- Says He’s An APC Member
The All Progressives Congress has dismissed claims making the rounds that the newly appointment Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Bernard Okumagba is not a member of the party and thereby should not be considered for the appointment.
A certain publication in the Vanguard Newspaper of Wednesday, 11th day of September, 2019 which was also circulated on the social/online media had stated reasons why President Muhammadu Buhari should drop Okumagba from the position.
Reacting to the content of the publication in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Delta State chapter of the APC, through its publicity secretary, Ogheneruemu Sylvester Imonina, the party said the publication was an attempt by power seekers within and outside the party to cause disaffection among the members of the party, as well as to sling mud at Okumagba.
“We state unequivocally that the said publication is a tissue of lies laced with falsehood, and a figment of their imagination. In fact, nothing is farther from the truth than that hotchpotch of misrepresentations and seed of disunity.
“The Party knows that because of the period we are in, there are bound to be unhealthy political manoeuvring, mudslinging and shenanigans by power seekers within and outside APC fold in Delta State, hence the Party, acting as a father to all genuine members, would not condole things that tend to create more confusion, rather than unity in the party.
“From the tune of the publication, same is scripted to portray the Party, its Leaders and members in Delta State as disrespectful, irresponsible and political war-mongers before Mr. President and members of the public. While the Party is aware of the fact that there is an ongoing political manoeuvring by highly placed members in terms of political appointments, the Party is also mindful of the fact that such appointments have always been the sole prerogative of Mr. President based on the technocratic and meritocratic qualities of interested individuals involved, besides the observance of relevant Sections of the law pertaining to the institution involved.”
While establishing that Okumagba had immensely contributed to the progress of APC in the state, the statement further read: “the party categorically condemns the attempt to rubbish the membership and contributions of Chief Bernard Okumagba, a foremost party member of APC, Delta State, from Warri South Local Government Area in Delta South Senatorial District of Delta State.
“First and foremost, the assertion that Chief Bernard Okumagba is not a member of APC flies in the air. It is a lie from the pit of hell. From available information, Chief Bernard Okumagba joined APC on the 6th day of January 2017. His registration number in the Party membership’s register is 17949553 Therefore, the suggestion and the misinformation about his non-membership is a deceit by the unknown authors to discredit him, and achieve their ulterior motives.
“Also, we want to state that Chief Bernard Okumagba was one of the National Delegates that represented Warri South in two previous National Conventions of our great Party, APC. He has being a source of encouragement to APC in his Ward/immediate enviroment, Local Government Area and APC, Delta State.
“On the issue of His Excellency, Distinguished Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege coming from the same ethnic nationality with Chief Bernard Okumagba, we state that while Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege is from Delta Central Senatorial District, Chief Bernard Okumagba is from Delta South Senatorial Distict. In other words, when political offices are shared in Delta State, the Urhobos in Delta South do not benefit from whatever accrues to Delta Central Senatorial District, hence, besides other uncountable instance, few weeks ago, when Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege appreciated/empowered his people of Delta Central, the Urhobos in Delta South, like other ethnic nationalities in Delta South did not partake in same.
“Aside the above, the office of the Deputy Senate President which Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege occupies today, is not an appointive office but an elective office zoned to the Southern part of Nigeria. Distinguished Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege passed through the rigour of election before he emerged as a Deputy Senate President. We therefore condemn in totality the insinuation that Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege is occupying the position that ought to have gone to some persons in Delta South Senatorial District.
“We are not unaware of the fact that the said publication is the antics of certain desperate individuals, to hoodwink and bamboozle Mr. President into appointing covert PDP agents and apologists who masquerade as members of the Party in Delta State.
“The Party in Delta State wishes to assure Mr. President of its unalloyed support and loyalty, particularly in the delivery of the Next Level Agenda, which requires the very best hands.
“Members of our great Party and the Public are advised not to be used as instruments of maligning Party members like Chief Bernard Okumagba and other well-meaning leaders of the Party in Delta State.”
