By Sylvester Obasere
It is deeply lamentable to witness the depths to which you have descended in peddling drivel against Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru. Your attempts to tarnish his reputation fall far short of any reasonable standard, and I find it necessary to respond to the baseless allegations you have levied against him.
Over the years, I have come across numerous screeds designed to insult and impugn Chief Ogboru’s character, but none have come close to the level of intellectual poverty and logical bankruptcy that your submission represents. To see such a reckless disregard for reason and factual accuracy is indeed disappointing. Since when did Nigeria descend into an autocracy where the mere act of political association is criminalized?
One shudders to think of the tyranny you would unleash, Efetobor Richard, were you ever entrusted with a public office. If you were given power, you would likely make even President Tinubu appear temperate by comparison. What, precisely, is Chief Ogboru’s transgression in all this?
Is it that he extended the hand of statesmanship to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori upon his electoral triumph? For this singular act of democratic courtesy, men of your ilk have branded him an “extension of Sheriff.” The last time I checked, Nigeria still prided itself on being a multi-party democracy. The ADC is just one vessel in a sea of political platforms, and it is by no means the only option available to Nigerian voters.
The Labour Party, the PRP, Accord, and the nascent coalition being led by Senators Saraki and Dickson of Bayelsa are all viable alternatives. So why single out Ogboru’s association with the ADC?
It is a matter of public record that Chief Ogboru was the one figure from Delta State who championed the coalition that eventually transformed into the ADC. It is clear that Chief Ogboru has always played a key role in shaping the political landscape of his state. Where, I ask, was Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, the supposed grandmaster of Delta politics, during this time?
He was too busy fawning over President Tinubu, composing hymns of praise and abandoning the concerns of his own people. Must Chief Ogboru now be stripped of his political mandate simply because Omo-Agege is seeking elective office?
How curious it is that while Omo-Agege busied himself with bowing to the whims of the President, Ogboru continued to stand firm for the interests of Delta people, even at the risk of personal cost.
Let’s consider the situation in 2020. Senator Omo-Agege publicly rejoiced with Governor Okowa at the Supreme Court ruling, even as Deltans mourned the injustice done to Ogboru.
It was a time when Ogboru’s mandate was unjustly denied, and Omo-Agege, instead of standing with the people of Delta, chose to align himself with the very forces that had wronged them. Remember, this is the same Omo-Agege who publicly covenanted with Deltans that Ogboru’s mandate would be restored within 180 days.
When that covenant was shattered, and Deltans rose in righteous indignation, his acolytes dismissed the outcry as nothing more than “politics.” So, I ask, what makes Ogboru’s gesture toward Governor Sheriff any different?
Is it now a crime to show the same courtesy to a political opponent simply because you disagree with his policies. Your claims of hypocrisy ring hollow when placed under scrutiny. What novel political doctrine now decrees that Chief Ogboru’s gesture cannot be seen through the same political lens as Omo-Agege’s actions in 2020?
Are you willing to discard the very principles of political courtesy and respect that have always been a hallmark of democratic engagement?
Your discourse, Mr. Efetobor, is more about personal vendetta than about any genuine concern for the future of Delta State.
If you truly care about the progress of our people, I suggest you cease your libel and, rather than sow division, work with those who are committed to the collective good of our state. Come 2027, Chief Great Ogboru shall, without question, be the Governor of Delta State. His record of sacrifice, his unwavering commitment to the people, and his vision for a better future place him head and shoulders above any opposition figure.
No one has fought harder for the political and economic welfare of the Delta people than Ogboru. Therefore, I urge you to abandon your reckless attacks and join hands with Ogboru. Together, we can chart a new course for Delta State, one that is guided by wisdom, foresight, and a deep commitment to democratic values. The people of Delta deserve leadership that is rooted in respect for all, not in the petty squabbles of the politically disenchanted.
From Sylvester Obasere
A Political Analyst from Delta
