By Austin Ogwuda
THE conspicuous absence of the former Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Ovie Omo Agege during the re-entry of Chief Great Ogboru to the All Progressives Congress (APC) fold in Delta State on Sunday was a clear indication that the crack is still there.
The occasion which drew prominent APC stakeholders across the State without Omo Agege who has been locked in supremacy battle over leadership of the Party in Delta State was akin to grave yard silence scenario, although Keyamo laboured to dismiss the insinuations over the struggle.
Recall that the two notable Party big wigs recently went to meet with President Bola Tinubu chesting out for photo shoot with the President which both ensured received wide publicity both in the mainstream and online media outfits in desperate attempt to assert authority and closeness to Abuja.
Speaking while receiving Ogboru, the Aviation Minister, Festus Keyamo said, “APC in Delta State would now operate under collective leadership.
From today, anywhere you see these leaders going, follow them. I am not a sole leader of the party; I am saying it today, that I am not a sole leader.
“I am one of the leaders, not the sole leader. When they wrote Keyamo versus this, it’s a lie. I didn’t ask them to write that. We are in a collective leadership”, he stated.
Continuing, he said, “I want to thank the state Chairman of the party, Chief Omene Sobotie and all the leaders here today. Today, I have come to join hands with the college of leaders to continue from where we stopped—to try our best and to give our all to ensure that not only will APC be the ruling party in this state, but that one day, it will be said that when APC took over Delta State, the lives of the people changed.
“Our big brother, Great Ogboru, and his supporters didn’t leave the party; we know what happened. They only went to hide, and today, we have just opened the trap where they went to hide to bring them back.
“So, they didn’t leave—they’re still at home. Today, is a welcome-back event; we just opened the door and said come back. We don’t want you to lock yourself where you locked yourself again”, he added.
…. how Ogboru’s re-entry was almost scuttled
Keyamo took a swipe on attempts by some individuals to disrupt mobilization to the extent of passing false information that the occasion has been cancelled.
“Yesterday, as we were mobilizing to come for this event, somebody went on the radio to say they had canceled the event. That is the height of desperation”, Keyamo said angrily.
He highlighted Ogboru’s impressive political track record, recalling that at the peak of the PDP’s dominance in Delta State, he (Ogboru) won 12 local governments, secured nine House of Assembly seats, and a Senate seat.
“When he was achieving all these, he was not holding any key position in Abuja. This is what our sister called organic leadership”, said Keyamo.
…..Why APC lost in 2023
The Aviation Minister further went down the memory lane attributing the APC’s poor performance in the 2023 elections to the concentration of power in the hands of one individual
“The reason we lost in 2023 was because someone held the entire party structure like an emperor and was distributing it the way he liked,” he stated.
He commended the APC Delta State Chairman, Omene Sobotie, for initiating the restructuring and reconciliation process, which led to the constitution of the reconciliation committee, headed by Olorogun O’tega Emerhor.
“It was part of the recommendation of the committee that there should be a college of leaders, which is the inner caucus. Some people are saying the college of leaders is not in the APC constitution—then they should show me where sole leader is in the constitution”, he explained.
