Ogboru is welcome to APC, but… — Emerhor

OGBORU

NOTWITHSTANDING that the All Progressives Congress, APC lost the April 11 governorship election in Delta State, its political relevance has shot up because of the enthronement of General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) as President-Elect.

Unexpectedly, the development has led to intrigues as politicians from other parties seek relevance in the new dominant party, APC. The party’s governorship candidate in the last election in Delta State, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, in this interview spoke on his plans to overturn the result, the growing influence of the party in the state and on how the minister to represent the state in Buhari’s government will emerge. Excerpts: 

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You lost the recent governorship election in Delta State although your party, APC, won at the national level, what is your perspective on the outcome and your next line of action?

We did not truly lose the gubernatorial election in Delta, PDP stole the election. Elections are only lost if they are conducted according to the rules and a winner emerges. In the election in Delta as was also the case in Rivers and Akwa Ibom, the card readers were discarded, result sheets confiscated and fabricated results announced in connivance with compromised INEC staff. A smokescreen of violence and intimidation and ballot boxes snatching was unleashed to provide cover for results manipulation. As you may be aware, we have filed our petition at the tribunal to cancel the purported elections.

So you believe APC can win in a rerun election?

After the Buhari win, Delta was set and ready for APC. Delta did not want to remain in opposition. Even stalwarts of PDP were with us on this and are still are.

O’tega Emerhor

Free and fair election

PDP knew they would not win a proper free and fair election and that was why they did not allow an election on the field but resorted to snatching it in the air, so to speak.

Under a Buhari government, a rerun election, I believe, will be free and fair and in an environment of neutrality by INEC and the security forces, if Deltans are truly for once allowed a free hand to choose between the 16 years of PDP misrule and APC wind of positive change, they will definitely choose APC.

What is the position of Chief Great Ogboru and Labour Party in all these? It is alleged that he is already in touch with APC leaders?

You are aware we had an ugly and rancorous election struggle with Ogboru/Labour. Ogboru invested all his political capital in President Jonathan’s re-election bid which failed.

He partnered with PDP to try to kill APC in Delta state and was rewarded with a second place position by PDP in allocating the April 11 gubernatorial election results. There exists a bitter and antagonistic divide between APC and Labour faithful in the state.

Be that as it may, we must not forget that both parties come mainly from the same stock of opposition that has always before now wanted PDP ousted from the state. So Ogboru should be free, if it is now his desire to join forces.

 Does this mean you are ready to work with Ogboru?

There is strength in unity of numbers and purpose! But this has to go through a process! For example, after the elections, the first place I ran into Ogboru was at the house of one of my leaders in Abuja. As I did not know his mission, I did not make it my business.

Eventually, the said leader invited both of us to a meeting, which turned out to be a meeting to get both of us to cooperate to cancel the governorship election at the tribunal.

But I get the impression from Ogboru that he continues to rate himself as the most popular candidate and appear to suggest to our leadership that he/Labour be admitted to supplant the current APC, which some assume not to be on ground.

In Delta, such approach aimed at going over our heads and discounting us, I can say definitely will be unhelpful.

Apart from the fallacy of it, we in APC , Delta, not only invested in building a strong party but also took the risk of going against the PDP and a sitting president who is a Niger Delta son.

Common objective

Ogboru ran from this risk and pitched his tent with Jonathan. He cannot, therefore,  be  coming after the failure of Jonathan, with a mindset.

So what are your leaders telling him?

like I said, as a common objective, there is sense in cooperating to cancel the rigged election. The question then is after that, what next? We, as a party, have an objective to regroup, cancel the election and bring Delta into the APC fold.

Any defector that will further this objective is welcomed. Our national leaders share in this objective and would not encourage any group,whether Ogboru or PDP,   to come to supplant the APC in Delta.

In fact, they are quite supportive of liberating and bringing into the APC fold, the rest of the South South.

It is believed that your ministerial ambition, after your loss of the governorship is at the heart of the emerging crisis in your party in Delta State. Is it true?

I believe the APC national leadership is putting a special dispensation in place in other to bring the three South -South states of Delta, Rivers and Akwa Ibom into the APC fold. This is why the three candidates in these states where the outrageous daylight election robbery took place are being encouraged and supported to go cancel these elections at the tribunal.

Now, it is my belief that apart from competence and other qualifications, the other yardstick that may be applied to these South-South states would be how the potential minister can use his position to foster the party’s objective of winning these states to the APC fold.

Do not forget that the PDP also held on to these states for strategic reasons with a plan to use these resource rich states as a launch pad for their 2019 renaissance.

Under these circumstances, not to talk of my sacrifices and contributions in building the APC in Delta state, starting from my senatorial bye election in 2013 to my governorship candidacy and elections in 2015, I wonder what disqualifies me from a ministerial appointment such that it will create a crisis as you alluded.

Ambitious people

A few ambitious people who may seek to reap without sowing will always be there, but I do not think I am the source of any crisis.

Is that a confirmation of your interest in the ministerial slot for Delta state?

I am confirming my interest to be of continuous service to my party and people of Delta state. Ministerial appointment is the prerogative of the President- elect through the instrumentality of the party.

How do you think the zoning of key positions in the APC will play out?

Of course zoning is designed to ensure a fair and balanced spread of key political offices across the nation reflecting our federal character.

The APC being a party championing change will ensure this is done quite well. Nonetheless, few hiccups are visible.

As you must now know, because of the massive rigging that took place in the South South and South East by the PDP with the active tolerance of people from these zones, these zones are consequently short of APC NASS members. This is already reflecting on the zoning of offices.   By and large, however, the leadership of APC will in no time resolve on this crucial issue.