- Urges members to work with Omo-Agege, Erue’s Caretaker Committee leadership
With Delta 2023 guber in focus, an All Progressives Congress (APC) group, the Emerhor Political Family, (EPF) has called on all members and stakeholders of the party to work with common purpose towards dislodging the present ruling party in the State.
The group under the leadership of the founding leader and 2015 governorship candidate of APC in the State, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, in a statement signed by the group Coordinator, Rt. Hon. Chief Alfred Oloko, recently, said that 2023 offers the party a unique opportunity to emancipate the State from the stranglehold of the current ruling party, the PDP.
Stressing on the need for APC leaders and stakeholders to work together, the group emphasized that it is through cohesion and unity behind a recognized leadership who has the capacity to drive the prosecution of the battle ahead that can deliver the State from the bondage of the ruling party.
The group singled out the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, as the leader of the party in the State with the capacity to lead the battle to dislodge the State from its vice grip of the ruling party, urging all members of the party to lend their support to the Senator representing Delta Central in the State as well as the State Caretaker Committee chairman, Prophet Jones Erue so that victory can be assured.
The statement reads in part: “That the Emerhor Political Family, EPF, believes that, after so many years of false starts and failed attempts, 2023 presents APC a unique and viable opportunity to dislodge the PDP from its strangle hold of mis-governance in Delta State.
“That the APC party in Delta State can only fruitfully exploit this opportunity if it unites behind one Leadership who can drive the prosecution of the war ahead to extract the state from the vice grip of the PDP.
“That the EPF believes that Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, the Deputy President of the Senate, is uniquely positioned and has the fighting spirit and capacity to lead this action to dislodge the PDP.
“That it is the above beliefs, and the selfless desire of the Leadership of the EPF that has made the EPF to take a position to not any longer be involved in any intra party squabbles, but to work with the National APC recognized State Caretaker Committee led by Prophet Jones Ode Erue and other party leaders towards the possibility of midwifeing peace in the party.”
Commenting on the recently-concluded Ward Congress of the APC in the State, the Emerhor Political Forum noted that although there were few hitches in the conduct, the was prepared to work with any structure that might emerge in the interest of peace and victory for the party.
“That EPF accepts the reality that the Ward congresses have come and gone. The EPF in particular notes that its members were not favored with a level playing field at the said congresses. Yet, based on the EPF determination to put the interest of winning above everything else, the EPF is preparing itself to work with any party structures that will eventually emerge”, the group noted.
The group also expressed the need for inclusiveness in some critical decisions being taken by the recognized leadership of the party both at the State and the national level, adding that a wider consultation would assist in moderating some utterances that are not in the interest of unity of the party.
“The EPF notes that certain publications have been made in the public space regarding the congresses by the Leadership of the Delta State APC caucus. The names of the leader of EPF, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, its coordinator, Rt. Hon. Chief Alfred Oloko and other key members have been included as signatories to these publications.
“While the EPF Leadership will not deny its membership of the State APC caucus, EPF believes that if it was duly consulted, it would have influenced the moderation of some of the ultra strong and hard line language contained therein. These publications are not in line with the EPF’s stance on the need to continue to work towards full inclusion, reconciliation and unity in the party”, the group said.
Emphasizing the position of Omo-Agege to champion the political battle ahead of the party, the group assured of its commitment to the goal of unity, adding that much is expected in the area of support from the members.
It also called on the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege to do more in the area of inclusiveness in the forthcoming Local Government and State Congresses, just as they suggested that he should not relent in his effort reach out to others for total reconciliation and peace of the party in the State.
“The EPF further believes that the opportunity to have an all inclusive and united APC still exists and the Leadership of the EPF recommits itself to this. The EPF having accepted to work with the State party Leadership towards the goal of unity and having accorded DSP Ovie Omo-Agege as the lead in the upcoming inter party fight, EPF believes that to whom much is given, much more is expected.
“EPF therefore calls on the party and the DSP to do more towards full inclusiveness particularly as the party moves towards the LGAs and State congresses. EPF also asks other leaders currently on the war path to shield their swords and to agree to a seat at the round table of reconciliation and peace. EPF requests all APC leaders at this point to tone down the rhetoric and give the party the chance to heal.”
