Ede Dafinone and Chief Joel-Onowakpo Thomas for Delta Central and Delta South senatorial districts respectively.

    Mr Francis Waive was also elected the party’s candidate for Ughelli North, Ughelli South and Udu Federal Constituency.

    Omo-Agege congratulated other APC candidates in other federal constituencies and state assembly seats in the state.

    He described the APC primaries as a sign of good things to come in the state.

    According to him, the outcome of the elections is a victory for the Delta APC family, as it has demonstrated the capacity to work together for the good of the party and the state as a whole.

    Their mandates, he noted, should be seen as a collective effort, adding that they should unite APC members in the overall interest of the party in the 2023 general elections.

    “The outcome of the primaries will best be described as no victor no vanquished, as all the aspirants gave a good account of themselves and congratulated each other for a good contest,” he said.

    He lauded the leadership of the party for ensuring the success of the primary election and for effectively mobilizing its members to participate fully in the electoral process.

  • Delta 2023: Aguariavwodo snubs DC-23, starts concrete consultation with critical stakeholders

    Delta 2023: Aguariavwodo snubs DC-23, starts concrete consultation with critical stakeholders

    Delta State guber aspirant under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Emmanuel Edesiri Aguariavwodo has said he is the right person to replace Senator Ifeanyi Okowa as Governor of Delta State come 2023.

    Aguariavwodo disclosed this on Monday while declaring his intention to contest the Delta State 2023 governorship election to the leadership and members of the PDP in Sapele.

    Senator Aguariavwodo said that in terms of education, experience and support for the party, he remains the best as he is shoulder high above other contestants.

    He noted that apart from his qualifications and political experience, he also decided to contest for the Delta State governorship seat, come 2023 because he has paid his dues.

    “I have been to the House of Representatives. I have been to the Senate. I have been Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC; the buck stops on my table. I know how to take decisions. I have programmes when implemented will help to sustain the developmental strides of this administration. I am a man of peace,” he added.

    On why he visited the Sapele Local Government chapter of the party, Aguariavwodo said: “This is a party affair. We must come out right now to tell our party members that this is who we are; that we are ready and qualified. We will offer Deltans good governance and accountability. I will further transform Delta state, just as the state governor is doing, and ensure that we have one Delta.”

    Aguariavwodo assured the PDP members that when elected, he would conduct the affairs of the state with sense of purpose, pledging that he will foster a sense of belonging in the party by permitting members to contribute their quota to governance.

    Speaking on the report by members of DC-23, the governorship aspirant had this say: “I don’t know the criteria that members of DC-23 used in screening out aspirants, while recommending others to the party. But, I want Deltans to know that I am still in the race, hence I have come to consult delegates from Sapele local government area.”

    Chief Perkins Umukoro, Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Sapele while responding to Senator Emmanuel Aguariavwodo said that he has known him way back to 1997 before he won the election to serve as a member of the House of Representatives, adding that the senator has the credibility to governor Delta State and will do well if given the opportunity to serve the people of Delta State as their governor, come 2023.

  • DELTA 2023: The reality of ‘WHO THE CAP FITS’

    DELTA 2023: The reality of ‘WHO THE CAP FITS’

    As the race for who eventually occupies the Dennis Osadebe House Asaba as the Number One Citizen of Delta State heightens, there appears to be a general consensus that Delta Central Senatorial District is poised to produce the next occupant, according to what has been loosely termed the Zoning Formula of the Ruling Party PDP.

    Delta Central Senatorial District comprises 8 LGAs out of the 25 that make up the entire State and it is predominantly occupied by the Urhobos that also form the highest homogeneous voting population of the state. It is therefore not surprising that the region is currently parading the highest number of governorship aspirants while only a handful from Delta South Senatorial District of mostly Ijaw extraction are also testing the waters to revalidate the sanctity of the PDP Zoning Formula that has brought about relative peace and stability in the political atmosphere of the State.

    Political pundits have been gazing at the crystal ball, trying to decode the body language of the incumbent governor, Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa in order to pitch tent in the camp where victory is sure. There was an initial pandemonium when viral media reports claimed that the Governor had decided to jettison the Zoning Arrangement as it was not enshrined in the PDP Constitution as the Primary Election that produced him as Governor also fielded contestants that cut across all 3 senatorial districts. At a quarterly media briefing held on 20th May 2021 in Asaba, the Governor was widely reported to have said, “a gentleman’s agreement is one that is not written. I want to believe that that is what it is supposed to be. There was no formal meeting where a gentleman’s agreement was reached and that is the truth as of today.” The dust arising from this controversy seems to have whittled down as the Governor may have resolved to look towards the direction of Delta Central for the choice of his successor come next year 2023 in honour of the ‘Unwritten Gentleman’s Agreement’.

