Ahead of 2015 Ogboru/Ewherido’s Guber Aspiration tears DPP apart
Posted on 11th May 2013
….Ogboru group pulls out of APC merger
….Ewherido, Olori, others suspended from DPP
….Their Actions is a ruse and a nullity-Chief Olori
Author: By Onitsha Shedrack, Brisibe Perez
The hope of Deltans having a formidable opposition party that could wrestle power from the octopus Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which has held the state by its jugular since 1999 with little to show for the vast resources accrued to the state, may be dashed, following the internal wrangling over personal ambition of two key stakeholders in the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) Senator Pius Ewherido and Chief Great Ogboru, leading to two factions of the party in the State.
Urhobo Times can authoritatively report that the crisis rocking the DPP in Delta, and by extension at the national level, which had made the Chief Great Ogboru led faction of the party to pullout from the All Progressive Congress (APC) merger talk and the Senator Ewherido’s faction going ahead with merger, may not be unconnected to who gets the nod to fly the party flag in 2015 guber race.
Those sympathetic to Chief Great Ogboru, whom many have come to see as a symbol of change and liberation in Delta state, argued that the leadership of APC didn’t accord Ogboru his deserved place by assuring him that his aspiration would not be mortgaged, considering the fact that he has a case at the supreme court, which can change the political calculation before 2015.
However, those sticking with the Ewherido’s group believes that the collective interest of Deltans and Nigeria is far higher than one person’s ambition, and that the state cannot afford another loss, and to avoid that, there is need to join other progressives to form a stronger opposition to flush PDP from Delta state.
We decided to join APC to strengthen opposition –Ewherido’s faction
One of the factions of the DPP where the only Senator of the party representing Delta Central in the Senate, Senator Pius Ewherido belongs and the Acting Chairman of the party, Mr. Olisaemeka Akamukali has said it decided to join the APC to correct the failures of the PDP and strengthen the opposition in Delta state.
Speaking at separate interviews during the party’s 2013 special convention held at Abuja last week, Akamukali said, \"People are tired of PDP. I have always told people that you don\'t send a boy to do a man\'s job. It\'s not done. So, people are looking at APC as their saviour and we want a better Nigeria and we want to be part of that history.
\"We are not expelling anybody because we are decent human beings; at the right time, they will come back and they will definitely come back to DPP.\"
He said the decision to join APC was taken during the party\'s National Executive Council meeting held on March 26, 2013.
Also speaking, Ewherido said Nigeria needed a formidable opposition to check the excesses of the ruling party, adding that democracy would be strengthened when there was a virile opposition.
He noted, \"Opposition keeps the party in power on its toes to deliver the dividends of democracy. When there is such opposition that keeps the ruling party on its toes, the essence of democracy would be justified. That is why we are coming together so that we can form a virile opposition and thereby strengthen democracy in Nigeria.\"
Reasons for Ehwerido’s suspension and others
Speaking at separate interviews during the party’s 2013 special convention held at Abuja last week, Akamukali said, \"People are tired of PDP. I have always told people that you don\'t send a boy to do a man\'s job. It\'s not done. So, people are looking at APC as their saviour and we want a better Nigeria and we want to be part of that history.
\"We are not expelling anybody because we are decent human beings; at the right time, they will come back and they will definitely come back to DPP.\"
He said the decision to join APC was taken during the party\'s National Executive Council meeting held on March 26, 2013.
Also speaking, Ewherido said Nigeria needed a formidable opposition to check the excesses of the ruling party, adding that democracy would be strengthened when there was a virile opposition.
He noted, \"Opposition keeps the party in power on its toes to deliver the dividends of democracy. When there is such opposition that keeps the ruling party on its toes, the essence of democracy would be justified. That is why we are coming together so that we can form a virile opposition and thereby strengthen democracy in Nigeria.\"
Reasons for Ehwerido’s suspension and others
However, more facts have emerged on the reason behind the suspension of Sen. Ewherido and others who are said to be spear-heading a rival faction of the party in Delta. His alleged “gross misconduct and anti-party activities” as well as other grey issues on merger with the yet to be registered APC, led to his suspension.
It would be recalled that the Delta State Executive Council of the DPP, had on Thursday, May 1, 2013, suspended Senator Pius Ewherido, the Acting National Chairman, Mr. Olisemeka Akamukale; the Vice Chairman of Delta Central Senatorial District, Henry Olori; as well as Dr. Cyril Ogodor, a leader of the party in Sapele Local Government council.
The Chairman of the Delta State DPP, Tony Ezeagwu, affirmed that they remain suspended from the party, adding that the decision was reached at the State Executive Council meeting held in Asaba, the state capital.
Ezeagwu disclosed that the DPP bigwigs were suspended “because of gross misconduct and engaging in anti-party activities.”
Admitting that the party had applied to be part of the APC, Ezeagwu explained, “We inaugurated a 12-man committee to midwife our joining the APC and we officially applied, but the application was not approved. But Ewherido and Akamukale went ahead and had been attending APC meetings when we have not been admitted into that fold. Akamukale went to INEC to say that he is the Acting National Chairman of the party in his bid to force us into the merger.”
He further stated that the DPP has officially pulled out of the APC because, a majority of its members, including those in the House of Assembly, do not want to be members of an unregistered political party.
With reference to the acting national deputy chairman, he said, “Akamukale did not go to the national as an elected Deputy National Chairman. We appointed him to the position in acting capacity, after the resignation of Frank Kokori who (was) elected during our convention. So, we are only recalling him from that position.”
