Delta 2019: Ogboru Says Governorship Zoning Unconstitutional, Consults Delta North APC

Four times gubernatorial candidate for the number one seat in Delta State, Great Ovedje Ogboru has demystified the trade of zoning in the state, condemning that the act as initiated by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is unconstitutional and unproductive in meeting the yearnings of Deltans.

The eloquent and popular politician who is taking a shot at the governorship seat for the fifth time via the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said this on Friday, September 7, 2018 in Asaba when his campaign train paid a consultative visit to APC members in Delta North.

Ogboru while addressing the sea of party faithfuls who trouped out for the occasion from the Nine Local Government areas in Delta North on the issue of zoning, said, “I have gone through the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and I have not found any part in the constitution in which a particular office was zoned or localized to any person at any particular time. Therefore, I count it unconstitutional. If something is not bound by our constitution, why are you fighting so much about it because what is unconstitutional is not right.”

“We are not advocating that some people should cheat others, we advocate for fairness at all time but whatever we do at all time, we must be bound by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and anything that is unconstitutional we should be careful the way we treat those issues. So, on this very issue of Anioma Agenda, you should know that I am an Anioma citizen. I want to say that the premise on which it is propounded is false and faulty, therefore, we should discard it.” Ogboru harped.

He informed the Delta North party members that the burning issue of rotation was only in the interest of the political party in power to elongate their hold on the State while serving their self interest to the detriment of the people.

“The rotation in Delta state was done by PDP to elongate their hold onto power. It is not because they love Anioma people or Urhobo people or that they love Itsekiri people. If this zoning was a matter that has been supported by the people of Delta State, why have they been rigging elections in Delta State? If all of us had agreed as they agreed, why are they rigging it? Why are we not voting according to the zoning?”. Ogboru questioned.

The gubernatorial hopeful submitted that the vast majority of Deltans in the three senatorial districts, do not agree with the zoning pattern initiated by PDP with the obvious criticism and disaffection which has continued to trail the administrations of the Governors who were the alleged products of PDP rotational formula.

Ogboru who was flanked by APC Chieftains in the State including the Senator representing Delta Central district at the National Assembly, Ovie Omo-Agege and scores of aspirants for various positions in the forth coming election, posited that, if APC must take over power in Delta State, it must project its best gubernatorial candidate in 2019 and devise ways to win elections across all boards.

Earlier, Senator Omo-Agege while introducing the aspirant to the Delta North bloc of the party, stressed that Delta State is a low hanging fruit and the opportunity is very ripe which is why they must present the right candidate.

He declared that only the candidacy of Great Ogboru can dislodge the PDP government from Delta State owing to the fact that over 16 local government areas including 4 from the Delta North District have signed up for his election. “There is nobody in PDP living or dead that can take the 8 local government areas in Delta Central from Great Ovedje Ogboru”, he stated.

Omo-Agege further charged the party members to rally round the aspiration of Great Ogboru alluding that, Ogboru is the President Buhari of Delta state due to his track record of integrity which should earn him their votes.

It will be noted that Great Ogboru, who hails from Ethiope East in the Delta Central region of the state, has been in the business of seeking to be elected Governor of the State since 2003 on several political platforms including, Alliance for Democracy (AD), Democratic Peoples Party (DPP), Labour Party (LP) and presently the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Ogboru’s allegiance is to the Prophet Jones Erue led executive of party in the state and may be contesting for the party’s ticket against the likes of Delta North trio, Prof. Pat Utomi, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh and Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei who are reportedly loyal to the Cyril Ogodo led faction.