Chief Ogbe Onokpite, the governorship candidate of the Citizen Popular Party (CPP) in the Delta State rerun election is the founder of the Ogbe Political Change (OPC).

In this interview he speaks on the need for Deltans to choose a credible candidate to manage the affairs of the state in the rerun election and why INEC should conduct the election with a fresh voters register or review the 2006 voter’s register to accommodate Deltans of voting age in the election.

Delta is about having a re-run election. What do you think should be done to enthrone a credible candidate?

Deltans should never go through the harrowing experience foisted on the people by the illegal administration of Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan between 2007 – 2010. The result of the abysmal failure of the administration was the untold hardship and poverty that persuaded the entire state in the last three and half years, and should not be allowed to go beyond November 9, 2010 when the tenure of the illegal occupant of the Asaba Government House was terminated.

Therefore, there should be mutual understanding on how power will shift to the other zones after 2015 between the three senatorial districts especially, Delta North senatorial district that has not produced the governor in the state because what is sauce for the goose is also sauce for the gander.

I am therefore appealing to all other ethnic tribes in the state to support Urhobo candidate in the rerun election with the assurance that every part of the state will be carried along and so that when it is the turn of other zones, Urhobo will also support them.

Urhobo political leaders should reach out to other ethnic groups in the state and explain to them why it is imperative to produce the governor and assured them that their interest will be adequately protected.

Now that the election has been nullified, what is going to be your take in the rerun?

I contested in 2007 and I am going to contest again now.

I have programmes and agenda that can impact positively on Deltans, I have traveled far and wide and have seen how things are done in decent societies and would want to do the same in the state to benefit Deltans. With the abundant human and natural resources the state is endowed with, poverty, unemployment, and other form of hardship should not be what Deltans should experience at all.

The facilities and resources to turn the state around are available but out of sheer neglect and wickedness Deltans are oppressed and wickedly subjected to inhuman condition, it is pitiable.

We need to put smiles back on their faces and rekindle their hope for better tomorrow. That is why I’m in the struggle to bring positive change to the state and the reason OPC is preaching the gospel of positive change in the state, because Delta youths should be proud of the state and I am sure there is a brighter light at the end of the tunnel.

Delta State will bounce back to its glorious days, but it needs the support and cooperation of everybody in the state. Deltans should vote for candidates that have the fear of God and who are ready to work with the people for the benefit of all.

How does Ogbe Political Change (OPC) intend to mobilize and sensitize the people against the changes inherent in electoral crimes?

OPC is going to embark on awareness campaign, organize seminars and workshops from time to time to educate them on the dangers they are exposed to when involved in electoral crimes and other related negative tendencies.

OPC is going to organize interactive session where youths will have the opportunity to express themselves and ask questions about issues that are not clear to them, and we will use such opportunities to educate them properly on the evils of thuggery and electoral manipulations.

With the abundant resources and potentials in the state, there is no reason why able bodied men and women should not be properly engaged in productive activities.

Youths have no business roaming the streets searching for jobs or engaging in armed robbery as means of survival if there is a government that planned for their future. Delta youths are at he crossroad because they have been abandoned, and this is the time for them to say no to election rigging and thuggery.

Youths are very important in the society as leaders of tomorrow therefore, should not make themselves a nuisance or monster to the society, Delta State needs a credible and transparent candidate to handle her affairs, and youths should be part of the process to enthrone good governance in the state.

OPC will impress it on Delta youths that life is not about arms but about living a better and decent life. I have traveled to different parts of the world and have seen how people live in decent society that is why I’m fighting that Deltans especially youths live a better and productive life.

It will mobilize youths from  every local governments, wards and communities across the state to register for the forthcoming rerun election in the state, and to also explain and sensitize them on the need for them to vote because their votes is their power to elect a credible candidate that will run the affairs of the state.

And to also assure them that their votes will count, and why thuggery and manipulation of electoral processes will not work this time around. The forum is trying to inculcate in youths, the philosophy of peaceful coexistences, and why they should make themselves available not for greedy and desperate politicians to be used and dumped because of its inherent changers and dire consequences.

In 2007, many believed that you were settled to step down. This time around, how do you want the people to take you serious?

Every human being has his or her opinion and philosophy about life and it is natural that everybody cannot believe in you no matter how good or bad you are. I am not swayed by people’s opinion but by the dictate of my conscience. I came from a reputable family a complete Urhobo man with liberal mind. I can never be bought for any amount, those who know me intimately know that once I maintain a stand point, I stand by it to the end; I can never be bought for whatever amount.

What I am doing is for the interest of peace loving Deltans who have been unnecessarily subjected to untold hardship as a result of unfriendly policies of the state government. I have never been paid to step down for anybody. What happened in 2007 was that the Delta State Elders and Stakeholders Forum decided that we should all work with Chief Great Ogboru and being a credible candidate, it made sense to us and we stepped down for him. But now that the election has been nullified, I will contest for the office of the governor, this is the time I’ve been waiting for one man, one vote in Delta State.

Deltans have another opportunity to correct the wrongs of the past by ensuring they vote for a credible candidate as a governor of the state in the rerun election that is coming up soon.

There is urgent need for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh voter’s register because many Deltans have attained voter’s age between 2006 and 2010.

To conduct the rerun election with the 2006 voters register will disenfranchise lots of people who have attained the voting age in the past four years.

Deltans should queue behind a candidate with programme and agenda for the development of the state. The suffering and hardship in the past four years cannot continue. Deltans should come out en masse to choose a credible candidate in the rerun election and should not be discouraged by the results of the past elections because by this nullification Deltans have been vindicated that they never voted for him, therefore, they should not waiver in their resolve to reject Uduaghan and his cabal at the poll.