In a telephone contact with the Delta State chairman of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP), Chief Tony Ezeagwu on Thursday, May 2, 2013, he confirmed by saying “It is true. We suspended him yesterday.”
According to a document made available to Urhobo Times by the party, the subsequent motions for their expulsion was unanimously moved in three parts and signed by Chief Tony Ezeagwu (DPP Delta state Chairman), Chief Lance Orhiehor, (DPP Delta state Secretary) and Prince Charles Orakpokuenuke Ikpama (DPP state Treasurer) respectively.
Ewherido and Others React
In a swift reaction to their suspension from DPP, the Sen. Ewherido’s faction in a press conference convened by Chief Henry Olori and others the next day (Friday) at Ughelli, referred to their suspension as “a ruse, nullity, a complete sham and an action lacking in tenable locus standi.”
Adding that, “we had at the National level, opted for merger. Those doing this are those opposed to our joining APC as ratified by our Convention two days back.
“Whatever they have done is a total nullity because, the vast majority of us have ratified the merger. Democracy is about freedom of choice.” According to Chief Olori, “from the onset, the purported suspension is a nullity, as events have already overtaken the action of those involved in the suspension of Ewherido.”
He explained that in March 2013, the National Executive Committee of DPP met in Abuja and resolved to join the APC and consequently, a 12-man committee was set up to work with leaders of APC to work out the interest of DPP members in the mega party.
“Subsequent meetings were held with leaders of APC culminating in a special convention of the party held on August 30, 2012 in Abuja, with DPP leaders across the country in attendance. At the meeting, the DPP national auditor, Muhammed Yahaya Jingi moved the motion for the merger with APC and it was unanimously adopted with the implication that as at Wednesday, May 1st, the DPP has already joined the APC.
“It therefore came to us as a laughable step for a handful of disgruntled, self centered, inconsequential, petty and in fact, worthless political bigots to announce the suspension of the only Senator and highest elected office holder in the party, Chief Pius Ewherido”.
Describing the DPP Delta State Chairman, Chief Tony Ezeagwu as a factional chairman “whose stock in trade is reaping handsomely from electoral defeats through unholy financial dealings with the ruling party” and sees the rising electoral profile of the DPP, as a threat to his business, he pointed out that “Chief Great Ogboru, the DPP governorship candidate at the last election was at the meeting, where DPP resolved to join APC and was in fact one of the 12-man committee members.
“But when it became obvious to him that he will not get the APC governorship ticket unopposed, as usual, he decided to discontinue with the merger”.
He stressed that no faction of the DPP in Delta State has the power to suspend the party’s national leaders or upturn the resolution of the national exco, adding that when Rochas Okorocha of Imo State was elected on the platform of APGA, decided to join the merger with his followers, Peter Obi of Anambra State and his followers remained in APGA and the heavens did not fall.
“In our case, the sweeping effect of our move into the APC may have caused serious jitters in the camp of those opposed to the change, but we are not bothered. We make bold to state that nobody has been suspended from our party, the factional State chairman is daydreaming and by the time he wakes up, he would discover to his chagrin that the change he so much resists, has truly come to roost in Delta State”.
Asked to identify the other factional chairman of the DPP, having described Chief Tony Ezeagwu as factional, Chief Olori said the identity of the true chairman of the DPP in Delta State shall be disclosed later.
“Whatever they have done is a total nullity because, the vast majority of us have ratified the merger. Democracy is about freedom of choice.” According to Chief Olori, “from the onset, the purported suspension is a nullity, as events have already overtaken the action of those involved in the suspension of Ewherido.”
He explained that in March 2013, the National Executive Committee of DPP met in Abuja and resolved to join the APC and consequently, a 12-man committee was set up to work with leaders of APC to work out the interest of DPP members in the mega party.
“Subsequent meetings were held with leaders of APC culminating in a special convention of the party held on August 30, 2012 in Abuja, with DPP leaders across the country in attendance. At the meeting, the DPP national auditor, Muhammed Yahaya Jingi moved the motion for the merger with APC and it was unanimously adopted with the implication that as at Wednesday, May 1st, the DPP has already joined the APC.
“It therefore came to us as a laughable step for a handful of disgruntled, self centered, inconsequential, petty and in fact, worthless political bigots to announce the suspension of the only Senator and highest elected office holder in the party, Chief Pius Ewherido”.
Describing the DPP Delta State Chairman, Chief Tony Ezeagwu as a factional chairman “whose stock in trade is reaping handsomely from electoral defeats through unholy financial dealings with the ruling party” and sees the rising electoral profile of the DPP, as a threat to his business, he pointed out that “Chief Great Ogboru, the DPP governorship candidate at the last election was at the meeting, where DPP resolved to join APC and was in fact one of the 12-man committee members.
“But when it became obvious to him that he will not get the APC governorship ticket unopposed, as usual, he decided to discontinue with the merger”.
He stressed that no faction of the DPP in Delta State has the power to suspend the party’s national leaders or upturn the resolution of the national exco, adding that when Rochas Okorocha of Imo State was elected on the platform of APGA, decided to join the merger with his followers, Peter Obi of Anambra State and his followers remained in APGA and the heavens did not fall.
“In our case, the sweeping effect of our move into the APC may have caused serious jitters in the camp of those opposed to the change, but we are not bothered. We make bold to state that nobody has been suspended from our party, the factional State chairman is daydreaming and by the time he wakes up, he would discover to his chagrin that the change he so much resists, has truly come to roost in Delta State”.
Asked to identify the other factional chairman of the DPP, having described Chief Tony Ezeagwu as factional, Chief Olori said the identity of the true chairman of the DPP in Delta State shall be disclosed later.
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