RE: Between Ogboru and Omo-Agege, Who is the greater asset to Urhobo?

By Oke Adamudagha

The piece by one Annabel Ogheneganre captioned “Between Ogboru and Omo-Agege: Who is the greater asset to Urhobo” was a sour taste and a toxic narrative of a paid agent.

It is very unfortunate that what I initially thought would be an interesting and insightful piece turned out to be nothing than figment of the writer’s imagination. I couldn’t help but wonder what he intended to achieve. Ordinarily, I do not respond to such baseless write-ups, but after reading through, I considered it necessary to address the misrepresentations.

At first, I took interests in his views on hate speech, believing he had a sound perspective. However, as I continued, I realized his write-up was even worse than the hate speech he claimed to criticize. If this was a paid attempt to stir division between Omo-Agege and Ogboru’s supporters, then it is truly disappointing.

Let me be clear: I have taken time to study Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru’s political journey, and it is evident that he is not one to encourage violence. Time and again, he has been seen advising his supporters to avoid the use of foul languages or any actions that could create tension in the political space. Is this the same person the writer accuses of sponsoring attacks on Barr Ovie Omo-Agege?

If you must make accusations, it only makes sense when you back them up with proof instead of peddling baseless claims simply because you were paid to do so.

The question of who is an asset to the Urhobo people should be examined with facts, not sentiments. If your definition of an asset is based on streetlights, tricycles, a few Corolla vehicles, some projects attracted to Orogun, his home town, or transformers given to all states by federal ministry of power that he distributed in his constituency is what the writer assumes as personal gifts, then his notion of an asset is not only misleading but also a gross misrepresentation of reality.

If the writer wanted to highlight achievements, he should have focused on how many Urhobo sons and daughters Barr. Ovie Omo-Agege transformed during his eight years in the Senate. Apart from his younger brother, who was the sole beneficiary of his mandate, what tangible impact did his eight years in the senate had on the lives of Urhobo youths?, I use the term “sole beneficiary” deliberately because of Omo-Agege’s fondness for the phrase “Sole Leader.”

Let us take a moment to appreciate the legacy of Chief James Onanefe Ibori. History will always remember him for his contributions to both human and infrastructural development in Urhobo land. Many Urhobo politicians from 1999 till date owe their political rise to his positive influence and contributions to their lives. Can any of them honestly say they did not benefit from his leadership?

The writer should have asked how many Urhobo sons and daughters Barr. Omo-Agege empowered outside his immediate constituency in Orogun. Can anyone name a single person he lifted politically or economically? The only thing I recall vividly is the Corolla vehicles he distributed to a few local government party chairmen, which he later retrieved from some when they opposed his leadership style. There is an old saying: “He who lives in a glass house should not throw stones.”

Take a tour of the eight local government areas of Delta Central and the 24 kingdoms of Urhobo land. Show me any flashy car or edifice built by any of Barr. Omo-Agege’s diehard members. Show me a single outstanding initiative he personally funded for the betterment of Urhobo people. Yet, some people prefer to sing his praises while attacking Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru, a highly respected leader.

Nobody will pay me to write against any illustrious Urhobo sons or daughters for the sake of personal gain. Most of the projects Senator Ovie Omo-Agege embarked on were funded through constituency allocations. Does the writer think these projects came from Omo-Agege’s personal pocket? If so, he is gravely mistaken. Even local government councilors execute similar constituency projects. So what is all these hulabaloo?

One undeniable fact is that whatever Senator Ovie Omo-Agege has become today is largely due to the positive influence of Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru. This is a fact, whether anyone likes it or not. When Omo-Agege pleaded with Ogboru for the Labour Party (LP) senatorial ticket and he was denied the opportunity, would he not have called Ogboru wicked? But Ogboru gave him the opportunity, and he won, and when Ogboru later moved to the All Progressives Congress (APC) to run for governor, Omo-Agege followed because he knew that he lacked the political strength to win on his own.

That which Chief Great Ogboru did by accepting and supporting him was the leverage he had to become the Deputy Senate President. Should he not remain eternally grateful to Ogboru rather than betraying him?

In 2011, without holding any government position, Ogboru contested against Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan for governor and secured twelve seats in the State House of Assembly, two Federal House of Representatives seats and a senate seat which was a remarkable feat. It was a genuine victory based on his popularity.

Can any of these persons come out to say that they did not rise through Ogboru’s influence? They should try it and see if they will not be visited by karma..

Someone without government backing secured twelve Assembly seats, two House of Representatives seats and senate seat, yet the writer out of ignorance or sheer callousness asking who is a greater asset to Urhobo? it is laughable. How can Omo-Agege even be compared to Ogboru, who made him a two-time senator?

How long will Annabel Ogheneganre continued to be deceived with political gimmicks for a mere share of peanuts without recourse to his dignity? That is if he has.

The most recent betrayal occurred 24 hours to when Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru was supposed to be received by the college of leaders. Suddenly, news spread that the event had been canceled and a new date would be announce without the knowledge of the state publicity secretary, the Delta central party chairman, or even the state party chairman. But upon this distraction for fear of the peoples general, the turnout was massive. Who get name, get name. No wayo.

That is height of desperation and attempt to play the fast one, but the people are faster.

In his goodwill message during the reception, Hon. Minister for Aviation, Olorogun Festus Keyamo SAN, who welcomed Ogboru and his thousands of supporters, noted that, they were still in the party before now, and there is nowhere in politics, that someone would stop other people from coming into a party. It is not done. You cannot close door against people who wants to join the party. He frowned at the move by some persons in their effort to sabotage the event made false announcement on radio station claiming that the event have been cancelled.

“I have never seen this kind of desperation in my entire life. Ogboru won 12 seats in the Delta State House of Assembly, two seats in the House of Representatives and a senator at the height of opposition in the Delta state when PDP was PDP in Delta. He did this without federal power. He is an authentic opposition leader, and come 2027 PDP will fall”.

On her part, Director NEXIM Bank, Hon Stella Okotete, who expressed joy in joining other leaders to receive back Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru to the party, lamented that he (Ogboru) was betrayed by his own brother in 2019 because of his ambition of 2023, which according to her was the beginning of betrayal; “but thank God that the Delta State is now stronger than ever before.

According to her, it was a shame we were only able to give the national 14% of votes, it was a poor outcome because some of us who were critical stakeholders of the party were shut out of the process. It was an ‘Aide’ affair. But this time we are going to win landslide for the APC in Delta State with the governorship seat, senate, reps and assembles”.

These statements are testament to the candid facts that Chief Great Ogboru is a worthy and great asset not only to the All Progressive Congress, APC, but to Urhobo nation and Delta State as a whole.

Regardless, all the prominent APC leaders, including Chief O’tega Emerho, the Minister of Aviation, Olorogun Festus Keyamo SAN, Director, NEXIM Bank, Stella Okotete, Member Representing Ughelli/Udu Federal Constituency, Hon. Francis Waive, Chairman Delta APC, Chief Omeni Sobotie, Chief Paulinus Akpeki, Hon. Halims Agoda, representatives of former Governor Governor of Delta State, Godsday Orubebe and Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei amongst others came together to honour Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru. This speaks volumes about his true political strength and relevance in Urhobo land.

Let those who seek to mislead the public have a rethink, follow the path of truth and seek forgiveness for their volumes of ignorance, because Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru’s contributions to the political landscape of Delta State cannot be erased, no matter how hard his detractors try.

By Oke Adamudagha, Political Analyst Writes From Warri, Delta State