Let Omo-Agege bring the federal shine to Urhobo again
As the 2027 elections loom, it’s fascinating to see how mythical beings like ghosts, ghouls, and nymphs are crawling out of the woods and waters to share their political insights,
- By Enis Ogegere
As the 2027 elections loom, it’s fascinating to see how mythical beings like ghosts, ghouls, and nymphs are crawling out of the woods and waters to share their political insights, bringing twists and turns to the political landscape.
A recent example is a ghoul from the Delta Central Senatorial District, who called a two-time election winner from opposition parties a “disrupter” and “not a unifier,” despite his ability to sweep away candidates from the ruling party. This highlights the power of words, especially for writers. It shows how labels can shape narratives and influence perceptions, making it crucial to choose them wisely.
Obarisi Ovie Omo-Agege’s first contest for the Delta Central Senatorial seat was on the platform of the Labour Party, then a virtually unknown party in Delta State, without a single elected representative in the state. He swept to victory with the strong backing of voters in Urhobo land who united behind him. In the course of his work at the Senate, he strategically moved to the All Progressives Congress (APC), the federal ruling party, which had yet to establish a foothold in Delta State. His hard work paid off big time, as he boosted APC's presence and popularity in Delta State. By 2019, the APC achieved historic wins in Delta State, securing the Delta Central Senate seat, the Ughelli North/Ughelli South/Udu Federal Constituency, and four House of Assembly seats. His relentless efforts propelled him to the position of Deputy President of the Senate, which gave Urhobo a seat at the highest echelon of Nigerian politics.
In 2023, he led APC into the general elections as the governorship candidate. He won the governorship election but was ultimately robbed of his mandate. Nevertheless, APC's influence in Delta State continued to grow, capturing two out of three Senate seats, one House of Representatives seat, and seven state House of Assembly seats. Notably, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori lost the popular vote in his own senatorial district to Senator Ovie Omo-Agege in the 2023 governorship election.
This electoral milestone stands out as a unique moment in the history of opposition politics in Delta State. Omo-Agege's groundbreaking success altered the political landscape of the state significantly, reinforcing his influence and positioning APC as the party of choice in Delta State, with numerous PDP politicians defecting to APC. Even the ruling party, under Governor Sheriff Oborevwori's leadership, saw the writing on the wall and decided to join Omo-Agege's growing APC, anticipating a political storm in 2027 that could push PDP out of power in Delta State.
Omo-Agege's talent for rallying support and inspiring loyalty showcases his reputation as a savvy political strategist who isn’t just a disrupter; he’s a visionary trailblazer who’s ready to redefine the future of Delta State. His leadership energizes an entire state, sparking a new wave of progress and prosperity. Calling him a disrupter unintentionally places him alongside historical figures who made a real difference in the world. Take Nelson Mandela, for instance—he was labeled a disruptor by the apartheid regime, yet he’s celebrated as a hero in South Africa. Martin Luther King Jr. faced similar accusations, but he’s now honored as a champion of justice. Even Jesus Christ was branded a disrupter by the Sanhedrin, yet he’s revered as humanity’s redeemer.
These so-called disruptors were once pushed to the margins, but history has cleared their names. Omo-Agege’s influence is no different. He’s a true catalyst for change, a leader who won’t be confined by traditional norms. His legacy deserves a title that truly reflects his impact: visionary leader. His achievements and commitment to public service highlight his dedication to positive change, inspiring others to follow in his footsteps.
When one Ufuoma Egbe (supposedly writing on behalf of a bench warmer) suggested that Omo-Agege's 2023 governorship bid “fractured alliances, weakened cohesion, and deepened divisions” within Urhobo politics, he mischievously ignored Omo-Agege's popular vote victory in the Delta Central Senatorial District, which is also the home turf of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori. The Urhobo people, along with their Isoko, Ijaw, and Itsekiri neighbors, came together to support Omo-Agege in securing the Delta Central and Delta South Senatorial seats for the APC. Had Late Senator Peter Nwaoboshi not been incarcerated during the election, the APC would've swept all three Delta State senate seats. Even voters from Delta North showed their support for Omo-Agege at the polling booth, only to be thwarted by the alleged rigging proclivities of the then-sitting governor for his protégé, Sheriff.
This raises important questions: what better way to create a “broad political network” than by uniting the people behind the APC, the ruling party at the federal level? So, when Sheriff Oborevwori chose to leave PDP to join APC, was it not to prove that Omo-Agege was right all along and that Sheriff and his cohorts in PDP were wrong? Should Egbe not have the humility to accept Obarisi Ovie Omo-Agege as the superior political visionary who saw ahead of time, the vision of greatness for his people, which his opponents have now come to acknowledge and accept?
Sheriff Oborevwori's defection to the APC is a validation of Omo-Agege's vision. It's not every day you see an entire ruling party defecting to the opposition party; the mass migration from PDP to APC in Delta State highlights Omo-Agege's significant influence.
In ignorance, Egbe seems to confuse the work of a legislator in the Senate with that of an elected person in the executive branch, as he keeps comparing oranges and mangoes. He mixes up legislative and executive roles, blaming Omo-Agege for not spreading projects across Urhobo land as a governor would. Here’s a reality check: senators aren’t in the business of handing out pork-barrel projects. Even granting him that mischievous ploy intended to denigrate the achievements of the hard-working senator, Omo-Agege's legislative accomplishments—real, impactful, and numerous—far exceed those of his peers and all other senators from Delta Central put together.
Omo-Agege's leadership has catapulted Delta State into a new era of progress, leaving a trail of transformative projects. He masterminded the establishment of game-changing institutions: Federal Polytechnic, Orogun, Nigerian Defense Space School, Orogun, and Federal University of Medical & Health Sciences, Kwale, driving academic excellence and innovation.
His infrastructure onslaught has birthed the Oil and Gas Industrial Park, Sanubi-Eku, cutting-edge Healthcare Centres, ICT Centres, and scores of Secondary and Primary School Classroom Blocks, empowering minds. Communities flourish with landing bays, robust power supply via transformers and solar streetlights, and targeted empowerment programmes that uplift lives.
Omo-Agege's razor-sharp vision and execution have redefined Delta State's destiny, cementing his legacy as a titan of transformative leadership. He’s a pioneer, not just a project distributor. His constituents see this; maybe the Egbe should take note, too. The truth is, Omo-Agege's performance has set a high bar, one others struggle to match, fuelling calls for his Senate return.
It is a truism that achievements by a great mind invite opposition twists, but Omo-Agege has won over the opposition by making them abandon their party and defect to his side. This is no mean feat, considering that the very criticisms used against him are the same arguments they have now embraced and are selling at the top of their voices. So, using the same defeated talks against him now won’t serve any purpose.
Omo-Agege unifies Urhobo politics under APC. If he returns to the Senate, it's because those who believe he can leverage federal power and his global network to benefit his people, more than anyone else at this moment, have successfully persuaded him to run for the Senate rather than governor.
Omo-Agege is a man of the world who has risen far beyond the local dogfights of Delta politics. It will be self-defeating for him to continue to wallow in the darkness with everyone else like Pavlov’s dogs. Let him be the one who has seen the light and is bringing the shine to Urhobo land again.
…Enis Ogegere writes from Agbarha-Otor, Delta State
