Collins Eselemo
By Jon Egie
Chief Collins Eselemo, a Chieftain of the APC in Delta State has described the honourable Minister of State, Labour, Chief Festus Keyamo; the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege and Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru as political Musketeers.
Speaking as a guest during a Quest TV/Radio public affairs programmes, Phase to Face, Tuesday, August 31; Eselemo said the trio fell short of his understanding and definition of the concept of political leaders.
Prompted by the programme anchor person, Ruth Amadi, to comment on the outcome of the recent APC primaries in which it was alleged that the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege hijacked the party primary election materials to his favour, Eselemo said looking at the big picture, the issue of hijack of party materials was inconsequential and a plaything compared to the alleged theft of the symbol of democracy, the Mace of the Senate.
Responding to a question which bordered on Festus Keyamo’s advice on the dire consequences on the APC ahead of 2023 in the face of a Supreme Court Judgment which tends to imply that the party, APC, has no legal structure and leadership of repute, Eselemo said as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Keyamo knew the implication but decided to keep mute until very recent, adding that Keyamo’s delay to give useful advice on the issue was because of his personal political interest which is hinged on that of Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of transportation.
He lamented that gone were the days when real men from the Niger Delta like the person of Chief Oboko Bello articulated the interest of the region and spoke truth to power without fear, saying the silence of Oboko Bello in the present political scenario was painful.
For him, what was needed in the present political era was a harness and synergy of intellectual ideas to be used to drive political goals for the common interest of all rather than looking at governorship of Delta State as an “Osusu” some sort of socio-economic thrift programmes orchestrated through a primordial arrangement of rotation of political power among the three senatorial districts of the State.
In his conviction, only Chief James Ibori has shown evidence of a political leader whose development infrastructure remains visible in Izonland.
He said politicians have weaponized poverty with the victims, the common folk, all wearing the same facial look of poverty in the local communities across Delta State and the politicians were still poised and prepared to perpetuate poverty among the people so that they could manipulate and oppress them even in 2023.
Eselemo took a swipe at the dishonourable consultation visit of Senator James Manager to Chief James Ibori, the image which went viral, saying such visitation was not necessary rather, politicians should consult with the grassroots, the people who would vote for them after an assessment of their performance over the years while they held political office.
Chief Collins Eselemo recalled that when Chief EK Clark was made a federal minister, he was in primary school and since he himself has become a grandfather, his children would not forgive him if he continued to see and follow EK Clark as the door and determinant of his political fortunes and future.
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