NDDC Board: Delta APC backs Okumagba’s nomination; says he is a committed party man

By Ovasa Ogaga,

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Delta State chapter has refuted publication by a group known as Coalition of Delta South APC claiming that Chief Bernard Okumagba is not a member of the party in the state, describing it as a tissue of lies laced with falsehood, and a figment of the imagination of the group.

The state Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Ogheneruemu Sylvester Imonina, a signed press release made available to ADVOCATE described the said publication has no truth, but a hotchpotch of misrepresentations and seed of disunity.

He accuses some power seekers in and outside the party of creating confusion in what he termed “political manoeuvring,” in order to score cheap political points.

The statement tiled “re: why president Buhari should reject Mr. Bernard Okumagba as incoming Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC),” reads:

“The attention of the All Progressives Congress, Delta State has been drawn to an evil publication(s) on Vanguard Newspaper of today, 11th day of September, 2019, and social/online media, wherein an unknown person(s) are saturating the media space with the above-mentioned caption. We state unequivocally that the said publication is a tissue of lies laced with falsehood, and a figment of their imagination. In fact, nothing is farther from the truth than that hotchpotch of misrepresentation and seed of disunity.

“The Party knows that because of the period we are in, there are bound to be unhealthy political manoeuvring, mudslinging and shenanigans by power seekers within and outside APC fold in Delta State, hence the Party, acting as a father to all genuine members, would not condole things that tend to create more confusion, rather than unity in the party.

“From the tune of the publication, same is scripted to portray the Party, its Leaders and members in Delta State as disrespectful, irresponsible and political war-mongers before Mr. President and members of the public. While the Party is aware of the fact that there is an ongoing political manoeuvring by highly placed members in terms of political appointments, the Party is also mindful of the fact that such appointments have always been the sole prerogative of Mr. President based on the technocratic and meritocratic qualities of interested individuals involved, besides the observance of relevant Sections of the law pertaining to the institution involved.

“The Party categorically condemns the attempt to rubbish the membership and contributions of Chief Bernard Okumagba, a foremost party member of APC, Delta State, from Warri South Local Government Area in Delta South Senatorial District of Delta State.

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“First and foremost, the assertion that Chief Bernard Okumagba is not a member of APC flies in the air. It is a lie from the pit of hell. From available information, Chief Bernard Okumagba joined APC on the 6th day of January 2017. His registration number in the Party membership’s register is 17949553 Therefore, the suggestion and the misinformation about his non-membership is a deceit by the unknown authors to discredit him, and achieve their ulterior motives.

“Also, we want to state that Chief Bernard Okumagba was one of the National Delegates that represented Warri South in two previous National Conventions of our great Party, APC. He has being a source of encouragement to APC in his Ward/immediate environment, Local Government Area and APC, Delta State.

“On the issue of His Excellency, Distinguished Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege coming from the same ethnic nationality with Chief Bernard Okumagba, we state that while Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege is from Delta Central Senatorial District, Chief Bernard Okumagba is from Delta South Senatorial Distinct. In other words, when political offices are shared in Delta State, the Urhobos in Delta South do not benefit from whatever accrues to Delta Central Senatorial District, hence, besides other uncountable instance, few weeks ago, when Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege appreciated/empowered his people of Delta Central, the Urhobos in Delta South, like other ethnic nationalities in Delta South did not partake in same.

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“Aside the above, the office of the Deputy Senate President which Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege occupies today, is not an appointive office but an elective office zoned to the Southern part of Nigeria. Distinguished Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege passed through the rigours of election before he emerged as a Deputy Senate President. We therefore condemn in totality the insinuation that Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege is occupying the position that ought to have gone to some persons in Delta South Senatorial District.

“We are not unaware of the fact that the said publication is the antics of certain desperate individuals, to hoodwink and bamboozle Mr. President into appointing covert PDP agents and apologists who masquerade as members of the Party in Delta State.

“The Party in Delta State wishes to assure Mr. President of its unalloyed support and loyalty, particularly in the delivery of the Next Level Agenda, which requires the very best hands.

It further urged members of party and the public not allow themselves to be used as instruments of maligning party members like Chief Bernard Okumagba and other well-meaning leaders of the Party in Delta State.