The ululation began on Friday, 13th January, 2023. Like a tornado it vibrated, breaking through all bounds of Esezi quarters, permeating the herges of Orhoro enclave, across the precincts of Evwreke, down to the brims of Orhue dukedom. In the history of political campaigns, it was the first of its kind in Okpe kingdom.
Men, women, youths, and even school children were all caught in the euphoria of the moment, gyrating, twinning their waists, wriggling their bodies and twerking their bottoms to the rhythm of day. It was serious political business laced with fun and conviviality with the sole aim to transforming Okpe kingdom and the generality of Delta State to Heavens on Earth.
We cannot forget the Jeddo market women, who thronged out in their great number and started sweeping the road clean with their brooms at the Jeddo market square, all in solidarity awaiting the arrival of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege CFR, to the Esezi clan of Okpe kingdom. For even in the middle of a solemn political atmosphere, Omo-Agege could not conquer the flow of powerful emotions as he was drowned in it. He ordered his convoy to pull up at the market square, and came down from his vehicle to join the retinue of the dancing market women. With his entourage, Ovie Omo-Agege danced and celebrated the moment with the Jeddo folks before he proceeded into the interior of Ugbokodo and Ughoton. A better part of the day was already spent on the way to the Ughoton venue of the Esezi Zone, and so much time could not dissipated at the venue. In all, the impression on the way to Ughoton was much more thicker than that of the venue itself.
Stretching on to 16th January, 2023, it was the turn of the Orhoro clan of Okpe kingdom, to receive the OBARISI of Urhoboland. From the Ugolo axis of Evwreke down to the metropolis of Orerokpe, everywhere was electrified by the Triumphant Entry of the Deputy Senate President, the APC Governorship Candidate of Delta State. It started from Osubi, the hometown of Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, the Governorship Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP. To identify with all of the loving folks of Osubi, Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege dimmed it necessary to alight from his vehicle to feel the acknowledgement and pulse of the common folks.
With the mammoth crowd behind him and ahead of him, Omo-Agege marched through Osubi main town waving hands to, shaking hands and talking with his teeming supporters from the environment. Supporters of Sheriff Oborevwori were memerised and stunned into speechlessness as the ever jubilant and boisterous crowd of Ovie Omo-Agege stole the moment. And before he finally left Osubi around 1pm, there was already the overwhelming conviction that the people understood the difference between chaff and grain.
From Osubi the march continued towards Orerokpe, the ancestral home of the Okpe people. At the Oha junction leading to Orerokpe town was another mammoth crowd waiting in excitement. One dominant colour amidst this crowd was the sky-blue colour sported by members of the Concerned Okada/Keke Riders for Omo-Agege, COFO. Their energy, zest, vigour, zeal, enthusiasm and anxiety to escort the OBARISI down to Orerokpe was another scene on its own. Alas, the OBARISI was there. Even though he was not yet in sight, the bluish rays from the two zooming power motorbikes of his convoy had already announced his arrival. And from Oha it was another episode for reckoning.
In his usual modesty, the DSP pulped out his body from his car door and stood to wave across the huge crowd that stood along the Oha-Orerokpe old road. The ovation was unprecedented. And most captivating was when Ovie Omo-Agege got close to Ogwhere Primary School, Oha, very close to the Oha old bridge. Along the road in front of the school gate were primary school pupils lining the roadside and waving in unison with chanting song, “Omo-Agege na you we know”. Ovie Omo-Agege was so entralled as he smiled back at them with wide wave of his hands.
And from Oha the Triumphant Entry continued into Orerokpe town. From the Okughelli entrance of Orerokpe down to the venue at Baptist High School, Orerokpe, the entire town was set agog. Heralding the coming of the OBARISI into Orerokpe, various groups of APC supporters had occupied the town, with music, songs, sounds of gongs, drums, flutes, cannons, tambourines, and dusts from patches of convoys rendering the air. They may not agree in the open, but it was very obvious that from all breadth and length of the Okpe headquarters, the PDP were fanned so cold by the flapping wings of the giant Eagle called APC.
And after all of the hurlyburly was done, all roads led to Aghalokpe, the ancestral home of the OBARISI himself, one of the very fountains of his being as an Okpe son. It was not just home visit, it was the height of nostalgia. The joy of joining his kinsmen again knew no bounds. With the warm smiles wrapped on his ever lively countenance, Sen. Omo-Agege was nostalgically taken memories back to the early days of the renowned White House in Aghalokpe town, erected by his biological father, late Justice James Omo-Agege, for his mother, late Madam Omamogho, the eldest daughter of Onokpayunu, and grand daughter of Ogoni, the founder of Aghalokpe in Evwreke ruling clan of Okpe Kindom. Who says Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege is not an Okpe son?. That person is bereft of the basic ingredients of biographic history. Who says Sheriff Oborevwori is more Okpe than Ovie Omo-Agege?. That person has lost all senses of Okpe genealogical direction. The incoming Governor was not only received in the streams of encomiums by his kinsmen, for the first time in a long while he realized that East, North, West, and South, Agholokpe is a home to visit so often.
From the Onokpayunu compound in Aghalokpe, the Agege convoy moved on to the rally venue at St. Peter Claver’s College, Agholokpe. The people could not control their emotions and excitement when the DSP alighted and started waving and handshaking into the huge crowd. Meanwhile, while Aghalokpe was already charged up with the rally activities, the waiting crowd at Adeje in the Mereje clan of Okpe kingdom was earnestly yearning to have a taste of their own part of the show.
The time was already far spent into dusk, but protocols would not allow any stone to be left unturned. The Mereje axis cannot be cheated, and so, in the dusky atmosphere of the day, the two revving power motorbikes led the cheering convoy down to Adeje. At the very heart of the Mereje clan, night was turned into day. The rays from headlights of vehicles did the magic. The venue became a kaleidoscope of colours like a super casino club house, booming with life and myriad of activities just to pass the message of victory and hope across to the people.
Alas, in everything, all was well that ended well! Senator Ovie Omo-Agege is our Governor!
NB: Solomon Avwioroko (Don Solo), wrote from Delta State.
