By Felix Ofou
A political disagreement has emerged between former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godday Orubebe, and Delta South Senator, Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, following allegations made by the former minister.
Orubebe recently claimed that he invested significant resources to support Joel-Onowakpo’s 2023 senatorial victory. He alleged that after the election, the senator distanced himself and stopped communicating with him.
However, several individuals who were actively involved in the campaign have challenged these claims, describing them as inaccurate.
One of them, Michael Johnny, said Orubebe was not part of the core campaign team.
According to him, the only time the former minister joined them was during a visit to Ojobo, which he described as a courtesy outing rather than an official campaign activity.
Jonny also questioned Orubebe’s contributions during his time in public office, arguing that there are few visible projects linked to his tenure.
He added that campaign funding claims made by the former minister do not match what the team experienced on the ground.
Another campaign member, Ebiakpo Ezebiri, also dismissed the allegations.
As the director of protocols during the campaign, he stated that he coordinated movements and activities, and could not recall Orubebe playing any significant role.
Ezebiri further noted that the claims of financial support lack clear details, such as when and how the funds were provided.
Some observers believe the dispute may be linked to future political ambitions, suggesting that tensions could increase as new elections approach.
For now, the situation remains a matter of conflicting accounts, with many awaiting further clarification from Orubebe to support his claims.
