- Oshiomhole, APC Hierarchy Weighs Omo-Agege’s Choice
- As Buhari Asks Oshiomhole to Act as Clearing House for South South
By David Adedoja
As the political intrigues over who occupies principal offices in the National Assembly host up, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, Senator Representing Delta Central in the Senate has secured high-level nod to gun for the position of Deputy Senate President which may have been strategically zoned to South South geo-political zone, as a political move to help douse mounting tension, hostilities and agitations over neglect of the Niger Delta region in the current socio-economic and political setting in the country.
Top level political sources confided in The New Diplomat that top officials of the Buhari administration and the hierarchy of the ruling All Progressives Party(APC) deliberated on the various offices in the Senate and agreed that the Niger Delta region which produces the Oil and Gas resources which account for about 95% of the country’s externally generated revenue should be allowed to produce a nominee for the position of Deputy Senate President to help calm rising tempers and build a feeling of equity, justice, parity and balance in the socio-political and economic structure of the current APC government.
Presidency sources hinted that the National Chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, immediate past Governor of Edo State has been saddled with the responsibility, among others, of serving as the clearing house for South South Matters and is currently weighing in on the situation with indications that he is considering Omo-Agege as a natural choice for the position of Deputy Senate President because both the “ National Chairman of the Party and the Deputy Senate President cannot come from the same state otherwise his first choice was Senator Francis Alimikhena from Edo State.”
Said an insider: “As I speak to you, Comrade(Oshiomhole) has been told to also clear and handle all matters relating to the South South geo-political zone because he is not only the National Chairman of the APC, he is the only APC Leader from the South South who delivered his Edo State to President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC in the recent elections as opposed to Rotimi Ameachi who was defeated by Wike in Amaechi’s own very Local Government. Comrade has been consistent and contrary to misleading media reports, he is working with Senator Ovie Omo-Agege to ensure that the lots of the South South and the Niger Delta are improved. Initially, Comrade wanted Senator Alimikhena but he has since come to terms with the fact that Edo can’t have both positions hence Omo-Agege is being considered very seriously. Besides, Omo-Agege is very brilliant, a strong parliamentarian and a lawyer who as a two-time Senator would bring a lot of experience and brilliance to bear on that role. Don’t forget, Omo-Agege himself also greatly understands the need for both the parliament and the executives to work together in harmony for the good of the country. He has been a Commissioner and a Secretary to Government of Delta State. Besides, the powers that be wants to accommodate the Urhobos, the 5th largest ethnic nationality in the country but has been badly marginalized by previous governments including those of Goodluck Jonathan and Obasanjo.”
Informed sources revealed that Omo-Agege who has characteristically shown political sagacity and resilience in a PDP-controlled Delta State in two consecutive elections where he emerged as Senator on Labour Party ticket and currently on APC ticket, has had to contend with a deluge of anti-party plots by some disgruntled politicians who feel embittered that Omo-Agege has become a dominant actor and factor in APC chess game. But Oshiomhole, it was gathered has threatened to expel anyone who refuses to desist from anti-party activities going forward.
