Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has opened up about the fallout with former Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, who left the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) after losing the party’s senatorial primary, News.ng reports.
Governor Oborevwori, in an interview with Arise Television on Tuesday, alleged that Omo-Agege failed to consult party leaders in the state before contesting the party’s senatorial primary.
He noted that the former federal lawmaker ought to have consulted the governor, the party’s leader in the state, about the zoning arrangement before vying for the party’s ticket.
“Because we saw it coming, before he left, all his people have left over three months ago. So we all are aware.
“And that was why he was not serious in the contest of the primaries. Because he never consulted anybody. He never consulted me.
“He never contacted leaders. We are, APC is a big party. He will ask me as a governor. I met with people to say, look, I want to go back for my second tenure, please. But he never did that. I did that, and that’s why you see that nobody even indicated interest to contest with me.
“Because we believe in this zoning arrangement. In our place, in the state here, you will believe in that, because the tunnel is central. It’s the same place I’m working from.”
According to the governor, the primary conducted in the state, which saw the emergence of Dafinone as the winner of the Delta Central District, was free and fair. He urged Omo-Agege to accept the outcome of the primary.
He noted:
“Senator Ede Dafinone is a gentleman. Dafinone is a big name in Urhobo land because the father was a senator, and he has contributed to the development of Delta State.
“So, that legacy is there. So, we did a free and fair primaries, and he lost. It’s for him to embrace, because the process was transparent, very transparent.”
The governor added that the people of Delta State already knew that Omo-Agege was planning to leave the APC.
While the former federal lawmaker did not disclose why he left the APC, the governor accused him of fighting those who brought him into politics, adding that Omo-Agege cannot be trusted.
“We all are aware that you want to leave. It’s only though some people in Urhobo already know that you want to leave.
“He’s not somebody that you can be trusted. This same man, I don’t like talking about people, but I need to state it here. Yes, go ahead.
“Ovie Omo-Agege came into politics in 2002. This state made him. The people that made him, he fought them; he betrayed Ogboru; he left.
“So, if you say you want to betray me, I’m not saying, for me, I don’t think it’s not a threat because we are doing well as a state,” he added.
Watch the clip:
