In a recent media publication, prior to the collapse of the entire structures of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State into the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Federal Lawmaker, representing the good people of Ughelli North, Ughelli South and Udu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives under the APC, Rt. Hon Francis Ejiroghene Waive took the Bull by the horns, urging the APC and the PDP to unconditionally adopt Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori as Delta State governorship candidate in the 2027 governorship election.
Rt. Hon Waive had, in the publication, titled 2027: The Imperative Of Waive’s PDP, APC consensus candidate in Oborevwori, posited that, the APC in Delta State had been embroiled in a crisis of leadership in recent months, therefore, he called for unity and support for Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori that would pave the way for a more cohesive party as the 2027 elections approach. “I want victory for the APC and President Bola Tinubu, and this is the best way to go”, he said.
He further justified his position on a unanimous candidacy by the two parties in Oborevwori when he said, “the rotation of the Governorship position between the three senatorial Districts favours Gov Oborevwori, who has only one term left. “I call on Deltans to support this move, as it will further unite us as a people”, Rt. Hon Waive appealed.
While many commended the lawmaker for his public and bold recommendation of consensus governorship candidacy in Oborevwori by the two parties, they also described him as a patriotic Nigerian, an illustrious son of Urhobo nation and a prominent Deltan, who cannot be faulted in his genuine concern for the socio-economic and infrastructural development of Delta State, devoid of partisanship under Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori.
Some also said, the lawmaker stands out, as he has consistently distanced himself from polities of envy, bitterness and unnecessary media propaganda in the face of Gov Oborevwori’s transformational leadership as could be seen in the meaningful development through mega infrastructural/ result-oriented socio-economic remodelling in the State, women and youth empowerment, educational and sports development, as well as the rapid progress made in all sectors of the state’s economy.
Specifically, they posited that Rt. Hon Waive cannot be faulted by either the APC or the PDP in Delta State or publicist for claiming that no political party can defeat Gov. Oborevwori in 2027, going by his administration’s landmark achievements in about two years, and the visible conflict among the leadership of the APC in the State.
The lawmaker’s position on adoption of Gov Oborevwori as sole governorship candidate for the APC and PDP in Delta State in 2027 was further fueled by the approval of the 76 mega infrastructure projects across the three Senatorial Districts at a cost of over N27.5bn by the governor, first of its kind since the creation of the State, plus over N2.5bn previously allocated to each Local Government infrastructure development across the 25 Local Government Areas.
However, the lawmaker’s genuine recommendation did not go down well with some other persons in the State, as they publicly demanded that he be charged for anti-party activity, particularly against the APC.
But Rt. Hon Waive, being a man of integrity and a practical christian with a good conscience, stood his ground and did not reply the critics, possibly praying for time to prove him right or wrong. That time came weeks later, when the entire structures of the PDP in the State collapsed into the APC. Rt. Hon Francis Waive was vindicated. Call him, “The man who saw tomorrow,” and was brave enough to speak the truth, you are right.
It is, therefore, on the strength of this that, this week, The Pointer on its platform is featuring him (Rt. Hon Waive), as he speaks with EDNA EMENI on his earlier position of making Gov Sheriff Oborevwori the sole guber candidate of the APC and PDP, the recent collapse of PDP structures into the APC, the excellent performance of Gov. Oborevwori within two year, what the state stands to benefit from the collapse of the PDP structures into the APC, thus becoming an APC state and many more. Exerpts.
The entire PDP structures in Delta State recently collapsed into the APC, and the State Governor, His Excellency, Rt Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori called it “a movement”. What new thing(s) is this movement likely to bring to the State and her People in terms of democracy dividends and development?
Thank you very much. The movement is the end of politics of bitterness in Delta State. Criticisms will now be constructive and logical. Previously personal, selfish, parochial and primitive sentiments were hauled out as criticism. More importantly, Delta State is better aligned with the Federal Government and the benefits are huge. For instance the total reconstruction of the Benin Warri Expressway and the Benin Asaba Expressway are pointers to many such benefits that are coming to the State. So, with Delta becoming an APC state, more development will be attracted to the State from the Federal Government, controlled by the APC.
The view in some quarters is that, Rt. Hon Francis Waive was one of the men who saw this movement coming, haven earlier appealed to the PDP and APC in the State to unite, shelve their differences and queue behind Gov. Oborevwori as sole governorship candidate for the 2027 election. What is your take on this?
In less than two years, the performance of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori is such that nobody would be able to defeat him in the 2027 elections. And because I want my party to win the elections I had to ensure we field a candidate that can win. Moreover the rotation of the governorship among the three senatorial zones favor him as the other zones will not want a new candidate that will certainly do two terms.” But more importantly I am a Christian Cleric and those who know me know that there’s a prophetic touch to my ministry. So when I hear from God I do not worry about the criticism of those who do not see what I see or hear. Governor Sheriff Oborevwori will win the 2027 election.
But some persons out there questioned and criticised your appeal for the PDP and APC to unite in order to produce a joint guber candidate in the person of Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori, demanding that you should be charged with anti-party activity. Now that the appeal has come to be met, how do you feel about it, and what do you have to tell such critics?
I normally don’t gloat over those who are on the other side when I win. For instance I have never celebrated my electoral victories as if to rub it in the eyes of my opponent. It is God who gives power. Perhaps those who called for my head when I made the call will now recognize the finger of God upon my life. But even if they don’t I am unperturbed. God will continue to show himself strong on behalf of those who trust Him. Governor Sheriff Oborevwori is now positioned as I said and that alone satisfies me.
