Senatorial hopeful in Delta Central on the platform of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) in Delta State, Sir Richard Odibo is a reporter’s delight anytime any day. In this chat with select media correspondents in Warri, he spoke extensively on the visit by the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) to President Goodluck Jonathan; the late Senator Pius Ewherido whom he described as an asset to Delta central, the crisis in DPP and many other topical issues. EXCERPTS:

Sir, what is your take on the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) delegation to President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in Aso Rock, Abuja, over the state of the Urhobo nation recently?

The Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan was long overdue. We had requested for this meeting for over two years ago; just before the President came in, because we voted enmass for him. If only we voted for our son and he succeeded in becoming the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, there is every need for us to have a round – table conference to discuss so as to know our feeling and thereby exchange ideas on the way forward. But since he assumed the mantle of leadership, we have not been able to create that forum; but today, I’m quite happy that the opportunity came and our UPU leadership used it very well. I am quite happy about the development!

How did you and the Democratic People’s Party (DPP) receive the untimely death of Senator Pius Ewherido? Has the DPP decided on who will fly the flag of the DPP? And do you envisage a situation where the flag bearer of the party will come from the same constituency of the late Senator?

The death of Senator Pius Akpor Ewherido was a big blow to all of us because he was an asset to everybody and even to the whole nation, Delta State and the Democratic People’s Party (DPP) family even though he was already trying to move away from the party. It was a personal blow to me, because I was one of those that contributed to his emergence as senator. He was like one of my younger brothers. As regard filling the position, at the appropriate time, a rightful person would be chosen to replace him at the National Assembly. I’m very much convinced that whoever will take over his seat would come from the same constituency with him because he has not yet completed his tenure. He is from Ughelli South, Ughelli North and Udu Constituency. So, anyone from these three local government areas would most appropriately fit the bill and can take over from him. No doubts, we would get a rightful candidate. It would be unfair for the replacement to go to another constituency other than where the Late Senator came from.

 

So, are you saying that DPP would win back the senatorial seat again?

Certainly yes. Delta central is DPP stronghold in Delta State for now. There is no other party in Delta Central than DPP. Undoubtedly, from every calculated sides and angles, there is no other party than DPP in Delta Central. So, DPP will win it again and that is my own conviction.

It’s like you are equally in the race for the vacant senatorial seat?

Yes, I am from that constituency where Ewherido came from! I’m from Udu and Ughievwen; that is Udu and Ughelli South Local Government Areas of Delta State. I’m from Egini in Udu and Egbo-Uhurie, Usiefrun, Iwhrekan, all in Ughelli South.

And how do you see to the crisis within the DPP? Don’t you see this as a setback to the senatorial position?

I can say authoritatively today that there is no crisis in DPP. If one should look at the merger of parties that form the so called All Progressives Congress (APC), DPP is not there.  This INEC has confirmed to us. Yes, there are some members who left us to join the merger individually but we are working hard to continue to be on the winning side. The DPP family remains one and we are still very strong. You have to take this from me, ours is a grassroot-based party. We are stronger among the ordinary masses that constitute the majority of the voting populace. We shall defeat all those making noise right now. We plan carefully and will strike where it matters most. Everybody will be surprised with the outcome of this election because we are ready and would spring surprises with our plans.

 

And would DPP still feature Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru as the 2015 governorship candidate of the party or would DPP looks for someone else?

Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru remains the leader of the DPP in Delta State as at today but 2015 is another date entirely! I mean governorship for 2015 is another ball game. We may never know whether DPP would be in existence till 2015 because merger talk is still going on. But he remains the leader of DPP and who flies the DPP flag cannot be determined now. It has to be the decision of the people.

How do you see the challenge pose by Chief Ighoyota Amori’s Urhobo Political Congress (UPC) and Olori Magege’s DCPM to this contest? Do you see them as working for the interest of Urhobo?

They are all Urhobo sons, friends and brothers. I would not Judge any of them; I’m not in a position to Judge. Judgment is of the Lord! All I know is that they are friends and brothers and they are all Urhobo children. And I hope they would remain faithful and committed stakeholders in the Urhobo project.

Are you convinced that Uduaghan has really fulfilled his campaign promises with effective delivery of his three – point agenda?

As for me, I would say everything is working and I cannot score him yet. I may say work is in progress on different pedestals, especially when compared to era of so much kidnapping – that is, on security there is work in progress; I can see that there is relative calm in Delta State. But on infrastructural development, I cannot score him yet but there is work in progress.

But it is alleged that he has really surpassed his 3point agenda by building capacity to drive dreams of having a state not dependent on crude oil sales? Do you concur?

 No! right now, there is no doubts, our means is still oil. What are the alternatives? And now, I’m putting the question back on your table. What are the alternatives to oil? And what are they doing right now? What dividends are we getting from the so called alternative? First of all, what are the alternatives on the table? Agriculture? What are we producing and selling now to generate income outside oil? What are we having on that table – nothing? So, we can’t talk of alternative source of income right now!

What is your take on the registration of the All Progressives Congress (APC)? Do you see the romance of the three parties that formed APC of any lasting value and threat to other political parties?

The registration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and others like the Independent Democrats (ID), Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) are all welcome development in our polity. We need to reduce numbers of parties so that there would be big players and not small players all over the place. And as regards the three parties coming together, I think they would lasts! It’s just a question of negotiation and give and take; since they have a meeting point and there would be no problem.

Comes 2015, if only an Urhobo is featured as the governorship candidate of the APC, don’t you think it would be a big blow to DPP?

I had said earlier that 2015 is far ahead and we don’t know what would happen in 2015. We don’t even know whether DPP would still be in existence by 2015. We may never know whether DPP will be in APC or PDP or wherever in 2015. So, I can’t say anything about that but for now, APC doesn’t have any structure on ground in Delta State. The only party that has structure on ground is DPP and may be PDP.

Now, what do you have to say about the 2015 Presidential contest and the divergent views of the northern and southern Nigeria on the matter?

The blending together of North and South is not by accident; it is by divine arrangement. So, people shouldn’t be talking on behalf of South or North; we should be talking as Nigerians. We are lucky to be Nigerians today! So, let us come to the common table, discus and deliberate on issues that affect us positively instead of emphasizing things that would divide us. We should de-emphasis issues of regional advantage and promote the good of all. And I think there is every need for both sides to come together and talk so that we look for a road-map to a successful Nigeria in the future. In my opinion, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan can contest any day, anytime as long as he is qualified and entitled to second term. We all recall how Bashorun Moshood Abiola and Kingibe came to be together. It was a Moslem – Moslem ticket; the heaven did not come down. So, it’s by a special divine arrangement; everything can work especially when it’s being negotiated on the table of love and peace.

Your final word on this session!

There is need for all Nigerians to give peace a chance. We shouldn’t hold fast to our idea because we don’t know what the ideas of the other person is all about! We must learn to listen to each other, place ourselves in the shoes of others and feel it from their own perspectives and let the others also place their shoes in ours to see things from our perspectives too. When two people come together like that to talk on the table, they may meet half way and agree on something but if there is no basis for deliberation; if there is no opportunity to agree, there would be disagreement. So, there is need for Nigerians to be watchful, peaceful and not to allow things that would tear us apart to be orchestrated. They should completely de-emphasize it; we should build on our strength. We all have strength; we shouldn’t be looking at our weaknesses. And if we build on our strength; we would be stronger and God would bless us for it! I wish Nigeria goodluck!