Group photo of APC members after the ceremony on Thursday
By Samuel Ogude
It was an atmosphere of jubilation as members of Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), Okpara Ward 4 defected to All Progressives Party (APC). The defection which took place on Thursday at the premises of Hon. Love Ojakovo at Okpara inland in Ethiope East Local Government Area was described as one of the great things that ever happened in the history of the area.
Speaking at the ceremony, and the leader of Ethiope East, APC, Hon. Love Ojakovo expressed gratitude to members of PDP to have defected to the ruling party, APC. According to him, with this defection, all Okpara politicians are now one.
He said, since he left Delta politics 18 years ago, no substantive political position has come to Okpara despite the voting strength of the people in Delta politics as the highest possible the people could get, could be either Senior Special Assistant (SSA) or Executive Assistant (EA) which, according to him, does not justify the chunk of votes the government gets from the area. He said, apart the elective positions such as the LG Chairman, House of Assembly, Governor and others, the people would benefit from other areas of benefits.
Hon .Love Ojakovo, the Leader of APC in Ethiope East and the Leader of PDP Ward 4 decampees, Apostle Dr. Samuel Efetobor (both at the middle) flanked by other members on Thursday
According to him, Okpara- Inland and Waterside- is the strength of politics in Ethiope East without it, no party would win. His words:” In Ethiope East Local Government Area, Okpara votes are the greatest… If we take our votes out of Ethiope East, no party will win”. He however said, now that PDP and APC have come together, the table has turned for good. Hon. Ojakovo therefore sued for more unity among the people just as he promised to use his resources, energy and time to ensure Okpara people get what is due for them in the government.
Earlier in his address on behalf of other PDP decampees, the leader defected PDP Ward 4, Apostle Dr Samuel Efetobor (JP) said they decided to join APC to have more dividends of democracy from the government. Dr. Efetobor who corroborated what Hon Ojakovo said, Okpara has not got a fair share in terms of appointments from the government despite their good voting strengths. He however said, with coming together of the people, they can now fight for good of the people.
Dr Efetobor who was flanked by Chief Victor Onogagamue, Hon. Chief Johnson Oweh, Macaulay E.Johngold among others, expressed gratitude to Hon. Love Ojakovo who has been in APC for some time now and whom they have finally joined to work in synergy to move Okpara to the next level.His words: “The truth must be said, our politics has not been advancing because we have not been recognized with our population and voting strengths. Again, we have not been cooperating as such to harness our voting capacity because politics is about consultation and taking reasonable decisions to move our people forward”.
Those who joined Hon. Love Ojakovo to welcome PDP to APC fold include: Archbishop the leader of APC Ward 4, Archbishop Phillips Orovwuje, APC Vice Chairman, Ethiope East, Hon. Idisi Ese Felix, Chief Andrew Majemite and others. They all expressed gratitude for PDP members to have joined APC,the ruling party just as they promised to have equal treatment for all members. The highlight of the programme was the presentation of certificate of membership to Dr. Samuel Efetobor on behalf of other members amidst cheers just as the party trooped out to hit the floor with dance.