Executive Assistant on Communications to the Governor of Delta State, Dr Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, has accused the leaders of Delta State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), especially Chief Great Ogboru and Senator Ovie Omo Agege, of allegedly keeping mum over ongoing killings by herdsmen in Abraka, Ethiope East council area of the state.
He attributed the resumed killings by Fulani Herdsmen in Abraka and its environ to the alleged carelessness, deep silence and regrettable negative attitude of Ogboru and Senator Agege.
He said this was seen “from their narrow minded desperation to align with the alleged criminal activities of Fulani Herdsmen in the state, so as to be in the good books of APC national government and the Buhari caucus in the Presidency.”
Oghenesivbe, a full member of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) and a Barrister-at-Law, in a statement condemed the docile approach of the Delta APC and its leaders towards the unlawful murder of farmers in the state by Fulani Herdsmen under the Buhari “failed government.”
He noted that Ogboru, Senator Agege and other APC leaders have failed in their assigned responsibilities as political leaders and Representatives of the people, for not condemning the criminal activities of the herdsmen, “simply because Mr President is a core Fulani by tribe and a major stakeholder in livestock and cattle business.”
He said the self acclaimed “Peoples General” of Abraka in Ethiope East LGA, in the person of Chief Great Ogboru, ought to use his political influence to stop the unlawful killing of his people by joining forces with controversial mace runner, Senator Ovie Omo Agege.
He added that it was the absolute responsibility of the federal government to secure the country as entrenched in the constitution, being the only arm of government granted the “exclusive control” of the police and other security agencies.
The governor’s aide said, “Chief Ogboru and Senator Agege have been blinded by self centered stomach infrastructure politics, to the extent that they kept deaf ears and sealed lips to the brutal and rampant unlawful killing of several harmless and innocent sons and daughters of Abraka, the ancestral hometown of Ogboru, in Ethiope East LGA.
“It is even more worrisome and indeed very sad to note that Ogboru never at any material time issued press statement condemning the criminal activities of the Fulani Herdsmen, not to talk of seeking the intervention of Mr President, his APC President, in the matter.
“It follows that the ‘Peoples General’ must of a necessity be stripped of his rank as he cannot function in that office, which is why Ogboru must stop parading himself as the war general of Abraka people. He has performed abysmally in that capacity to the detriment of the people he ought to fight and defend to a logical conclusion.
“I am not inviting Ogboru and Senator Agege to perform the functions of the state CSO neither did I request both of them to arrest and prosecute these criminal terrorists called Fulani Herdsmen.
“Agege and Ogboru owe URHOBO nation the duty to condemn the killings of our people and affected Deltans in other Senatorial districts. They also failed to effectively use their political influence as chieftains of APC and Buhari government to stop the killing of some innocent and law abiding Deltans especially in Abraka.
“If Ogboru and Agege cannot join in the struggle to bring peace to Abraka in Urhobo Nation, they dont deserve to parade Themselves as leaders in Urhobo Nation.
“For failing to do the needful, Delta APC and its leaders must apologise to Deltans and find courage to commend the state government and the governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, for the huge investment on peace and security in the State.
“Okowa administration worked so hard to boost oil production through multifaceted strategies, funding and organized several stakeholders meetings; thereby increasing the nation’s wealth through foreign earnings.
So much resources went into procurement of equipment, vehicles and other logistics and it is only fair for APC Delta to appreciate this administration giant strides in peace building and security in the state,” the statement added.
