Olorogun Ernest Mereh, a former Councilor in the Udu Legislative Arm is a Special Assistant to the Governor of Delta State on Political Matters. He has held several positions since joining politics and his political sagacity and understanding of the game is not in doubt. In this interview with Emuesiri Eyafugborhi, the Oghior-born political tactician bares his mind on a wide range of issues ahead of the 2027 election year. Excerpts:

What is your take on the 2027 elections with regard to the House of Assembly polls for Udu constituency?

I was fully on ground during the unification meeting of the Udu APC ward 1 held at Otor Udu recently.I spoke extensively on this subject matter during the meeting. The truth of the matter is that if Udu must move forward, we just have to take urgent steps to ensure equity in the distribution of elective positions in the area. I came out clearly to say that for Udu to get it right this time around, PDP and APC must agree to stay together. I believe we have resolved to come together and work to make Udu great. It is trite to say that Udu has become APC with the defection of the governor to APC and the collapse of the former PDP into the APC. This union between PDP and APC also brought the Council Chairman, hitherto of the PDP into the APC fold. He has just done one year and has two years to the end of his first term. Let me emphasize the fact that if the APC wants this union to work, they should allow the former PDP members who came into the union with the council chairman to retain the position for another term. In the same vein, the old APC who came into the union with the House of Assembly seat should be allowed to retain the position for another term. That is equity. The two political blocs which came together to form the enlarged APC understand the undercurrent political nature of their backgrounds. None of the two blocs should take everything except we are not ready for peace. If the APC wants this union to work, we should let the old PDP rule out their tenure in the council and thereafter another dispensation can begin where whoever wants to come out and contest can do so. The current House of Assembly member too should be allowed to continue. That is the way of peace for us all in this new marriage. 

In Delta state, the old PDP and APC which now constitute the enlarged APC have seemingly agreed to deliver President Tinubu and Governor Oborevwori in 2027. Do you agree with this position? 

Yes. In Delta state whoever the governor supports is our candidate. This is so because in the APC constitution and as a matter of policy, the governor is the leader of the party. I strongly believe that with the joint power of former PDP and the old APC now together in the new APC, there shall be no challenge. 

What is your advice for the political class in Udu ahead of 2027 so Udu will not make the mistake of the past in working for the opposition against the winning team?

I can say with all conviction that the PDP and APC had often work together in the past to sabotage each other and they know themselves and that is why it's high time we all work together and make sure we deliver the party. Those in the old PDP who had worked for APC in previous elections know themselves. We are now in the same party and I strongly believe there shall be no reason to undo the party any longer. One thing I would like to advice is that the power of leadership and misinterpretation of leadership must be corrected for Udu to work together. We must give proper definition to leadership and give it the value, maintain proper inclusive energy without segregation so we can work together as a team. 

What should be the direction of Delta central with regards the senate position in 2027 since the incumbent governor is from the same axis with the senator? 

Presently as u can see in the past elections those who contested at that time all came from the same federal constituency but from different political parties. The governor was from the PDP, the senator from the APC while the House of Representatives member from the Labour Party. That cannot stand from now going forward. We are now in the same political party except the House of Reps member. A similar situation played out in the time of Hon Ogbaburhon and Senator Fred Brume in 1999. Ogbaburhon was sacrificed for Brume to be senator and Aguariavwodo emerged House member. This matter must be properly addressed by the leaders so as to avoid confusion and also ensure even distribution of elective positions to strengthen the party ahead of the coming polls.

Do you have anything to say on the House of Representatives election as it affects the Ughelli/Udu federal constituency?

The actual fact is that the issue of the House of Representatives is an issue that involves the three local government areas in the constituency. If anyone in power wishes to run again, he is free to do so as many times as possible. For example, Hon Francis Waive may wish to run again but if Udu believes they have the capacity to run against him on account of improper representation or other considerations, he can be voted out.  But if he has done well, he can be retained. However, that is a matter for the three LGAs to decide. The three LGAs will pick a candidate and work for the candidate. The position is not meant for one person. The situation is however complex because only Udu cannot deliver a candidate. That is the bitter truth. We need the other LGAs to get victory. Inasmuch as I would want an Udu man to be there, the matter is not an Udu matter to decide. Hon Waive has done pretty well but things can get better. 

What would you like to say about those old PDP members who were interested in running for House of Assembly before this marriage between old PDP and APC?

Yes. There are so many persons who had the ambition to contest for House of Assembly in the old PDP before the marriage came into being. I salute everyone who had such ambition to contest in order to promote the party. As we all know, every party wants to take over this local government most especially the House of Assembly seat. I want to advice all those who had such intentions to please reconsider and wait for another time. The way things are, we need to readjust our interests and allow the incumbents some more time to stabilize the system before thinking of alternatives. If we want to live together, we must work together.

What is your take on the upcoming 2027 General election! 