    In his recent remarks during the celebration of Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) 90th Anniversary, where he was Special Guest of Honour, Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa called on Urhobo people to prune down the number of aspirants in the governorship race, advising that it was in their best interest to reduce the numbers. According to him, “when there are too many sons and daughters in a race, it creates its own challenge and I believe that the elders have understood this. There is a need to trim down and I believe that the time is now.” It is generally believed in some quarters that it was this crucial advice of the Governor that inspired the much acclaimed Screening Exercise of DC-23, a PDP Pressure Group that had been conscientiously and vigorously canvassing for the emergence of a Governor from Delta Central in the next dispensation, in accordance with the Zoning Formula.

    12 Aspirants who had earlier declared their gubernatorial ambitions were invited and painstakingly examined by a Screening Committee with great emphasis on scrutiny and evaluation of their individual profiles, manifestos, leadership antecedents amongst others. Senator Emmanuel Aguariavwodo, Chief James Augoye, Chief David Edevbie, Chief Kenneth Gbagi and Rt. Hon. Chief Sheriff Oborevwori emerged the Top 5 that their chances of victory would be further evaluated in that order here.

    Senator Emmanuel Aguariavwodo

    He appears to be the most prepared, going by his leadership antecedents and experience in public service. He has tested the waters of contesting and winning elections, being the only Deltan currently that had represented his constituency in both chambers of the National Assembly (House of Reps Member and Distinguished Senator). He also emerged the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) at a time when most of the aspirants were still learning the ropes in public service. He served some time with the incumbent Governor in the 7th Senate, and both of them can be likened to be contemporaries. There is no doubt that there is strong affinity between these two and it was not surprising that the Governor promptly picked him to chair his Transition Subcommittee on Infrastructure. The recommendations of the Subcommittee became an integral part of the SMART Agenda of the current administration and he was subsequently appointed Special Adviser on Infrastructure and Housing Development by the Governor. Aguariavwodo comes with a lot of experience that cuts across both private and public sectors and his humility in service is quite exceptional, which his critics have used to campaign against him in their illogical assertion that having risen to echelon heights of NDDC Managing Director, overseeing execution of intervention projects in 9 states, it was condescending of him to have agreed to serve as a Special Adviser to the Governor.

    Chief James Augoye

    He can be classified a newbreed of emerging leaders in Delta State as the highest political office he has ever occupied was being Commissioner for Works 2015-2019 in the Okowa Administration before the dissolution of the cabinet by his Principal on Tuesday 18th May 2021. He is reputed to be the longest serving Commissioner for Works in Delta State. Prior to this, he had been elected Councilor representing Ward 10 in Okpe Local Government Area 2004-2007, appointed Okpe Local Government Council Caretaker Chairman 2012-2014 and Okpe LGA Coordinator 2015 PDP Campaign. He was also appointed member of the Okpe Local Government Transition Committee, where he served as Chairman of the Internal Revenue Generating Committee in 2003. His critics are quick to point out that his leadership antecedents appear too localised and he lacks the exposure to tackle governance issues in a dynamic state like Delta that is long overdue to connect into a global network of emerging state economies like Lagos and derive inherent benefits of astronomical growth and rapid transformation with abundant opportunities.

    Chief David Edevbie

    He has quite a robust profile, making his debut in public service as Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning under the Ibori Administration, Director of Finance and Strategy in the campaign of the then PDP presidential candidate, Late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua who later appointed him Principal Secretary upon his election as President in 2007, where he served until April 2010 after the death of President Yar’Adua. He would later go on to establish his own consulting firm Avantgarde and he stayed outside public limelight for a while, especially during the trial, conviction and eventual incarceration of Ibori in the UK. He returned to mainstream politics in 2014 to contest in the Delta State PDP gubernatorial primaries of 8th December 2014, where he lost to Okowa, emerging the First Runner-up, albeit with a wide margin. He was appointed Commissioner of Finance and Chief of Staff in the first and second tenures respectively of the Okowa Administration. Prior to his foray into public service, he had cut his teeth in international banking, rising to become the Head of Asia and Pacific Regions of Commonwealth Development Corporation in the United Kingdom, where he was born and bred. His critics believe he is being carried everywhere by former Governor James Ibori, largely perceived as his political godfather who had been spoon-feeding him from his political cradle till date.

