By Matthew Odiete
The mega unity meeting of the Delta Central APC held on June 8 in Ughelli was not only hugely successful but has sent a strong signal of the strong bond and resolve of the leaders and faithful, old and new, to keep together.
The assemblage had Olorogun Otega Emerhor, a founding father of the party, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus keyamo SAN, the Distinguished Senator representing Delta Central, Ede Dafinone, Ughelli/ Udu Reps member, Rev Ejiroghene Waive, Delta State APC Chairman, Elder Omeni Sobotie, the Senatorial District APC Chairman, Chief Paulinus Akpeki, the Chief Adviser to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, Chief lghoyota Amori, Deputy Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon Arthur Akpowowo, Chairman of the Delta State Board of Internal Revenue, Hon Solomon lghrakpata, NEXIM Bank Executive Director, Chief Stella Okotete, members of the state executive council from the district, the eight local government Chairmen from the area, Chairmen and heads of various boards and parastatals, and various political appointees.
The event which culminated in the endorsement of the continued leadership and governance of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has brought sleepless nights to the enemies within, and it is no surprise that they have begun, as in their character, to concoct disaffection in a failed bid to inject bad blood within the ranks of the party.
A recent attempt was the contortion of a false narrative that the person and office of Distinguished Senator Ede Dafinone were disregarded and undermined at the convergence.
Interestingly, as widely reported by leading national news platforms, Dafinone was not only accorded his rightful place, but he was also visibly at the centre and in command of the proceedings.
The reports were clear that it was Senator Dafinone who presided over the motion that headlined the meeting, the affirmation of support of President Tinubu and Governor Oborevwori, as moved by Rt. Hon Francis Waive, representing Ughelli/Udu Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, and seconded by Halims Agoda, a former member of the House of Representatives.
What more is there to add? Obviously, the false report about the treatment of Senator Dafinone was calculated to cause division, but it falls flat in the face of indubitable facts.
Curiously, even in their shameless and failed disguise, the authors of the falsehood also sought to pursue political capital from their ignoble act by contriving to drag Governor Oborevwori into their falsehood.
According to Oasis Magazine, “furious supporters of the 2023 APC governorship candidate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, lashed out, accusing Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of clandestinely working to dismantle the party’s structures in the region.”
They tried to soil the moment by also falsely stating that “the unity meeting was a well-orchestrated betrayal to weaken APC’s grip and prepare the grounds for PDP dominance.”
It is needless to state that those words are as empty as they are unfounded. At best, they amplify the definition of stupidity, a lack of intelligence, good reasoning, understanding, and the inability to learn.
Everyone knows that Governor Oborevwori has long left the PDP and now leads the APC, which he is currently rebuilding unto higher grounds, the Delta Central APC meeting being one of the many effective initiatives.
The irony, on the other hand, is that Omo-Agege failed to attend such an important meeting of the district aimed at strengthening the bonds of the party, yet his supporters are being quoted as championing falsehood about it.
Perhaps only he can tell why they have chosen this path of dishonour.
(Odiete writes from Ughelli, Delta State)