We must consolidate to win all elections in the 2027 general election. If the party is united, the sky is the limit and the whole of Udu will be proud and witness new wave of development and an upsurge in political patronage from the state. And we can only consolidate if we have the interests and desire of the whole Udu local government council as our priority in order for us to reposition our political strength for the forth coming general election. Dissipating energy over fruitless opposition politics that profits nothing had always eroded our dignity in Asaba. We beat the air, fighting aimlessly without thinking of benefits. All we wanted was simply to ensure the ruling party lose the area not minding whether they win the election or not. Such a mean and petty approach to politics had given Udu a bad reputation in Asaba. But all that must change now that we are in the same political party. Those disgruntled left over have no political energy and resources to pull any strong opposition anymore. Majority of stakeholders are now in APC and Udu is on the march again towards emphatic victory in 2027. It is therefore my appeal to work with one mind, win those disgruntled and angry set of political players left in the now opposition PDP and other mushroom party so we can take a walk to victory without stress. 

Can you throw more light on the marriage between APC and PDP? Do you think the marriage will last? 

I salute all the APC members for the courage in coming together to form one big family. This marriage is a very good one and this one thing that will make Udu as a whole to move forward. Let me use the instance of a husband and a wife who had children before their coming together to marry. They can't just chase the children away because they are establishing a new family. In this situation they both have to live together with the kids before giving birth to their own kids. The essence of this story is that Udu should take this marriage as children who are coming together so that the glory that has been lost before can come back. If in any way the former PDP members seem to be making mistakes, they should not take it as an offence or any big challenge. The issues should be seen as children they had before the new marriage and they should be properly guided so they can live together in peace. I will like to plead for the umpteenth time that the APC members should allow old PDP who came into the marriage with the Council Chairman to complete their two terms. After that, any government that will come can be considered as a new government and product of the new marriage. Same thing goes for the position of House of Assembly. The bond will grow stronger if we are able to harmonize and allow both positions to be retained by the incumbents to reduce acrimony and in the best interest of peace and unity. Udu will become better for everybody. 

Do you have anything to say about political leadership in Udu?

I would like to dwell on the issue affecting Udu in particular. In all my years of being in government and in politics, I can say that I have come to understand politics and have acquired more knowledge in this field. The problem Udu is facing is the problem of leadership. Take for example in Udu when the president came on official visit to Udu like inspecting projects and commissioning roads, the leaders could not deem it fit to invite the president and have a discussion with him on pressing issues rather they focused their attention on popularity which has made them neglect their offices and roles whereby selling their pride before election. 

As a leader, you are supposed to have a voice in such a way that when you talk, the governor will listen, hear you and act in line with your requests. Running around within Udu cannot help matters. You must reach out beyond Udu as far as to the federal government. That is the only way to attract government presence to the area for appreciable development and improved infrastructure. A leader who is able to reach out and bring appointments to the youths naturally build honour and respect around himself. When you get our youths into various government positions, nothing will stop them from respecting you. For example, state or federal government annual budgets have different stages. We have the introductory part where the executive collates all they want to achieve or execute as capital projects. These are passed to the legislature and after proper legislative actions, it is passed and it becomes an Act of Parliament. Once signed into law, it can no longer be changed or amended. Nothing can be added or adjusted until the next budget circle. So, the leaders should know this and learn not to run from pillar to post after a budget has been made and passed. A budget that is already passed is what some of our leaders struggle to change, alter or abrogate. You cannot carry your stick after the snake had escaped. Get prepared and strike at the right time so as to get results. Finally, permit me to emphasize once again that Udu people should allow the House of Assembly seat to remain with the old APC members while the Council Chairman should remain with the old PDP members now in APC. That way there would be less acrimonies and issues ahead of 2027.

Your final word on this subject matter of the Union between APC and old PDP members!

As I hinted earlier, I was fully on ground during the unification meeting of the Udu APC ward 1 held at Otor Udu recently. At that meeting, I spoke extensively about why I love the amalgamation of the APC and the former PDP as a marriage between two people who have mutual agreement to become one. The former PDP came into the marriage with heavy political gladiators like the Council Chairman, Commissioner, EAs, SSAs, Sas, Board Chairmen and members and other political office holders. On the other hand, APC came with the House of Assembly member, a federal Commissioner and a handful of other appointees. We have to recognize this and work together to achieve victory in the coming polls. For peace to remain in this marriage, the old APC members cannot come into the marriage to fight to snatch the only thing APC came into the marriage with. That is why I am canvassing mutual understanding to allow Hon Collins Egbetamah to retain his position for another term while Vincent Oyibode is allowed to run for another term as Council Chairman. That way, there would be less acrimony in the system. Therefore, I call on all those planning to run for House of Assembly in 2027 to let go and allow peace to reign otherwise, it would look as if the old PDP members came into the marriage to fight or undo the APC members. The sweetness of this marriage will be lost if these issues are not properly addressed.

Who is Chief Ernest Mereh?

My name is Hon Chief Ernest Mereh. I am a Chief from Oghior community in Udu ward one. I was elected as a councilor in the year 1999 and served from 1999 to 2002. Thereafter I served as a personal assistant to Dr Chris Oghenechovwe of the House of Representatives in the year 2005. I left office and was appointed again as Special Assistant to the then governor of Delta State. I later returned to the local government council to serve as Supervisor for Finance for two terms. I am presently Special Assistant to the Governor on Political Matter. Having paid my dues as a thoroughbred political star, I am now a leader and promoter of the political party I now belong to and that is the All Progressives Congress. We are working hard to get it right this time around so Udu could reap a harvest of unprecedented development in the years ahead. 

Wado Admin

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