    Chief Kenneth Gbagi

    He also comes with a rich profile as well but a personality wrapped in countless controversies. He is a lawyer, criminologist and entrepreneur who has dubbed himself the largest individual employer of labour in Delta State, having acquired immense wealth from buying and selling of properties at an early age by his claims. He is a security expert and instructor who has taught many top military officers hence his deep connections with the Military who controlled the wheel of fortune of Nigeria for a greater part of its post-independence years are not in doubt. After the creation of Edo and Delta states from the defunct Bendel State, a former Military Administrator of Delta between 1993 and 1994, then Colonel Bassey Asuquo, appointed him Chairman of Delta Development and Property Authority, DDPA. He was the Chairman, Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, where he nobly tried to sanitize the country’s legal system during Obasanjo’s civilian presidency. He was later appointed Minister of State for Education between 2007–2010 during the administration of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. He also disregarded the Zoning Formula of the PDP by contesting against the incumbent Gov. Okowa and lost by scoring just 2 votes against the winning vote of 409.

    Rt. Hon. Chief Sheriff Oborevwori

    As the incumbent Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, he wields a lot of influence and has access to enormous financial resources to pursue his gubernatorial ambition with remarkable impact. He is in relation to the other aspirants, an emerging political personality who possesses minimal experience in governance. He only broke into limelight in 2015 after he was elected the Member Representing Okpe Constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly under PDP and was elected 2 years after Speaker on 11th May 2017, following the impeachment of the then Speaker, Rt. Hon. Monday Igbuya. He was re-elected in 2019 as Speaker for a second term, following his victory at the polls to represent his Okpe Constituency. Prior to this political elevation, he was President of Osubi Community in an inglorious era, characterised by incessant extortion of oil companies and property developers in the guise of collection of Community Development Levy popularly called ‘deve’ that led to the unfortunate mass exodus of oil industry investors from the Warri/Effurun axis and in turn, irreversibly crippled the economy of that region till date.

    CONCLUSION

    From the foregoing evaluation of the Top 5 aspirants of the PDP, the DC-23 Screening Committee must rise up against sentiments in its current task to further prune down the number to 3 as touted in some quarters, in order to create room for improved focus for PDP delegates that would decide the choice of the Party’s flagbearer later this year at its primaries. The Zoning Formula accords each senatorial district a rare privilege of foremost leadership that comes once in 24 years if the status quo is sustained, so major stakeholders of the benefitting senatorial district must come together to ensure that only the best of the alternatives is presented to electorate to make the final choice.

  • Delta 2023: Urhobos and Ukuanis are one blood, critical stakeholders tell Urhobo leaders

    Delta 2023: Urhobos and Ukuanis are one blood, critical stakeholders tell Urhobo leaders

    The leaders and stakeholders of Ukwuani Local Government Area of Delta State have stated that the Urhobo and Ukwuani people are one blood, neighbours, and friends who can work together for a better Delta State.

    TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) reports this was disclosed when the leaders and members of Delta Central 2023 (DC-23) lobby group paid a consultative visit to Ukuanis critical stakeholders at Obiaruku, Delta State, advised DC-23 to continue to support Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to finish strong.

    Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Ukwuani Local Government Area, Engr.(Chief) Patrick Kaine, who spoke on behalf of the leaders and stakeholders, said most of the points raised by DC-23 from 1998, 1999 to date are all embedded in their memories.

    According to him, you have spoken well, the Ukwuani people and the Urhobos are friends and neighbours. In Obiaruku here there is a place called Umuedede that is occupied by Urhobo people. So you are our brothers and sisters. The Ukwuani man does not hate you he loves the Urhobo people.

    “All you said are all facts but today we have a working governor and leader. We are all going to beg you to support Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa to finish well. When the time comes nobody will run away.

    “It will be one way arrangement, so let’s support him to finish strong because if he finishes well it will be better for whoever that’s is coming to take over the position. On that note, we plead and beg the Urhobo people to support Okowa to finish strong and when the time comes we will be there together “, he added.

    Earlier, the National Chairman of DC-23, Senator (Chief) Ighoyota Amori, stated that the body was a lobby group made up of card carrying members of the PDP in the Delta Central Senatorial District to lobby support for the governorship seat for the district in 2023.

    He noted that the DC-23 was not different from the G-3 of the Delta South Senatorial District that was formed to drive the process of election of immediate past governor of the state, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, and the Anioma Agenda that was formed in 2014 to propel the process of election of the current governor of the state, Senator (Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa.

