- As Ominimini Declares House of Assembly Ambition
By John Oghojafor
It was a carnival of sort in Agbarha Otor, Ughelli North Local Government Area on Saturday when an APC stalwart and former Commissioner for DESOPADEC, Olorogun Dr. Christopher Ominimini Obiuwevbi, declared his ambition before his ward members and Ughelli North Local Government exco of the party, to contest the House of Assembly Ughelli North Constituency I seat in 2019 election.
Ominimini’s declaration which took place at the Community Town hall in Agbarha-Otor, attracted a mammoth crowd of APC members from across all the wards of the Constituency including more than 4,000 members of PDP who defected to the party from other parties.
The former DESOPADEC Commissioner who is famous among the people of his constituency for his philanthropist disposition, while making his intention known to the ward, Local Government and some state executives present, reeled out his outstanding achievements as a Commissioner in the State Oil Commission, stating that he was poised to repeat such feat when he is given the party ticket to contest and represent the people in the State House of Assembly in 2019.
It would be recalled that, prior to the last general election in 2015, Olorogun Ominimini was a staunch member of the PDP who made it possible for the party then to record an overwhelming victory against the opposition party. He however crossed to the APC shortly after the election following a sharp disagreement with the leadership of the PDP which, according to the political bulldozer as he is referred to by many, bordered on brazen disregard for his leadership position in his ward.
Addressing the mammoth crowd of supporters that gathered at the venue of the declaration, Ominimini stated that he decided to opt for the House of Assembly seat to enable him do more to impact on the lives of the people of the Constituency, noting that he has all it takes physically, educationally and financially to contest for the position successfully.
He recalled how he spread development to all nooks and crannies of the Constituency when he was the Commissioner for DESOPADEC representing the area, adding that primary schools and secondary schools across the area had a feel of his touch in terms of thousands of school seats and benches, renovation of classrooms, distribution of notebooks, empowerment of women who were traders with cash donation, distribution of cars to over sixty persons, construction of roads, among others. He noted that he achieved a lot as Commissioner of DESOPADEC even though he was not voted for nor elected to be there.
Speaker after speaker, representatives from Agbarha-Otor, Orogun, Ogor and Evwreni wards that make up the Constituency, eulogized the sterling qualities of Olorogun Ominimini, assuring that they were ready to support his ambition to the House of Assembly.
Responding, the APC chairman in Ughelli North, Dr. Felix Ekure expressed satisfaction with the manner with which Olorogun Ominimini had openly declared his intention, adding that the party was prepared to offer a level playing field for all those who would indicate intention in order to present the first eleven of the party to contest for all the positions.
Fielding questions from newsmen shortly after the declaration, Olorogun Ominimini recalled that political leaders in the area have been beckoning on him to make up his mind to represent the people at the State House of Assembly, adding that he had no choice than to obey the voice of the people.
Said he: “I wanted to contest for the position of the House of Representatives for the Ughelli-Udu federal constituency. But the leaders of this state constituency have beckoned on me to contest for the House of Assembly. They have advised me that given what we have at present it is good I run for the House of Assembly. And I saw reason with them. So, this is the voice of the people.”
He recalled how he contributed to the growth and development of PDP right from 1998, adding that he would ensure he draws from his pool of past political experience to produce victory for APC.
“It is the same Ominimini who had done it before that will do it now in APC. Some of my boys had led delegations to me saying that I should have sponsored them to contest for the House of Assembly so that I would go for House of Representatives. It was actually my original aim to sponsor about five House of Assembly members in Delta Central. But the fact that I’m contesting today does not stop me from sponsoring other House of Assembly members. I’m sponsoring other members to the House of Assembly today. But my experience will come to bear in this activity”, he said.
Ominimini does not envisage any challenge on his way to the Delta State House of Assembly as, according to him, he is qualified in terms of academic, spread, popularity and pedigree.
Said he: “I don’t see any area of challenge. First of all, academically I’m qualified. I pursued my education to Ph.D level in management from the prestigious University of Nigeria. I did my bachelor of Science, Master of Science, Master in Business Administration and Ph.D in Management. As for spread, my mother is from Orogun, a powerful woman leader. I have a lot of brothers and friends in Orogun where I did my primary school. I’m from Agbarha and my late father was a strong politician and philanthropist who gave scholarships to people to study abroad. He joined the Action Group party because of Chief Awolowo’s free education policy. In Ogor, Evwreni and other parts of the Constituency, I’m well-known. So, I do not envisage any challenge because I’m going to win across the wards if APC gives me the House of Assembly ticket.”
Present at the occasion was the State Treasurer of the APC, Mr. Edewor, the Local Government Party chairman, Dr. Felix Ekure, the State Assistant Organizing Secretary, other party leaders from the various wards among others.
Highpoint of the occasion was the defection of over 4,000 members of the PDP and other parties to the APC. They were received by the Local Government party chairman, Dr. Felix Ekure who welcomed them to the party, encouraging them that though new, they were entitled to all the privileges that accrue to older members for as long as they remain loyal to the party.
