09/04/2019
Omo-Agege will not run for Governor in 2023, says Atanomeyovwi
Chief Francis Atanomeyovwi was the Director General of the Senator Ovie Omo-Agege Campaign Organization for the 2019 general election. He spoke to Tega Uloho on the crisis in the APC family in Delta state and a wide range of other issues. Excerpts:
There are insinuations in town that Senator Ovie Omo-Agege is interested in running for governor in 2023. How true is this assertion?
Senator Ovie Omo-Agege to the best of my knowledge is not prepared to run for governor in 2023. That is not in his agenda. Those who are racking their brains, those who are having high blood pressure, having sleepless night with their own predictions and calculations would be proved wrong. I am telling you with all seriousness that Senator Agege will not contest for governor in 2023. This is not a question of the matter being too early. He is not interested. Those who are peddling the rumour are with evil intention to castigate and call a dog a bad name in order to hang it, and they are not doing the party any good. I am telling you in confidence that Omo-Agege is not running for governor in 2023. Let me advice the rumour peddlers that they are hurting themselves in the final analysis. They should stop raising unnecessary allegations. It is not as if he is afraid to contest, no, he is not interested in contesting for governor in 2023. The reasons are obvious. By the special grace of God, if Great Ovedje Ogboru has his way and win in the court, he will be there for 8 years. There is no way Omo-Agege will seek to fight Ogboru when he should be running for second term. There is no way Omo-Agege will fight Ogboru over anything. Those raising these issues are not Great Ogboru friends neither are they his genuine followers.
What could be responsible and who are those behind the rumour?
These are the elements within the party who are destroying the party from within. They are not genuine party members. A very credible source within the party has informed us that N85m (Eighty five million naira) was disbursed to all the wards in Delta state to circulate the destructive rumour in order to discredit the senator. Their mandate is to spread all manners of rumours about the senator in order to make him odious before the masses. I am shocked that some of our leaders could go to such extend to fight their perceived enemy. And these are leaders that I met severally on the way forward and that we have no reasons to destroy ourselves. It is surprising that some of these people told me that they would travel to India, Egypt and other countries to acquire powers to fight Senator Ovie Omo-Agege. The question is what has he done to attract such degree of hatred and political resentment among his own people? I am certain these people will not achieve their purpose. I have told them that those that are with the senator are more than the evil ones fighting against him. The grace of God and the prayers of Christians around him are working for him.
What message do you have for these people you believe are fighting Omo-Agege?
I have this message for them. They should stop the fight and let Urhobo move on. Let me tell you what a prominent Urhobo man, very old and well over 90 years of age told me recently. He was a contemporary of the Late Justice James Omo-Agege, the Senator’s father. He told me recently that those fighting Senator Ovie Omo-Agege are fighting a lost battle. He said when the Senator was born and christened Ovie by his father, they were together in the United Kingdom when he asked to know why his father gave him the name, Ovie, a name that is synonymous with royalty. Justice Omo-Agege smiled and revealed that the name was prophetic and that the child would be great stressing that a certain prophet insisted that he be called Ovie. He disclosed that he did not just call him Ovie for the fun of it but a prophetic declaration on his future. The old man declared that Omo-Agege will survive all his travails. Let me explain that temptations are stepping stones for the greatness of a man who is on his way to the top. If he is able to press on despite the challenges, he would actualize his life goals. That is exactly what Omo-Agege is passing through now. All the bunch of lies they have been spreading are not being replied to because the Senator knows what he is doing and where he is going. All the fake rumours will expire before the end of this month. Those having sleepless nights because of Senator Omo-Agege should relax. They should stop spending their money. Omo-Agege will not contest for governor in 2023.
What role do you think our clergy and traditional rulers could play to ensure there is peace in the land?
I am pretty sure they have roles to play. It is their responsibilities to call the lead actors in this saga to order. The earlier they retrace their steps the better.
Urhobo traditional rulers have joined their counterparts from other parts of the state to congratulate Governor Okowa on his re-election, have a similar thing be done for our own Senator Omo-Agege?
Senator Ovie Omo-Agege is presently the highest political office holder from the Urhobo nation. I am not aware of such congratulatory visit to him yet. But as things are, Senator is very busy in Abuja and may not be available between now and June. I don’t even expect our fathers to pay him a visit. I am sure what they can do is to congratulate their son perhaps in the papers. I trust our royal fathers. We consulted them widely before the election. We went into the polls with their full backing and now that he has won, they will not fail to congratulate him. Perhaps they are waiting for his swearing in for a second term before they do something. I trust our fathers, they know what to do to celebrate their own.
What is your take on the next governor of Delta state and agitations by Ijaw people to produce the governor in 2023?
Delta Central will produce the next governor of Delta state. That is certain. The zoning has come to stay and except it is altered through court pronouncement in the tribunal, Urhobo will produce the next governor. We have the majority in the state. Even if Urhobo claim it through the tribunal, we cannot hold it forever, we must relinquish power at the appropriate time. Nobody should take the threats from the Ijaw axis seriously. Even among the PDP members, they know nothing will change their mind to work against Urhobo being governor in 2023. No matter the billions you may give to them, such arrangement cannot be reported back home. Urhobo will produce the next governor. You can take that to the bank.
What is your general advice on the APC crisis?
Let me say this to the people of Nigeria, Deltans, Urhobos and Delta Central, that the position of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, his re-election is signed, sealed and delivered. Nothing will affect him. It is like when the Central Bank of Nigeria issued a bond, a treasury bill for people to subscribe. It is guaranteed. His re-election is guaranteed. No court of law will rule against him. It is as sure as that. He is not worried and the genuine APC members are not worried. What you hear are mere distractions but nothing will happen. Those working themselves up over the governorship polls are merely chasing shadows. The man delivered in his unit, ward and local government. What else did you expect from him? Spreading the rumour of a sell-out is the height of wickedness. Those who are spending money to discredit Senator Omo-Agege are wasting their time. Those who are worried and wish to contest in 2023 should work hard to secure the party ticket. Many of those in the other camp are already leaving to join hand with the Senator because they have realized that they are on a wild goose chase. Let me assure the Urhobo nation that every ward will benefit from the current mandate. Everything will be judiciously and evenly distributed to satisfy the yearning of the people. There are better days ahead.