    According to him, those who want to contest against the aspirants of Delta Central Senatorial district have their argument for the governorship seat, likewise us, but we can’t talk of zoning on ethnic lines because the state is made up of various ethnic groups like Urhobo, Ijaw, Itsekiri, Isoko, Ika, Ndokwa, Oshimili, Aniocha and few others; hence, the appeal from us to maintain the zoning arrangement on the basis of senatorial districts in the state.”

    “The claim by some persons that the governorship seat, since it had gone round the three senatorial districts, that it should be done as ‘osusu’ that can start from any district, and that they are canvassing for senatorial district and not ethnic is not right. My question is, if not an ethnic agenda, why is it that the Itsekiris and Isokos of Delta South Senatorial District are not in their lobby team, like ours that you have leaders of the eight local government areas in the team,” he wondered.

    “It is only zoning on senatorial district order that the PDP can continue with its winning streak in the state. So, what we are pushing for is how a sustainable system can be established where when it gets to the turn of your senatorial district, no one from other senatorial districts will contest against the benefitting district. So, the argument that Urhobo or other ethnic groups contested during the turn of other senatorial districts will no longer be there,” he clarified.

    He pointed out that the DC-23 was not lobbying or campaigning for any particular aspirant, but to ensure that the governorship seat moved to the Delta Central Senatorial District in 2023 on the platform of the existing zoning for the seat in the state.

    He appealed to the leaders and stakeholders of Ukwuani Local Government Area to support the DC-23 push for zoning arrangement on senatorial districts to enhance the chances of the PDP continuing in the governance of the state beyond 2023.

    Leaders and Stakeholders of Ukwuani Local Government Area that were present during the visit included Engr. (Chief) Patrick Kaine, Engr. G. O. C Amuchi, Sir. Fidelis Tilije, Commissioner for Finance, Delta State; Chief Terry Otuya, Chief Isaac Onyesom, Chief Godday Aboh, Col. Okubo (rtd), Dr. Neye Ossai, Sir. Ken Okolugbo, Benedicta Osakwuni Esq., Hon. Nwabueze Kingsley, Hon. Oliver Agidi, Hon. Atumah Isaiah, Hon. Evelyn Olugu, Dr. Ismaita Okudeje, Ogbuefi Chukwudi Dafe, Hon. Nelson Ekete, Chief Monday Ossai, Chief John Ishiekwene, Chief B. J. K Ekezue, Mrs. Ada Okwenene, Chief Ashibudike Otutu, Comr. Connigham Udogwu, Hon. Leo Esegbue, Hon. Basil Ishiekwene and many others.

    DC-23 leaders and members that attended the meeting included Senator (Chief) Ighoyota Amori, National Chairman; Chief Suru Salami, 2nd Vice Chairman; Olorogun Bernard Edewor, Deputy Chairman, BoT; Dr. Chris Oharisi, National Secretary, Olorogun Taleb Tebite, National Financial Secretary; Hon. Godwin Atose, National Organizing Secretary; Hon. (Chief) Sunday Apah, Assistant National Publicity Secretary; Chief Christian Onogba, National Assistant Organizing Secretary; Dcn Raymond Edijala, National Assistant Treasurer; Hon. Festus Pemu, Assistant National Publicity Secretary; and Princess Philo Ededey, Assistant National Welfare Officer.

    Others are Chief Ejaife Odebala, Chief Dr. Mrs. Philomena Oyearone, Chief Mrs. Margret Unukegwo, Chief Moses Orhokpor, Chief London Akpanoko, Engr. Emmanuel Ishaka, Mr. Francis Onogbo, Chief Bestman Itive, Chief Solomon Oturu, Chief Duncan Ewhere, Prince Charles Abutor, Dr. Joseph Onojame, Dr. S. E Omovie, Chief Michael Akpobasa, Chief Collins Eboh, Chief Friday Orugbo, Chief Efe Juweto, Chief Onoriode Ishegbe, Ms Maureen Ughojor, Chief Dr. Isaac Akpoveta, Hon. Francis Okan, Prince Samuel Robinson, Chief David Ejukonemu, Dr. Amos Ighoroje, Dr. Godwin Oke, Eruke Asore, Maidoh-Oyearone Iroro, Jennifer Adasen Efeviroro, Etabuko Godfrey, Christopher Ophori, Lucky Esokpor, Chief Abraham Odjighoro, Engr. Eric Osiobe, Mr. Ejimitowovwon Emmanuel, Mr. Benjamin Ogbimi, Mr. Efe Itie, Sir. Joseph Enakerakpor, Rev. Milton Ojamedaye, Hon. Sunday Adjamue, Representatives of Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, Representatives of Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, Representatives of Olorogun David Edevbie, Representatives of Senator Emmanuel Aguariavwodo, Representatives of Chief James Augoye and others.

