2027: Onyeme Uniting All Politicians For APC Victory

By Fidelis Egugbo

​When they say, “leave politics for politicians,” it means a lot to a discerning mind. All that a politician is interested in is how to secure electoral victory or remain politically relevant.

​To some observers, politics is dirty, and asking why it is dirty will often elicit betrayal as a response.

​As a journalist, I asked questions about betrayal in politics, and some of those I asked replied that if you want to be like Jesus Christ, you should not join politics. However, critically looking at Jesus Christ, one can describe Him as one of the best politicians who should serve as a role model to all political figures. He simply started by saying, “Follow me,” and with that, He gained His disciples. He even convinced those He needed to convince by saying, “I will make you fishers of men,” “Leave the dead to bury their dead,” and “The water that I will give to you, you will never thirst again,” among other teachings. Yet, despite His divine guidance in choosing His followers, He was still betrayed by one and doubted by Peter, Thomas, and others, even with a core group of just twelve.

​So, betrayal may not be new in politics, but it is always noble to be among the very few who stand out as individuals whose word is their bond.

​On Saturday morning, the Deputy Governor of Delta State, Sir Monday Onyeme, Ph.D., led politicians of Ndokwa West extraction to pay a condolence visit to the family of a man I have always known as a free-minded politician, Chief Tony Onah. Chief Onah was an ever-smiling politician who would laughingly ask, “Journalist, e du nede?” (“Journalist, are you still writing?”), to which I always answered in the affirmative.

​He was known as a great supporter of the Managing Director of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), Chief Festus Ochonogor, right from when Chief Ochonogor was a member of the Delta State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB). Indeed, life is a fleeting shadow as stated in Psalm 144:4 and echoed by William Shakespeare in Macbeth (Act 5, Scene 5).

Chief Onah passed on at the age of 66 leaving a huge political vacuum which will be felt in the 2027 general elections as he was down to earth and loved by his people, the people of Etua-Ukpo.

​So, talking about betrayal in politics, why is there betrayal in politics, bearing in mind that life is but a fleeting shadow? This question can only be answered by you, the reader, because perceptions of life differ.

​From the condolence visit to the family of Chief Onah at Etua-Ukpo, the Deputy Governor moved to Kwale where a former member of House of Representatives, Hon. Ossai Nicholas Ossai launched a political pressure group known as Top-Bottom Support Group for APC.

Former Governor of Delta State who is the Delta North Senatorial candidate of the APC, Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, CON, among other top politicians were in attendance.

From Kwale, Sir Onyeme in his typical style of paying attention to details moved to his country home at Ibabu, Onicha-Ukwuani, where he hosted aggrieved members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Ndokwa West Local Government Area, led by Chief Dennis Okoh. The question that came to mind again was: what makes Chief Dennis Okoh tick? Is he a team player, or someone who relies on his own abilities and always wants to have his way?

​One thing is certain, Chief Dennis Okoh, popularly known as Denco or Otikponiofia, has been a prominent figure in the Ndokwa West political firmament since 1999. When Hon. Ossai Nicholas Ossai and Hon. Emeke Ukpe were battling for political supremacy in Ndokwa West, Denco featured prominently in that struggle, and to date, he remains very active politically.

​As a team player and a politician who believes that no stone should be left unturned to ensure victory for all APC candidates in the upcoming general elections, Deputy Governor Monday Onyeme must have had sleepless nights working round the clock. He worked to identify dissenting voices, ensuring that those who could not be wooed individually were engaged in groups as seen in his meeting with the delegation led by Denco.

​During the meeting, which was also attended by Sen. Okowa, the Deputy Governor said, “the Free Trade Zone, Kwale will witness a lot of activities next year, so, let us take the 2027 elections personal. I am very happy that all of you have come out to say, let us come together and forge ahead; what we are seeing in Ndokwa nation today will be evident in the next elections.

“If all of us agree the way we have come together, we will be proud of ourselves and make the government to be proud of us.

“I want to thank you, Chief Dennis Okoh for bringing all the aggrieved APC members together.

“In Delta State, Ndokwa people are the most peaceful people, we have oil but we are very peaceful people, we will remain peaceful and united; in Ndokwa West, we have over 100 registered voters, so, collectively, we can achieve more than 80 per cent votes.

“Voting for President Tinubu and all the candidates of the APC is in our interest; we have a lot of reasons to talk about President Tinubu and why we should vote for him.

“If we vote massively for President Tinubu, I am sure that more development will come to our people.”

Also at the meeting, Sen. Okowa said, “it is very very good when brothers reconcile.

“I thank the Deputy Governor for making this happen and I thank Dennis Okoh for making our brothers who disagreed to agree because in politics, we must disagree to agree.

“The Deputy Governor is the highest political office holder in the North and the second highest political office holder in Delta State, so, we should support him to get the highest number of votes from Delta North.

“We must bring out our heart in full to work for APC; if you all put your mind to work, there is no way that you will not deliver the highest number of votes.

“You should play politics of inclusion, if you are accessed, it will be in the best interest of everybody.”

Chairman of APC, Delta North Senatorial District, Engr. Dan Ossai expressed joy that there is no longer dissenting voice among members of the APC and commended aggrieved members of the party for agreeing to work in the interest of the party.

“Let us remain more united so that we can get more than 70,000 votes from Ndokwa West,” Engr. Ossai stated.

Chief Dennis Okoh, had said, “what we are seeing here today is oneness, we disagree to agree, today, we have reconciled to work together as one people.”

​Chief Okoh traced his personal relationship with the Deputy Governor and pledged to work wholeheartedly for the victory of the APC.

​No doubt, with the reconciliation of aggrieved members in Ndokwa West, political pundits might say Deputy Governor Monday Onyeme can now go home and rest. However, the Deputy Governor I know does not believe in half measures. To him, it is not over until it is over and even when it is finally over, he works to consolidate the gains.

​Last weekend, the candidate for the House of Assembly (Ndokwa West Constituency), Chief Princewill Olie, showered accolades on the Deputy Governor, describing him as a leader whose instrumentality, along with that of other political figures, ensured his emergence as the APC candidate.

​This took place at the inauguration of the Akunede Amazons, a political pressure group made up of women committed to securing victory for the APC in the 2027 general elections.

​Some of those in attendance included political bigwigs of Ndokwa West, such as Deputy Governor Monday Onyeme (represented by Chief Godday Mgbabego); the wife of the Deputy Governor, Ezinne Catherine Onyeme; Rear Admiral Mike Onah (OON); Engr. Dan Ossai; Hon. Charles Emetulu; Barr. Sam Osasa; Hon. Nnamdi Ezechi; Hon. Jeff Azagba; Chief Festus Enukegwu (Soccer Soccer); Barr. Emmanuel Egri-Okwaji; Chief Ben Ogwu; Barr. Ernest Ogwezzy; Mr. Donatus Oji; Mr. Fredrick Chuks Enuneku; and, of course, yours sincerely.

​With all key decision-makers, political gladiators, women and youth mobilizers fully integrated into the APC, it is obvious that campaigning in Ndokwa West will largely be a formality. As the Deputy Governor always says: “Since all of us are members of the APC, let us carry the message of the party to our friends and colleagues who are yet to be convinced in other parts of Delta State and across the country. There are far more benefits in belonging to a winning political party than throwing away your vote on a party your conscience knows will lose.”

​Certainly, with Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and Deputy Governor Monday Onyeme at the helm of leadership, Delta State is in safe hands.

​The writer, Comrade Fidelis Egugbo, is the Senior Special Assistant on Media to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.