- As Emerhor describes Omo-Agege as Delta State APC Overall leader
- Omo-Agege acknowledges Emerhor as founding leader of party in Delta
- Both agree to work together, reach out to other leaders to tackle PDP
- Both Omo-Agege, Emerhor set ball rolling for total settlement – Bodjor
(By Hamilton Nwosa, Head, Polling, Research & Data desk with report from The New Diplomat’s Delta State Bureau)
The much sought-after unity and total reconciliation of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Delta State may just be a few steps away as the major actors and leaders of the party have agreed to bury the hatchet and move the party forward.
This much was the resolution of the historic meeting between the founding leader of the party in the state, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor and the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator representing Delta Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, which took place at the country home of the former, in Evwreni, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State.
Speaking on the significance of the meeting, Senator Omo-Agege who also doubles as chairman of the Senate Committee on the Review of the Nigerian Constitution disclosed that it was not the first time they were meeting, adding that they had met severally in Abuja. According to him, his visit was to reiterate the importance of what they have agreed before now that it was about time everybody was brought together.
Obarisi Omo-Agege noted that following previous meetings between him and Olorogun Emerhor they came to a conclusion that they are of the view that Delta State is ripe enough for the taking by the APC.
Furthermore, he reiterated that taking over Delta State can only be possible if all APC members and stakeholders are on the same page, adding that there was actually nothing to fight for.
He said: “This is not the first time we are meeting. We have met severally at his residence in Abuja. My visit is to reiterate to him that, based on the discussion we have had and the understanding we had, it is time we bring everybody together. Himself and I share a view that Delta State is ripe for the taking. We also share the concern that that can only happen if all of us are on the same page.
“We felt that it is time to begin to emphasize more on what unites us than what divide us because that is the only way we can win election here in Delta State. So, we have decided that we put all our differences aside.
“Olorogun O’tega Emerhor and I already have that understanding. But it is important that those who follow us; those who sympathize with us; those who share in our aspiration; it is also good they should also see that. That is the reason the meeting is taking place outside now. So, you would know that as from today, going forward, we are one.”
Speaking further, Omo-Agege noted that the party is not all about O’tega Emerhor and himself, pointing out that there are other leaders of the party who were not at the meeting. He assured that himself and Emerhor will reach out to those other leaders to bring everybody on board.
“But the party is not just about Olorogun O’tega Emerhor and myself. We also have other leaders who are not here. We will reach out as we have started. Olorogun and I had reached out severally. We will continue to reach out to try and bring everybody on board.
“We respect everyone. Let me be very clear about that. We respect every leader of the party in the state. We are not dragging any leadership position with anybody in the State. There is no one out there who can claim to be the founding leader of the party other than Olorogun O’tega Emerhor.
“Like I said, we are not dragging leadership with anyone. If you want to provide leadership, you are free to provide leadership. But all we want is that at the end of the day, Delta State is delivered to the APC.
“So, let us reach out to other leaders, let us reach out to those who align with them, those who support them and those who share in their aspirations. And let them understand that we are first and foremost we are all members of the APC before we are supporters of individual leaders.”
Senator Omo-Agege thanked Olorogun Emerhor profusely, extolling his leadership and his maturity in his effort to bring unity to the party, adding that it is “very endearing”.
“So, as we leave here today, we should reach out to everybody. We don’t have permanent friend, we don’t have permanent enemy, what we have is permanent interest and that interest is to deliver Delta State to the APC.
In his response, the founding leader of the APC in Delta State, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor described the meeting as a historic one, adding that it is a day that is remarkable.
Emerhor expressed utmost recognition for the position of the Deputy President of the Senate, stating that although with his present political office, it would not have been out of place for him (Emerhor) to hold the meeting in the Senator’s house because he deserves it. He therefore thanked the Obarisi of Urhobo land for the honour to come to his house.
According to him, the meeting was actually held to make clear a lot of things to those who are followers, adding that for sometime now those who are close to him may have been hearing the kind of messages he has been sending out. He noted that right from 2013 when the APC was registered after the death of late Senator Pius Ewherido, up till now, he could recall the suffering the party has gone through, adding that lack of unity has robbed it of all opportunities.
Emerhor emphasized the importance of unity, respect for leadership and the need to eliminate factions, adding that these are the formula to win Delta State.
While acknowledging the foremost leadership of Senator Omo-Agege in Delta State, he charged the Senator to work harder to bring everyone together and bring unity in the state, adding that he (Emerhor) would work closely with the Senator to reach out to other leaders of the party in the state.
He said: “Today is a historic day. It’s a day that is going to be remarkable, it is a day that God has made. I think we are all very happy because one year ago if a prophet had told us that we will meet here today, I would have had difficulty in believing that prophet.
