Tejiri Ebikeme/Francis Sadhere
One of the founding members of the Democratic Poeples Party, (DPP) in Delta state, Sir Richard Odibo has declared his intention to run for the Delta Central Senatorial seat saying that he was contesting to reposition the Urhobo nation in the polity of the country.
Speaking to our correspondents in his Warri based office, on Monday, Sir Odibo said that in line with the ambition of the Urhobo Progress Union, he is going to the Senate to “bring the Urhobo nation back to its old glory.”
He said; “My intention is to build bridges across ethnic nationalities so that Urhobo nation will be recognized again and to be among other famous ethnic nationalities in line with the intentions and ambitions of Urhobo Progress Union today. They are building bridges of friendship across the nation. Urhobo cannot be the fifth largest ethnic group in the country and be relegated to the background when it comes to politics and other matters.
Speaking further on the why he wants to replace the late Senator Pius Ewherido at the National Assemly, he added that; “What I want to do when I get there is to work hard and bring to view the urhobo nation back to their past glory in the Federal level where they can sit at par with other ethnic nationalities and discuss socioeconomic issues and other interest as it affects Urhobo nation. I am contesting under the platform of the Democratic People’s Party, DPP. I have been in the opposition in DeltaState right from time, though I grow across party levels due to my interaction and relationship with everybody.”
He said he believed in the leadership of the party, especially Chief Great Ogboru who he described as his friend and younger brother, adding that he is ready to work for the party come rain, come sun.
He said the party primaries will be conducted based on grassroots mobilization, adding that anybody that wins the primaries will be accepted by members of the party.
While calling on the people of Delta Central to remain calm, Sir Odibo called on them to choose only those people that have good pedigree and integrity and those who have the interest of the Urhobo nation at heart. Read details of the interview
May we meet you Chief?
My name is Sir Richard Odibo and I intend to run for the Delta Central Senatorial seat and my main purpose of going there is to bring the Urhobo nation back to its old glory. My intention is to build bridges across ethnic nationalities so that Urhobo nation will be recognized again and be among other famous ethnic nationalities in line with the intentions and ambitions of Urhobo Progress Union today which is building bridges of friendship across. Urhobo cannot be the fifth largest ethnic group in the country and be relegated to the background when it comes to politics and other matters. So what I want to do when I get there is to work hard and bring the urhobo nation back to its past glory in the Federal level where they can sit at par with other ethnic nationalities and discuss socioeconomic issues and other interests as it affects Urhobo nation.
Under what platform are you contesting and why?
I am contesting under the platform of the Democratic People’s Party, DPP. I have been in the opposition in DeltaState right from time, though I grow across party levels due to my interaction and relationship with everybody. We started as South South Rainbow Foundation in our days back in 2002. From there we went to AD and then I was the party Chairman for Delta Central and Vice Chairman of the state. And from there we metamorphosed into DPP. I am a very conservative person and I like to be consistent in whatever I do. I am dedicated and committed to my cause that I believe in. I do not jump from place to place. I have friends and brothers in PDP. I have friends in former ACN, ANPP but I do not jump from place to place. And that is why I still remain with DPP because I believe in the aspiration and motivating factor behind DPP, especially in the person of Great Ogboru who is my friend and a younger brother.
We were at Abraka yesterday (Sunday) and we saw arrays of Senatorial potentials, what are your chances of winning the bye-elections?
Like I said before, it is a party issue and mobilization of the grassroots. The party primaries are to be organized by the party executives and I am the oldest grassroots member. What are we talking about? It is not a cash and carry type of politics and even it is that, we will still be there to do what we should do.
What is your message to the people of Delta Central?
The people should remain calm and look at the pedigree and their integrity level. They should look at those that have the Urhobo nation at heart. We know those that do not love Urhobo nation. We know their emblem. They should know their pedigree.
Tell us a little bit of your pedigree and why you think your people should vote for you?
I am from the political family. I am from Udu and I am also from Ughelli South maternally. Like I said before, I have been consistent in this struggle to emancipate DeltaState. But I am an Urhobo man to the core and I believe in the Urhobo course and that Urhobos should have their own fair share of the dividends of democracy. That is why we have been in the struggle in the first place. Now the call is now upon me to say come and champion this thing you have been fighting for at the state level. Before now we are now talking of going to the national level. Why not? I am just yielding to calls by patriotic Urhobo citizens.
