By Young E. Freeborn, Warri
Following the conduct of All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries for various elective positions in Delta State, two youth leaders in Unenurhie Community, who are also active members of the party in Evwreni Ward 8 in Ughelli North Local Government Area, have expressed readiness “to decamp from the APC to a more vibrant and viable political party very soon with other numerous members in the community.”
In separate interviews with our correspondent after the party primaries for the state House of Assembly Constituency 1, held at Agbarha-Otor Town in Ughelli North LGA on May 26, 2022, Mr. Godspower Orunuaduvwe and Mr. Johnbull Clever, youth chairmen of Unenurhie Community, called on APC members in Evwreni Ward to “dump the party immediately and move to another party that is ready to accommodate the political interests and aspirations of Unenurhie and Evwreni people, wherein they will not suffer the level of injustice, jealousy and bitterness prevalent amongst party leaders in the APC.”
“We are the chairmen of the youths in our community and also active members of the APC in Evwreni Ward. With what we have seen today in these primaries, APC as a party is worse than the PDP in the state. Those unholy things we have always counted against the PDP are today very much pronounced in the Delta APC as a result of nepotism, favouritism, jealousy, self-centeredness, greed and so many other divisive tendencies in the party. There is no way we can tolerate this kind of injustice, marginalization, oppression and unfairness in a party we thought will rescue and deliver better dividends of democracy in the state.”
The duo stressed that “to make matters worse in this situation, a leader of the party in Evwreni Ward which we so much trusted and believed that he’s representing Evwreni interest in the party has been the one that betrayed the political interest and needs of the Evwreni people, even in these primaries.
“In a situation where you can sell your own people because of personal gains or grievances, it only shows that you are not a trusted and a reliable leader of the people. We have tolerated much of these activities for quite a long time now. We are tired of what we are seeing at the moment and right now, we have decided not to follow this political party again. We can no longer put our political destinies in any one’s hands. He will continue to smash our political dreams,” they said.
In the same vein, another notable APC chieftain from Evwreni Town, Engr. Ofejiro Oduaran, also threatened to quit APC with his supporters to join another party very soon.
Engr. Oduaran who spoke angrily about the recent activities of the Delta APC, especially in Evwreni Ward asked all APC members in the electoral ward to dump the party now and move to another party where their political rights would be respected with regard to fairness, equity and justice.
“It’s actually wrong where as a highly respected political leader that everybody in the ward looks up to in almost everything we do, will again begin to betray your fellow brother and son because of greed, grievances and acrimony. Our action has now degenerated to that level where Evwreni man will join outsiders to kill a fellow Evwreni man in order to make a good name outside or feel big. It’s very disgraceful and shameful,” he said.
The three party leaders also called on other APC members in Evwreni Ward to urgently leave the party, noting that there’s still an opportunity to do so and join “a more viable political party without further delays.”
They also encouraged their supporters to follow them “to that new political party where Evwreni Ward will sing songs of victory at last in the 2023 general elections in the country.”