“I’m happy that the Deputy President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who is from Delta State, who is from Urhobo land and who is from Ughelli North, my Local Government Area is here today.
“The truth is that at the level he currently play, it will not be too much if he insists that whenever we are meeting such meeting should take place in his house. But because I’m his senior brother, he humbly suggested that the meeting should be held in my house. That is respect for seniority.
“We are here because it is time that we put a lot of things very clear to the people who follow us. For sometime now, people who are closer to be are hearing the kind of messages I’m sending out. As a man who, when this party was registered in 2013, July, when we lost Senator Ewherido, as a man who stepped forward start to build this party, and then ran for senatorial, and then ran for governorship in 2015, I know what we have suffered in this state.
“And I also know why we have not gone far in this state. It is not because PDP has been so strong, (they are strong, no doubt about it), but we have never been united among ourselves. If you don’t come together then it is easy to take you apart and break you. That is the lesson from the broom. And that is what has been happening to us in Delta State.
“So from experience, I believe that the only winning formula we have against PDP in the next election is unity. Divided we fall, united we stand. That is the winning formula. And that is what I have continued to try to preach.
“And I’m happy that that is what Senator Omo-Agege has come to demonstrate here today by putting aside differences that we apparently had. He didn’t start it from this visit. He had reached out to me, like he acknowledged. And we have met before, we have had discussion and today, he has come to make it public. So, that all of us will know that we must come together.
“Another formula for winning in Delta State is leadership. There is no way if there are many captains in a ship that the ship will go forward. So, there must be a leader. There are many leaders but there must be one leader who organizes the people to work together.
“From my upbringing, if you are a father and you are lucky to give birth to a king, once the person is a king, you still remain the father and he must respect you as his father but you are his subject.
“Senator Ovie Omo-Agege today, God has made him a king in Delta. That cannot be disputed. But he is here today to respect his senior brother. This is the second truth if we must win. We must have a leader and that role it is only him that can play it now.
“But leadership comes with a challenge. If you a king you must bring the people together. And that is my challenge to Leader Senator Ovie Omo-Agege. My dear leader, my dear Senator, you will do more. You will not give up on any person. I will be part of it.
Speaking further, Emerhor noted that the third formula for winning is the elimination of factions where one faction will gang up against another faction, adding that factionalization is one of those potent forces that have destroyed the party.
“The third part of it is that the era of two people ganging up against another person is gone. That is destroying the party. We will not have two factions again. It (Faction) has never worked and it will never work.
“So, anybody who think I will not work with the Senator it is not true. I will work with him and we will bring the other people in.
“Myself, himself, Great Ogboru, Minister Keyamo, we have met before. We have a whatsapp platform and we agreed that we will come to Urhobo land, which is Delta Central first and invite all our people so that they will know that we are now working together. And I am going to support him like he had said before. We will do our best so that everybody can come together.
“Being leader does not mean a sole administrator. You will still gather the people. And they give a better opinion, I’m sure you will accept it. That is the way to go to unite the party.
“So, I challenge you, I encourage you. I know it is going to be a difficult task because ego and personal feelings are involved. We must work together. And the party must be one. There is enough to go round. Governorship is not the only thing available. There are other positions. So, position should not be a thing that will divide us.
“I believe that this is a good start that the Senator is here and Our people are here and they now know where we are going. I will personally talk to the other leaders. We must all come together to talk to people in Delta Central to say that the party is now one and the only enemy we have is PDP”, Emerhor concluded.
Commenting on the outcome of the meeting, the Delta State APC Caretaker Committee Vice Chairman, Delta Central, Olorogun Adelabu Bodjor said that the duo of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege and Olorogun O’tega Emerhor have set the ball rolling for a total settlement of the party in the State.
According to him, today turned out to be one of the best days in APC apart from the day the party was registered. He said that for the two leaders to come together and agree on the way forward for the party, it means the APC is set to take over the governance of Delta State.
He said: “Today is the best day for the party outside the day of registration. For the two leaders to come together with every other leader in Delta State, it all means that the road is clear for APC in Delta State to take over the governance of the State.
“The journey of one million kilometer starts with one step. This is the beginning of the end of the confusion that has plagued APC in Delta State. These two leaders have said it that they will pursue the reconciliation process to a conclusive end. So, there is no fear of any leader being left behind. Those aggrieved will be persuaded and brought in.
“The two leaders, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor and the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege have set the ball rolling, ball of reconciliation, ball of all-inclusiveness. They have said it that every other leader that is still waiting in the wing, that is still angry will be brought in for an all-inclusive and total settlement.
“We are already aware that they have been working underground. This is the beginning of harvest of the APC.”
