Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba
There are indications that the post-election crisis rocking the Delta State’s chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been deepened by the battle for federal appointments.
A South-South socio-economic, cultural and political group, the South-South Emancipation Vanguards (SEV), has thrown its weight behind a chieftain of the party and former member of the House of Representatives, Dr. Cairo Ojuogboh, attesting that he is eminently qualified for appointment.
The group blamed the former deputy president of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, of masterminding an alleged campaign of calumny and orchestrating blackmail to whittle down the chances of Ojougboh who is being tipped by President Ahmed Tinubu for certain federal assignments.
A statement that was released to newsmen yesterday by the Chairman of SEV, Mr. Emmanuel Achojah, accused Omo-Agege of “serially betraying Tinubu before and after the APC’s presidential primary election.”
The group stated that though Cairo is eminently qualified to handle any federal appointment, he is not desperate about it and has neither spoken or lobbied for the position, unlike Omo Agege who allegedly nominated himself by deceit.
The statement reads: “As we patiently await the cabinet appointments of our dear president, we unequivocally cast our support to the nomination of our dear Delta’s son and committed party man Dr. Cairo Ojougboh.
“Aside from his tested and trusted loyalty to the Party, Dr. Ojougboh possesses the required leadership and professional experience to pilot the affairs of any portfolio assigned to him.
“It is also imperative that we clear the air over a misleading statement made by the party faction loyal to the former Deputy Senate President, Mr. Ovie Omo-Agege, in which its State Chairman, Mr. Omeni Sobotie, made spurious and unfounded allegations against the person of Cairo Ojougboh.
“Contrary to the statement, it is in public knowledge that Ovie Omo-Agege and his group openly worked against President Tinubu prior to and during the presidential election.
“Unlike Ovie Omo-Agege, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh is not desperate to become a minister of the Federal Republic in as much as he is eminently qualified to head such a position.
“Omo-Agege and his group’s desperate moves to castigate the Cairo Ojougboh stems from the fact that he speaks the truth and refused to join them to work against President Tinubu during the elections and he never committed any offense.”
The group also alleged that the former deputy president of the Senate did not conscientiously work for the presidential victory of Bola Tinubu.
“It is on record that Omo-Agege has been a serial betrayer of Tinubu during the existence of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), when he received campaign funds from Tinubu to run for governorship under the party’s platform in 2010. Omo-Agege acquired the ACN ticket but joined to work for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the second term emergence of former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and his victory at the polls. This was evident as Omo-Agege hurriedly congratulated Uduaghan.
“He didn’t stop there, Omo-Agege recruited the now suspended Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, to participate in the APC presidential primary to scuttle President Bola Tinubu’s ambition. In public glare Omo-Agege issued Emefiele the party’s membership card.
“Even after the emergence of Tinubu at the primaries while other rivals closed ranks to join hands to support Asiwaju, Omo-Agege still forged ahead to oppose Tinubu with his alliance with the Obedient movement went to support Peter Obi for the presidential election in order to get their support in return for his Governorship ambition.
“Omo-Agege never denied the campaign billboards scattered all over Delta State bearing photos of himself and the Labour Party Presidential Candidate, Mr. Peter Obi. One of such was on the Kwele- Asaba Road, with the pictures of Obi/Datti for President, Omo-Agege/Osenabi for governor and deputy governor.
“These billboards were trending all over social media and Omo-Agege till this moment has not dissociated himself from them.
“The funds meant to project the presidential election for Asiwaju were hoarded until after the presidential election. The few persons who received money were instructed to keep the money for the governorship election”, the group said.
It attributed his loss at the state governorship polls partly to the “Senate Maze snatching scandal in 2018.”
