A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State, Olorogun Josiah Ntekume, has defended the role of Olorogun Otega Emerhor in the formation of the party in the state, describing attempts to diminish his contributions as a distortion of historical facts.
In a statement titled “Rejoinder to Aruviere Martin Egharhevwa’s Distortion of APC History in Delta State,” Ntekume dismissed allegations made by Mr. Aruviere Martin Egharhevwa, accusing him of peddling “inaccuracies, half-truths and unfounded allegations” aimed at rewriting the history of the APC in Delta State.
According to Ntekume, “Emerhor remains the undisputed founding leader of the APC in Delta, having provided the vision, leadership, resources and organisational framework that enabled the party to gain a foothold in the state.
“Thousands of APC members across Delta State can attest to the sacrifices, commitment and leadership displayed by Olorogun Otega Emerhor during the formative years of the party,” he stated.
Ntekume also rejected claims that the late Senator Pius Ewherido was a founding leader of the APC in Delta, arguing that although Ewherido was active within the progressive movement before his death in June 2013, the APC only commenced membership registration and full political activities in the state in February 2014.
“While Senator Ewherido played a notable role in the progressive family before his demise, it is historically inaccurate to describe him as a founding leader of APC in Delta State, as the party’s structures and formal activities commenced after his passing,” he said.
The APC stalwart further described as false allegations that Emerhor was absent during the party’s formative period, insisting that he played a central role in mobilising stakeholders, building party structures and funding political activities across Delta State.
He equally dismissed claims that Emerhor used the APC as a bargaining platform with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after the 2015 elections.
“There is absolutely no credible evidence to support the allegation that Emerhor traded the interests of the APC for personal political gain. Such claims remain speculative and unfounded,” Ntekume said.
On allegations linking Emerhor to federal appointments and purported Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) projects, Ntekume challenged critics to provide verifiable proof.
“If there is evidence of wrongdoing, such evidence should be presented before the appropriate anti-corruption agencies rather than propagated through social media campaigns and baseless accusations,” he added.
Ntekume also dismissed suggestions that Emerhor was responsible for the failure of late labour leader Chief Frank Kokori to secure a federal appointment, noting that appointments involve several layers of approval and decision-making within government.
“It is simplistic and misleading to attribute the outcome of any federal appointment process to one individual. Such decisions are made through established institutional channels,” he said.
Defending Emerhor’s professional credentials, Ntekume noted that the businessman and financial expert had built a successful career and reputation long before venturing into partisan politics.
He also addressed reports of political disagreements between Emerhor and Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, maintaining that differing opinions among political leaders should not be interpreted as personal animosity.
“Political differences are a normal feature of democratic engagement and should not be reduced to personal rivalries or vendettas,” he stated.
While acknowledging the contributions of numerous party faithful to the growth of the APC in Delta State, Ntekume maintained that Emerhor’s position as the party’s founding leader in the state remains a matter of historical record.
He called on political actors to refrain from divisive rhetoric and instead focus on promoting unity and development in Delta State.
Ntekume urged Deltans to support the administration of , commending the governor’s commitment to development through the MORE Agenda.
“At this critical stage of our state’s development, Deltans must place greater emphasis on unity, peace and progress rather than engaging in needless political disputes that distract from the collective good,” he said.
