Delta Election Results Justify Our Stand for Ogboru-UPU Factional Leader, Omene
LAGOS APRIL 21ST (URHOBOTODAY)-Factional Leader of Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), Chief Joe Omene has explained that the result of Delta State House of assembly and Governorship election has justified their earlier decision of supporting Delta State Labour Party Governorship candidate Chief Great Ogboru as Urhobo candidate for the election.
He argued that the just concluded governorship/Assembly elections justified all they said earlier and the stand they took, stressing that while their endorsed Labour Party won two Assembly seats, the All Progressives Congress, APC, could not win even the Assembly seat of its governorship candidate.
Omene made the pronouncement in a press conference he held to deny the receipt and misappropriation of N1.2 billion allegedly given to the UPU through him on behalf of the Urhobo nation prior to the presidential election.
The leadership of Urhobo National Youth Council, led by Monday Oyeghe, had made the allegation last week.
Supporting his argument, Omene explained that Delta State APC could not win in one local government area across the state, but Labour Party won in four councils, including that of its governorship candidate.
“The result showed that APC is nowhere to be found in Delta State, which we maintained from the very outset,” Omene maintained, adding that they knew who caused the woes Urhobo suffered at the governorship election.
Continuing, he said, “Instead of our detractors to face those who caused the failure of Urhobo nation at the governorship election, they are rearing their head against us knowing very well that we did our best, standing on the cause of the Urhobo nation to the end.”
Reacting to allegation of misappropriation of N1.2bn Omene, said, “Our detractors are at it again, this time, to smear our collective character and image through fictitious allegation of financial scandal. We have kept calm after the presidential election because we did not want to talk much so that we do not derogate on the reputation of certain people who may make the list of ministers in General Muhammadu Buhari’s government.
“I challenge anyone or any politician to produce evidence that I demanded for bribe from him/her. I rejected all offers to sell out. There were offers from the North for me to jettison the Urhobo governorship and the Uvwiamuge agenda but I refused all of them. If anybody can come with evidence that I demanded or received bribe from him or her or that he or she bought one item, be it a car for me, I will offer to forfeit all my life property. The allegation against me is a lie and I urge my fellow people of Urhobo nation to disregard it in its entirety.”
Chief Omene said that having been apprised by the recent publication, UPU has instructed its lawyers to wade into it and take legal action against those behind it with a view to serving as deterrence to others who would like to smear the image of UPU to gain cheap popularity.
Oseh, the most important thing for Urhobo is to come together to make sure our interest is well represented at both federal and state level. Ogboru is NOT connected at all at the Federal level. This is a fact. Emerhor is. This is also a fact. Yes chief Ogboru is much stronger at the state level because he has been at that level for many years. Both Chief Ogboru and Emerhor, need each other, whether they like it or not, whether they know it or not and the UPU must see to it that they bring absolute peace between the two politicians, if we are to get back our lost glory in the state and in Nigeria. UPU and Urhobo interests is far bigger than any politician. Poverty no deh tire una sef? So let us not destroy and divide ourselves with poor political strategizing. If we cannot stand by Emerhor to give him support for ministerial appointment how can Chief Ogboru succeed as a governor with National influence, that is if he wins? Let us not be shortsighted again. Reconcile all parties, including UPU factions. We are all in this together and no one can say they will stop being an Urhobo person. Wadoo!