A member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State, Prince Collins Esolomo, has openly described Sheriff Oborevwori as a “liability,” warning against what he calls the forceful and unconditional absorption of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader into the APC fold. Esolomo’s remarks come amidst the defection of some PDP party members in the state, to APC.
Speaking with evident frustration during an interview with ARISE NEWS on Wednesday, he said, “As far as I’m concerned, Sheriff is a liability. He is a liability. If we are inheriting the liability, let them say so.
Esolomo challenged the legitimacy of Sheriff assuming any form of leadership over APC stalwarts in the state.
“Festus Keyamo who has gone to the citadel of his profession as a Senior Advocate of this country is telling the whole country that Sheriff can come in unconditional and that anywhere Sheriff goes, we’ll follow Sheriff. What does that mean? That Sheriff wants to lead me, myself who struggled, who fought for democracy?
“Festus Keyamo is telling me that Sheriff will lead me into corruption, into an area of no life support, then I will accept that. So that tells you the moral deficit in the leadership of APC itself.”
Esolomo pointed to Oborevwori’s past actions against APC members in Delta, alleging that under Oborevwori’s PDP-led administration, opposition voices were targeted, lands were seized, and properties of party members were demolished without compensation.
“Not until Sheriff rights the wrong, because the offence people like us have committed, and some other people, is because we are APC members. We were attacked by Sheriff. Our lands were grabbed. Compensation not paid. Properties demolished, like the property of one of our APC members. That is because we are on the opposition as APC members. Now we are seeing Sheriff, who has done so much damage to APC members in our midst? What an unfortunate circumstance,” he lamented.
Eselomo stated that while the Nigerian constitution allows free association, Oborevwori’s defection should not be without scrutiny or conditions. In his words, “We are not saying they will not be accepted, but it must be conditional.”
Esolomo also raised concerns over the financial implications of absorbing PDP figures like Sheriff into the APC. “If APC is going to pay back the 450 billion Naira owed by PDP at the expense of fellow Deltans, let them say so,” he added.
The APC chieftain also issued a pointed appeal to President Bola Tinubu, urging him to recognise the injuries inflicted on APC members in Delta under Sheriff’s watch.
“The president should take note that there are so many injuries meted on APC members in Delta State by Sheriff himself. And that needs to be unravelled.”
Melissa Enoch
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