Fides Media Living the Faith
By Sunny A Ijomah
The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, (APGA) in Delta State in the just concluded Governorship Election in the state, Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru, has said that the process of election in Nigeria is deteriorating from one election to another.
Chief Ogboru said this in Abraka, Ethiope East Local Government Area on Monday while addressing journalists on the just concluded elections. He clocked 65 years old on Monday, April 10, 2023.
He stated: ‘From what we have witnessed, it will be safe to conclude that no person can win an election again in Nigeria except you have a very deep pocket.’
According to him, one of his children sent a text to him telling him not to contest in any election again unless he had ten billion Naira.
He stressed, ‘So, I want to say that the youths of today have caged themselves. We find it a bit worrisome and unthinkable that people can willingly sell their birthright and they do this by selling their votes; by so doing, they consign themselves into modern slavery where they have no voice to question the activities of the government. This is sad, pathetic and unacceptable. The future generations have to guard against it.”
Chief Ogboru said he would not be in the ballot for the 2027 Governorship Election in the state, adding that the 2023 Governorship election was marred with irregularities.
The APGA candidate in the March 18, 2023, Governorship Election, thanked all AGPA members and his supporters for their support during the said election.
He also commended APGA candidates for their various positions in the just concluded 2023 general elections but decried voters’ intimidation, violence, vote buying and other election irregularities during the general elections.
Chief Ogboru said it was worrisome and unthinkable for the youths, to willingly sell their votes, noting that they had enslaved themselves and had no right to condemn the next administration if they were not satisfied with the governance.
He congratulated the Delta State Governor-elect, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, and urged Deltans to give him the needed support for him to succeed during his tenure.
Chief Ogboru disclosed that he would not contest the 2027 Governorship Election and thanked his supporters, especially those that had been with him politically for over two decades
Asked about his next move, he said his decision not to join the race to become governor in 2027 was because he was optimistic that Rt. Hon Oborevwori would perform very well and there would be no need to contest in 2027. He however stressed that his decision not to run did not mean he was quitting politics. He said there were other opportunities and he was open to any of them.
Responding to why he visited Rt Hon Oborevwori after the Governorship Election, Chief Ogboru revealed that he decided to support the governor-elect because of his humility and respect for constituted authority.
Chief Ogboru stated that his former party, APC, was hijacked, hence he decided to contest the 2023 Governorship Election on the platform of APGA.