  • Delta 2023: DC-23 delisted guber aspirant, Odebala insists his hope of becoming gov still very valid

    Delta 2023: DC-23 delisted guber aspirant, Odebala insists his hope of becoming gov still very valid

    A delisted aspirant by the DC-23 screening committee in the Delta guber race, Chief Ejaife Odebala on Tuesday has declared that his aspirations to become Governor is still very valid.

    TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) reports Odebala via a statement he personally signed advising his supporters to remain steadfast as he is still very much in the guber race come 2023.

    In a statement entitled’Re- DC-23 screening me out of 2023 election process. – Odebala’ he noted that despite the delistment by DC-23, he stated that my aspirations for governor is very healthy and alive. That I am still in the race for Governor under the Peoples Democratic Party.

    Read full statement below:

    I have heard and read the report of DC 23 screening exercise. And l want to state as follow;

    1. That I am a member of DC 23
    2. That I support DC 23 for its quest for Delta central to produce the Governor of delta state and stand by it 100%.
    3. That Following my screening out from DC 23 governorship contest, my aspiration for Governor under DC 23 is temporarily ended
    4. That DC 23 as a political group may review thier actions and support me in future
    5. That My aspirations for governor is very healthy and alive. That I am still in the race for Governor under the people’s Democratic Party.
    6. That all supporters of odebala for Governor project including DC 23 members who believe in me as I hold our collective aspirations should not be disturbed by this development as we will win the race.
    6. That I commend the leadership of DC 23 and its screening committee for thier effort so far in uniting all aspirants.
    7. That I commend the leadership of people Democratic Party under the leadership of Olorogun kingsley Esiso and the leader of the party in the state, senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa for the unity in the party
    Signed
    Ejaife Omizu odebala

  • Delta 2023: Majemite speaks about his agenda for Deltans

    Delta 2023: Majemite speaks about his agenda for Deltans

    Ughelli grassroots politician and two time Commissioner as well as a frontline Governorship aspirant for the Delta State 2023 Election, Olorogun Barrister Fred Okiemute Majemite on Sunday appeared before the DC-23 screening Committee, a body set up by the apex political pressure group in Urhobo land to pursue a Delta Central Governorship candidate in 2023.

    At the screening, Majemite, a Lawyer, grassroots mobilizer with huge supporters and a known political leader in Delta State politics addressed the Committee members, stating his 5-point agenda for the state when elected. Majemite who tagged his 5-point agenda as CARES noted that the acronym CARES represents- Continuity, Accelerated Industrialization, revenue generation, education/empowerment for the youth/elderly and security.

    Majemite, who said he is pleased with the DC-23 Screening Committee members for their commitment to the assignment given to them by the apex Urhobo political group noted that as Governor of the state come 2023 he will carry the three Senatorial Districts along in addition to operating an open door policy that would allow Deltans have their voices heard.

    Majemite told the Screening Committee that his administration will consolidate on the transformation Governor Ifeanyi Okowa led leadership has made and in so doing take Delta State to a greater height.

    Furthermore, Majemite said he will tackle the issue of physical security, food security and social security of the people in addition to his education/empowerment program that will make a lot of Deltans to be self sufficient and employable in an industrialized state while technical education with focus on high yielding professions will form one of the avenues for revenue generation for young adults who are prepared to embrace his agenda for Delta State.

    Beside, Majemite noted that when elected Governor in 2023, he will make sure that all pensioners’ arrears will be paid within the first 12 months of his administration.

    It would be recalled that the 13-Man Committee setup by the Delta Central 2023 (DC-23) lobby group is expected to prune down the number of aspirants jostling for the governorship seat from the Delta Central District to possibly three.

    The screening exercise, the third in its series, held at the Sapele Athletic Club at Sapele in Delta State had in attendance Olorogun Fred Majemite, former Commissioner for Lands and Survey in the State, Rt Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly; Olorogun David Edevbie, immediate past Chief of Staff in the state; Chief James Augoye, immediate past Commissioner for Works; Senator Emmanuel Aguariavwodo, former Managing Director of the NDDC, and Chief Ejaife Odebala, former member of the Delta State House of Assembly

    The 13-man committee has Prof. Nyerhovwo Tonukari, as Chairman; and Prof. Sunny Awhefeada, Secretary. The screening Committee is expected to evaluate the aspirants’ medical fitness, financial capability, suitability, capability, acceptability and others by the generality of Deltans.