In Ewherido, Delta Central has found its voice — Olorogun Okwagbe

Olorogun Okiemute Oviri Okwagbe (JP), a businessman and chieftain of the Democratic Peoples Party, DPP in Ughelli, Delta State is a traditional Chief of Ughievwen and Olomu kingdoms. In this interview he asserts the political superiority of his party, DPP over the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Delta Central, the preference of the senatorial district for Senator Pius Ewherido among other issues. Excerpts:

With the inauguration of the Seventh National Assembly, and the swearing-in of Senator Barrister Akpor Pius Ewherido as Senator representing Delta Central, can you say now that Urhobo has a true representative?

We give glory to God for everything, if you were in Abuja, you would have seen the joy on the faces of Urhobos present. All the clans and some traditional rulers sent their representatives. This goes to show that Ewherido is a square peg in a square hole. He is the right man for the job.

But there is this insinuation that Urhobos are now in the opposition since Ewherido is in DPP, where you have about 109 senators, he is the only one in DPP.

People are saying that Ewherido is an orphan in the House, are you saying an orphan does not have a life to live? Even the birds in the air have something to rely on not to talk of a sound and robust representative. He will have his way.

It is those people who think that they can hold Urhobo to ransom and are afraid of change that are reasoning along that line. They must embrace change, he is not an orphan. If he is, he wouldn’t have participated in the adoption of David Mark as President of the Senate. How can you refer to somebody who is representing the fifth largest ethnic group in Nigeria as an orphan? It is those who are ignorant here in Delta State that reason like that, they are only trying to complicate issues because right there in the Senate, he is seen as the person representing Urhobos.

Moreover he is vibrant and experienced to the extent that he is close to those who are making things happen in the House, so he will not have difficulties in getting what he wants. Those who are saying so think they own Urhobos and Delta State but God has proved them wrong because it is God that brought the change, they have no option than to embrace it.

What do you make of fears that eight members of DPP in the Delta State House of Assembly might decamp to PDP later?

That we have eight members now which I believe that more are still coming, is the work of God. When we get to the bridge we will cross it, we are almost close to it.

What about comments by some close associates of your Governorship Candidate, Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru that he is not a better candidate either, that he does not listen to advice?

They are mere rumours. I cannot blame the man, he is facing a lot of challenges: a situation where you see victory already getting close to you, somebody will just snatch it illegally. The man is a great man. Today, some people are saying that Chief Great is broke, that nobody can contest governorship election from the Urhobo area. let them keep on boasting because nobody knows what God has for the other person.I listened to one of them boasting that at worst we will go back to election. I assure them that we will beat them again because they cannot continue rigging. PDP believes in rigging, nobody can boast in PDP and government except that of the President, which was generally supported.

What is your advice to Deltans?

I am appealing to all Deltans to be calm and wait for the election petition tribunal, no one should instigate violence, no one should do anything to disrupt the existing peace but people should pray that the truth be revealed.

When the political adviser to Governor Uduaghan was sworn-in, he said he is holding the office in the interim that his destination is Abuja (Senate) based on his election petition at the tribunal. What is your reaction?

I don”t want to start boasting. Urhobos know who they voted for, Olorogun Ewherido and he won convincingly. Some people deceived Urhobos, so if they contest election 100times Urhobos will not tolerate rigging.