Ned Nwoko

NKRUMAH BANKONG-OBI/Abuja

Ned Nwoko, the senator representing Delta North in the Nigerian Senate, has charged Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta state to demonstrate the capacity to deliver the State to the All Progressives Congress, APC.

The governor announced his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the APC last Tuesday. The senator called on the governor to show, through his actions and decisions, backed by support of ongoing reforms,  the will to deliver, now that he is in the APC.

In a statement made available to journalists on Thursday by his media handler, Michael Ogar, Senator Nwoko said that the governor’s defection to the APC marks a significant chapter in the nation’s political history. “With your courageous defection to the All Progressives Congress, a landmark history is being rewritten. This moment is not just about shifting allegiances, it is about the bold possibilities now within reach. For the first time in decades, we have a real chance to restructure Nigeria’s federating units through constitutionally backed reforms that serve justice, equity, and true federalism,” noted.

He called Governor Oborevwori to adapt to the transformative atmosphere set up by the APC for the betterment of the state and the nation. “As Governor of Delta State, leading the charge among five PDP governors now aligning with the APC, you have stepped into a party reenergized and focused. A party that has already begun laying the groundwork for bold constitutional amendments.”

Nwoko, who chairs the Senate ad hoc committee on Crude Oil Theft, explained that among other challenges confronting the region is the creation of two new viable states, including Anioma and New Delta. “Let me remind you, this agenda was declared a done deal by the party leadership long before your defection, a testament to the APC’s commitment to correcting historical imbalances and ending regional marginalisation. This is the golden hour for the South, and especially for the Delta. Your move to the APC must be anchored in vision. Embrace the party’s progressive agenda. Lead the charge for constitutional reform. Leave behind the politics of survival and step into the politics of legacy,” he charged the governor,

The Senator also implored Governor Oborevwori to rise to the occasion, as “It now behoves on you to rise to this historic moment. The past must not be carried into the future. As scripture warns, ‘No one pours new wine into old wineskins.’ Old habits, old politics, and the old deals that led to the gradual decline of the PDP in Delta must be left behind. Your defection must not be symbolic, it must be transformative. This is your opportunity to embrace a new sense of purpose and demonstrate renewed dedication to progressive governance, fairness, and inclusive development. It is time to write the wrongs of the past.

The statement added that the creation of Anioma State will “finally give voice, identity, and institutional power to the aspirations of Delta North. It is a long overdue recognition of a people who have sought parity with their kinsmen. Thus, he called on the governor to join him: “Let us move forward, not cautiously, but courageously, with clarity and conviction”, the statement declared.