By Perez Brisibe

UGHELLI—All Progressives Congress, APC, in Delta State has continued to consolidate on its peace moves ahead of the January 6 local government poll in the state with chieftains of the party tasking the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission, DSIEC, to conduct a free and fair election.

The chieftains who met a fortnight ago at a meeting hosted by Olorogun O’tega Emerhor at his Evwreni residence, had in attendance, Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, Mr. Victor Ochie, Prof. Patrick Utomi, Chief Adolor Okotie-Eboh, Chief Hyacinth Enuha, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, Temi Harriman, Engr Sam Adjogbe, Dr Ogaga Ifowodo and a host of others.

The chieftains, who had been embroiled in a purported cold war among themselves, met and agreed to unite for the sake of emerging victorious in the state council poll which would serve as the first assignment for the APC in the state on how prepared it is as an opposition party ahead of the 2019 general election.

The unity meeting which was applauded by stakeholders of the party and described as first of its kind in a quest to unite the party, was also attended by the state chairman of the party, Jones Erue, in company of some of his executive members.

Commending Emerhor for convening the meeting, Erue praised the party chieftains for putting their differences aside and uniting to give the state chapter of the party a fighting chance in future elections in the state.

Speaking on the cold war between him and Chief Great Ogboru, Olorogun Emerhor said: “A lot has been said in this meeting. When references were made about me, Senator Omo-Agege and Chief Ogboru, I know the reason. We are brothers.”

Kachikwu harps on grassroot empowerment

Harping on the need to empower the grassroot, Kachikwu said: “Every time we gather, we talk about the State House. The State House is not the issue, but empowering our people from poverty to wealth creation. If we cannot empower our people, we may have nothing to sell as a party. It is the process of that movement that will make us to get to the State House which is the concept of unity.

On his part, Chief Enuha explained that he would ensure that Ogboru, Omo-Agege and other leaders absent in the meeting would be brought to fold and he would not rest until they are brought into the APC fold in unity.

“As has been suggested here, if a committee is to be set up to enable three of us talk, it is okay by me.  We must realize that many people who are here in this hall today are supporters of either of us. If we are united and we are working together, our supporters will also work together. So I support the move.”

Kachikwu harps on grassroot empowerment

Harping on the need to empower the grassroot, Kachikwu in his remark, at Evwreni said: “Every time we gather, we talk about the State House, the State House is not the issue, but empowering our people from poverty to wealth creation. If we cannot empower our people we may have nothing to sell as a party. It is the process of that movement that will make us to get to the State House which is the concept of unity.”

On his part, Chief Enuha explained that he would ensure that Ogboru, Omo-Agege and other leaders absent in the meeting would be brought to fold and he would not rest until they are brought into the APC fold in unity.

Also speaking, Ochei said: “None of the leaders will rest until this party becomes the party that is holding the reins of power in this state and as well as the national level.”

Others who spoke include Utomi, Okotie-Eboh, Ojougboh, Okotie, Adjogbe, Ifowodo and Harriman all of whom harped in affirmation that whether they like it or not they must unite together for a strong united opposition party in the state.

In a follow-up meeting by leaders of the party from Delta Central senatorial district held at Ughelli, Emerhor while debunking insinuations that the party may adopt zoning as a way of determining the district that will produce the next governor, emphasized that APC will not stick to such approach but instead insist on a free and fair primary to produce the party’s governorship candidate for the 2019 election.

According to him, “We will never zone the governorship, not when I’m there but will insist on free and fair primary. In that free and fair primary, the interest of APC will be paramount and not any ethnic interest. How APC can win Delta state will be paramount as we are tired of being in opposition and we will never be in opposition again.”

The meeting which was conveyed by the party’s senatorial chairman, Olorogun Adelabu Bodjor was convened with a view to forging stronger unity among the leaders and stakeholders of the party in Urhobo nation.

At the meeting, senator representing the district, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege explained that he would consult with Olorogun Emerhor, Chief Ogboru and other chieftains of the party on how to ensure that DSIEC conducts a free and fair council election in the state.