INTERVIEW: In 2027 Election, APC Members Will Support Omo-Agege Against Dafinone in Delta Central- Efemena Umukoro

**This is the concluding part of the interview conducted by CHINEYE EGESI of The Next Africa Daily with Efemena Umukoro, a youth mobiliser and a rights activist in Urhobo land. Umukoro bared his mind on Ovie Omo-Agege and Ede Dafinone as the 2027 election gets closer.

Excerpts:

You know Dafinone just spent 3 years, unlike Omo-Agege that spent almost 8 years in the senate. And beside 8 years you know Omo- Agege was deputy senate president, so he definitely had more influence and power. How do you see that compared to Dafinone who is a first timer?

Let us leave Omo-Agege out of this, let's use first timers like Joel Onowakpo. He is a first timer like him. Natasha Uduaghan is also a first timer. Look at what they have done for their people. We have a senator but our kinsmen have been detained by the military for over one year, our senator has not been able to do anything. He has not been able to attract federal presence to Delta central. Check from chatGPT and ask for the achievements of Ede Dafinone and see for yourself.

This is the poorest senatorial representative we've had over the years and we cannot continue this way. If we continue like this, the Urhobo nation will go down politically and we cannot accept that.

Look at the recent empowerment programme done by Senator Natasha, a first time senator like him. The highest Ede Dafinone has done is giving POS machines and N20,000. Let him prove me wrong and tell me one empowerment programme he has done or one Urhobo person he stood for, there is nothing.

Urhobo people, because of our selfish political interest, want to bring in a sleeping man so that they can easily take it from him in 2031. The governor is only protecting his 2031 ticket to go back to the senate. That is what he is doing. But he should know that the interest of Urhobo should come first and the governor should know that Okpe cannot produce a governor and Senator at the same time.

Apart from geographical error, in terms of achievement, Dafinone has done nothing. Those who know me know that I’m a comrade and not a party member for the APC or NDC. It is about the progress of Urhobo people. It's about the image of Urhobo nation. That’s what I’m after. And the only person that can position us in our rightful place presently is Senator Ovie Omo-Agege.

He is not about campaign, he is about creating image for the Urhobo people. Ede Dafinone should continue with his accounting job and allow those who know how to play politics play politics.

In this coming election, who do you think the Urhobo people are looking up to between Omo Agege in NDC, and Ede Dafinone in APC?

It's Omo Agege the Urhobo people are rooting for, even the APC members will support Senator Omo Agege against Dafinone. Omo Agege is the man that will save Urhobo nation from collapse.

But you know Ede Dafinone is in APC, the ruling party that has INEC, army, police, government house on their side

Anybody who wants to rig the 2027 election should write his will, because we are not going to allow it to happen. That is why we are advising the governor to focus on his own election. This election is not going to be about party affiliation. It is about the progress of Urhobo nation. The APC, PDP and NDC are all calling for the revival of the dying image of Urhobo nation.

We are going to protect our vote from the INEC, police or anybody. We are fully ready as a people. I’m a youth leader, I’m a youth mobilizer and I’m telling you for free that it will make history for Omo Agege. He has always won election from the opposition. We are used to opposition politics in Delta State. He has always been into power through the opposition.

Presently, we are only narrowing our vocal point which is protecting our vote. We already have the votes. Our people are already crying, weeping and waiting for Omo Agege. So, I believe it is our duty to protect the vote and that vote we are going to protect. The police and INEC will not have the chance to do anything because the people will protect their votes.

So any person who wants to rig the 2027 election should write his or her will. Even if the president comes to Delta state, Ede Dafinone will fail. I’m from the grassroot, I communicate with the people and we are tired of his failure and by the special grace of God we know that come Election Day, we will not only vote, we will protect our votes.

**We understand that some Omo-Agege’s men are already joining the governor, how do you see that? **

It is hunger. A lot of persons with the governor today will work against him on the Election Day. They are just there. It is difficult to stay out of power. It is just for the benefits. I have discussed with a lot of people in the APC who have told me categorically that when it comes to the senate that he cannot allow any person close to them to vote for Ede Dafinone. Voting for Dafinone means they don’t love Urhobo nation.

But you know times are hard, the country is at the mercy of Tinubu. There is no money anywhere. Some of these people's entire life is in politics. They feed on politics. They need this little monthly money to keep body and soul together. They are not moving away from Ovie Omo-Agege because they don’t like him, they are moving away because they need something. And I don’t blame them either. So there is no cause for alarm.

Look at what happened between Jonathan and Buhari, a lot of people failed Jonathan at the end of the day because they needed the money to survive.

So, the government has the money, Senator Omo Agege has the people. So it is a two way thing. The people will take the money and work for Omo-Agege at the end of the day. So, there is nothing to worry about. But people like us we have integrity, we will rather stay poor than to die with the wicked king. That is why we have decided to stay in the opposition for the betterment of our today and tomorrow.

So, I don’t blame any person who is unable to sustain the hungry pressure of the country by joining APC. They will do what is right to the Urhobo nation when the time comes. But for now let them enjoy the little salary.

**What is your last word for the Delta Central people? ** Delta central people, it is time to revive the glory of the great Urhobo nation. It is time to stay alert. It is not a time for political sentiment. It is not a time to say, I’m a member of this party or that party. But it is time to take Urhobo people to the right side of the place among other ethnic nations. It is time to bring our very best. Our best who is courageous and knows what he is doing. Our best who is experienced and knows the true meaning of politics. So Urhobo nation, it is time to bring in our best and that best is Senator Ovie Omo- Agege.