By Dave Okpogadie, Asaba
Aformer Governorship Aspirant in the 2015 general elections under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Johnson Ossai Opone, has attributed his dumping the PDP to the marginalisation of the Ndokwa people of Delta State.
Chief Johnson Opone, who stated this when he formally defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) was welcomed by party officials led by the Deputy State Chairman of the APC, Chief Barr. Obigbor Francis Ineh and other leaders from Ndokwa and Ukwuani Federal Constituency who joined the Secretary of his home ward in Kwale, Ndokwa West Local Government Area of Delta State to present the party’s membership card to him.
Chief Opone noted that there was deliberate marginalisation of Ndokwa nation, adding that he joined the All Progressives Congress based on the need to contribute meaningfully to the development of the Ndokwa nation and Delta State at large.
He lamented that the Ndokwa nation had remained crawling without the necessary infrastructural development despite their huge input to the economy.
“On the premise of my genuine love for the development of the Ndokwa nation and Delta State at large, I have decided to leave PDP to join the APC to continue to pursue my political aspiration and put Ndokwa Nation first in the incoming government of APC both at the State and federal level,” he stated.
Chief Opone who is the immediate past President General of Ndokwa Neku Union decried how badly Ndokwa nation was deliberately underdeveloped by PDP administrations.
He explained further that he decided to join the APC in order to contribute his quota to the development of his ethnic nationality, the state and Nigeria at large while assuring the All Progressives Congress of his loyalty and support to enable the party come victorious in 2023 election.
In his words, “A lot of communities in Ndokwa nation are in dire need of infrastructural uplift. Therefore, we need to align ourselves to a political party that will bring visible development to our people. In APC, we shall change the trend for the good of our people.”
Chief Opone commended the joint efforts made so far for the establishment of Federal University of Agriculture and Technology, Aboh, FUATA, Delta State by the duo of the Deputy Senate President, Senators Ovie Omo-Agege and Peter Nwaoboshi, describing them as agents of genuine change and accelerated development, who are eager to change the ugly trajectory of Ndokwa nation.
Shortly after picking his APC membership card, Opone, who is also a financial expert, stated that the ceremony was so important to him and the Ndokwa nation APC family as they would work together as a family in repositioning the party ahead of the 2023 general elections, adding that it was an opportunity to use the party’s platform to negotiate Ndokwa nation into mainstream politics.
He also appreciated the foundation members of the party for keeping the party strong till date and promised to support the ever growing pace of the All Progressives Congress in Ndokwa nation while noting that the APC had all it takes to dislodge PDP from Delta state Government House come 2023.
While describing the leadership qualities of the senator representing Delta Central, Ovie Omo-Agege as exceptional, he opined that the Deputy President of the Nigeria Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege has performed beyond expectations at the national Assembly and has all it takes to take Delta State to greater heights.
While reacting to a question on contesting for an elective position on the platform of the APC, the chartered accountant, who has been in practice for over 30 years and has superintended major government corporations, maintained that only good leadership can grow a people and that he was open to any position the leadership of the party might assign to him.