Barely two months to the 2019 general elections, the House of Representatives minority leader and member representing Isoko federal constituency who is also the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) candidate in the election, Leo Ogor is said to be currently in a serious state of jittery over the upcoming election having perceived defeat to his well accepted opponent, the All Progressives Congress, (APC), candidate, Joel-Onowakpo Thomas.
A former member of the Delta State House of Assembly representing Isoko South 1 constituency and a leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Lucky Okperi who made this revelation noted that the body language of Ogor and his supporters is that of potential losers, adding that “the Isoko people are tired of the 16 years representation of Hon. Leo Ogor, as a result, they have jettisoned all sentiments and queued behind Joel-Onowakpo, a fresh, energetic and refined servant-leader ahead of 2019.
“The minority leader of the House of Representatives and PDP candidate in the forthcoming House of Representatives election, Hon. Leo Ogor is jittering over the upcoming election because it is obvious that he will lose the contest to the APC candidate, Hon. Joel-Onowakpo Thomas. Isoko people will unanimously vote for the APC House of Representatives candidate, Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, a humble servant with the developmental interest of Isoko land.”
Okperi, who was addressing a gathering of some leaders in his Oleh country home, headquarters of Isoko South local government area of Delta state, called on all prominent sons and daughters of Isoko federal constituency “to emulate the traditional ruler of Oleh, HRM William Ovrawah, the Omogha 1 of Oleh kingdom, Mr. Enahoro Eta, a renowned business mogul and others who have publicly advised Hon. Leo Ogor to step aside and have also thrown their weights behind Joel-Onowakpo Thomas.
“Isoko belongs to us all not one particular individual or his family. We have been very lenient and fair to Hon. Leo Ogor to have given him the room to represent us in the last 16 years at the House of Representatives. We are tired and need to move forward. What we expected from Leo now given his health condition is to appreciate the patience and kindness of the Isoko people, then step aside for another energetic and credible person to continue from where he has stopped, so that he can adequately take care of his health.
“Unfortunately, the revise is the case. Hon. Leo Ogor is acting as though he has conquered the Isoko nation, as such he has closed his ears to all wise counsel, thereby joining the 2019 ballot again for the 5th time. However, he has now realised that the Isoko people are not fools neither were they conquered by anyone. The wide acceptability that has greeted the emergence of the APC candidate, Hon. Joel-Onowakpo Thomas has since sent jittering to his camp that the 2019 elections will not be business as usual.
“For the very first time, we are seeing Hon. Leo Ogor campaigning for re-election, running from pillar to post, trying to buy the conscience of our people among other things. This reveals that Leo has seen his own defeat staring at him on the face. Just as our Odio-ologbo of Oleh and Mr. Enahoro Eta among other renowned leaders have said, all prominent sons and daughters of Isoko will need to also speak up and call on Leo Ogor to step aside while throwing their weights behind Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, a humble servant with the developmental interest of Isokoland.
“The 2019 election of the House of Representatives is very important in the history of Isoko land because it will determine our preparedness to move forward or remain stagnant as a people. Political party affiliations has absolutely nothing to do with it and so is clannish colouration. Isoko people need to move forward and we are all ready”, Okperi said.
Okperi however called on the APC House of Representatives candidate, Joel-Onowakpo Thomas to intensify his consultations and campaign, saying that he is already on the right track but must not leave any stone untouched, admonishing the Joel-Onowakpo House of Representatives Campaign Organisation and Council to continue working assiduously towards eminent victory ahead.
Okperi, who congratulated Isoko people in advance, encouraged everyone to see the larger picture and be inspired by Isoko progress as “we approach the general elections in 2019.”
