Urhobo leaders in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Warri South local government area of Delta State have produced two chairmen, Olorogun Bernard Okumagba and Prof Israel Abido, as they emerged after separate meetings.
While former Delta State Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Olorogun Bernard Okumagba, was elected as chairman and leader of Warri Urhobo Members of the APC during a meeting in Warri, Prof Abido was reportedly chosen as leader of Warri Urhobos of the APC, during a meeting purportedly held at the residence of Prof Abido in Ekpan via Warri on Friday.
This may not be unconnected to the emerging divide between the old members of the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) defectors to the APC.
Okumagba, an ex-member of Delta State Executive Council, belongs to the older members of the APC, is said to be backed by Senator Ovie Omo-Agege while Abido, who is among new members of the APC that recently defected from the PDP, was reportedly elected as “vice chairman, deputy leader of Warri Urhobo Members of the APC” during the Thursday meeting on the instruction of Delta State Governor, Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori.
Feelers from the Friday meeting that adopted Prof Abido as the leader, indicated that the former PDP chieftain wasn’t disposed to the vice chairman/ deputy leader’s position ascribed to him during the Thursday “unity meeting.”
A source at the meeting held on Friday in the residence of Chief Abido told newsmen that, “The leader of Urhobos of Warri is not conducted by election, leaders usually emerge.
“Israel Abido was the vice chairman to the late Orosuen, after which he became the leader of Warri Urhobos in PDP.
“There is a tussle between new and old Warri Urhobos in APC. Old APC members, headed by Ovie Omo-Agege, Benson Obire and Bernard Okumagba, feel that they are the ones to control the grassroots of the Urhobos of Warri.”
But Hon Gabriel Okandeji, Hon Obruche Obodo and Mr Benji Eboh who spoke on behalf of members and leaders of Warri Urhobo APC said, “There is no division in Warri Urhobo APC and all our leaders and members are fully and unequivocally loyal to our dear governor, His Excellency, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori.
“We have continually restated our loyalty to our dear hardworking and indefatigable governor at all meetings presided over by our leader, Olorogun Bernard Okumagba.
“We met on Saturday, May 3, in Warri. At that meeting, a full leadership council was put in place and Okumagba was elected as chairman/leader and Chief Israel Abido was elected as deputy chairman/deputy leader.”