Prior to the movement of the PDP structure to the APC in the state, you did say that the APC was plagued with leadership challenges. In your view, do you see the movement addressing the challenges now, or in the future?
Read the history of the APC in Delta State from its beginning to the day of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s entrance and you will realize that it has always been a self destructive struggle between various tendencies. Someone described it aptly as a crap mentality.
But the cheering huge number of the new entrants already seems to swallow the loud noise makers whose everyday assignment was clearly to destroy fellow party men. Not to mention the huge presence of a serving Governor that cannot be equaled by any party man. Moreover the fact that the APC’s leadership rests on the State Governor where the serving Governor is a member of the party puts to rest permanently the unnecessary agitations about who was the leader of the party in the State. And I am glad Governor Sheriff Oborevwori addressed this in very unmistakable terms on day one.
But a number of persons in some quarters have criticised the movement, saying, it is anti-democracy. What do you have to say about that?
What is undemocratic about a people exercising their constitutional rights of freedom of association? In every democracy the minority has their say while the majority has their way. So those who criticize the movement are free to do so. But if you want to win and bring the dividend of democracy to your people, then you must align properly.
Since I joined partisan politics I have heard some people boast about being in the opposition. I am shocked whenever I hear it because my idea is to win and make a difference for my people.
Democracy, they say thrives in an environment where you have viable opposition parties. Now that the state’s PDP has collapsed into the APC, isn’t that a movement to one-party system and threat to democracy?
We can not become a one party State when we are so republican by nature. Even within a political party there are those who align with respect to ideas and ambitions, thus primaries are conducted to select candidates.
The definition of a viable opposition means an alternative candidate that has the capacity to take over power at the polls. But some uneducated persons deceive themselves that, to be a viable opposition means to be loudest in hauling insults and threats. They mistake militant activism for opposition politics and what a shame they make of themselves.
Politics involves negotiations, lobbying, and bringing something home to your community or people. And you can also achieve this if you’re a constructive critic not a selfish unreasonable thug certificate or no certificate.
Before now, the general view in some quarters was that, the APC in Delta State was a minority party, but the Minister of Aviation and Aero Space, Hon. Hon Festus Kayemo countered that view two weeks ago, or so, saying that the APC is the “Main gate keeper” in the state. What’s your take on this?
I do not understand what you mean by minority party. If you refer to APC Delta as minority party in the sense that APC didn’t form the government at the State level you may be correct. I don’t know if you have compared the membership register of both political parties and concluded that one is majority and the other is minority.
The State Governor, Rt. Hon Sheriff Oborevwori has declared that, with the APC now in charge of Delta State, he is the Leader of the party. What’s your take on this, especially when some person’s out there are of the view that the Governor of a State should not be the Leader of the party?
It is the norm that, where the sitting Governor of a State is a member of the party, the Governor is automatically the leader of the party in the State. No amount of propaganda can change this reality and I am glad Governor Sheriff Oborevwori left no one in doubt about this from day one.
It is not compulsory for those who are not comfortable with this to go away and be leader elsewhere. We in APC Delta have moved beyond the stage of debating who is the leader of our party in the State. Governor Sheriff Oborevwori leads and we follow. QED.*****
As the Federal Lawmaker, representing Ughelli North, Ughelli South and Udu Federal Constituency, shall we take a look at how much impact you have made in your Constituency?
I am proud of the service I have rendered to my constituents since my election in 2019. The entire people of Ughelli North, Ughelli South and Udu Federal Constituency can see clearly my performance in all areas of legislative activity.
I make bold to say that, my performance surpasses that of all my predecessors put together. Is it the number of Bills sponsored? Is it the number of infrastructural projects? Is it empowering constituents? I am glad my people appreciate my work.
The three LGA’s and thirty two Wards have my footprints in terms of construction of blocks of classrooms, provision of solar street lights, re-connection of communities to the National Grid, provision of Transformers, healthcare, distribution of educational materials, empowerment of hundreds of constituents with cars, motorcycles, laptops, fridges, deep freezers, sewing machines, cash transfers etc etc, and the biggest of it all is the signing into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu my Bill establishing the Federal Medical Center Ovwian.
This is a legacy project that will outlive me and this generation. I am grateful to my people for the opportunity given to me and to Mr President, His Excellency, Bola Tinubu.
Now that you are gradually approaching the second half of your second tenure in office, what new thing(s) do you have to bring on the table of your constituents?
The construction of the Federal Medical Center Ovwian is top on my agenda. The reduction of poverty among my people will also be tackled. My people should expect the mother of all empowerments.
Of course, I will continue to provide that robust quality representation that my people have become accustomed to during my tenure. I will pursue the creation of one new local government each out of Ughelli North and out of Ughelli South LGAs. The restoration of Ughelli South State Constituency two is a task that must be done.
We have it on good authority that you stood solidly behind Okuama people during the crisis, leading to the killing of some soldiers.
Okuama is part of my constituent. When the sad incident happened, I did not fail to raise my voice.
In my capacity as the Lawmaker representing the people in the House of Representatives, I called for urgent government intervention in resettling the displaced residents affected by the crisis, and pushed for security reforms to prevent similar incidents in the future.
…And your representation in the House of Representatives?
While my leadership roles as the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Rules and Business is visible, I have demonstrated a commitment to accountability, publishing my annual stewardship reports to keep my Constituents informed about my activities and progress.
And your word to Gov Sheriff Oborevwori now that he is the leader of the APC in Delta State and Deltans, as they begin their journey in a new party – the APC
Please forgive me. I do not talk to or advise my leaders on the pages of newspapers.
