Newcomers In APC Should Cooperate With Founding Members Chief Emami Advises

Chief Ayiri Emami, a leading figure in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State, has called on politicians who recently defected to the party to show humility and cooperate with those who have been active members before their arrival.

He made these comments while discussing internal issues affecting the APC and offering his view on Nigeria’s political direction under President Bola Tinubu.

Chief Emami shared his thoughts during a conversation in Abuja. A longtime supporter of the APC and a major player in previous presidential campaigns, he expressed concerns about the attitude of new entrants, who he says are causing tension by attempting to dominate party structures without regard for those already on ground.

He believes the current administration is working through inherited problems from past governments. According to him, President Tinubu took office when the economy was already fragile, and much of the public hardship being felt now stems from long-standing issues. He credits the president with taking tough steps, including subsidy removal, that he believes are necessary for long-term growth, though he admits progress has been slow.

Looking to the future, Chief Emami expressed optimism that the next two years could bring change, though he warns that rebuilding a country like Nigeria cannot be done in a single four-year term. He encouraged more inward investments and a stronger focus on agriculture and fishing, particularly in the South-South, as ways to ease the economic pain Nigerians are experiencing.

He called for greater attention to security, especially in the North, to allow people to return to farming. In the Niger Delta, he recommended government support such as converting fishing boats to use Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and improving infrastructure to reduce the impact of high fuel prices.

On governance, Chief Emami believes not all ministers are pulling their weight and urged a cabinet reshuffle. He noted that while the president is doing what he can, real impact depends on those in his team. He named only a few ministers as effective and called out others for being sluggish.

He also criticised state governors for failing to use increased allocations from subsidy removal to improve citizens’ lives. He argued that the extra funds should have gone into meaningful welfare projects and that the federal government is receiving unfair blame for problems that states should be addressing.

Responding to recent defections of opposition governors into the APC, Chief Emami said it was not unusual. He compared it to football players joining successful clubs, but also noted that many politicians move not based on ideology but for personal interest. He accepted the presence of opposition as healthy, saying it keeps the ruling party alert and responsive.

Still, he warned of the risks of internal breakdowns within the APC, especially if newcomers attempt to displace long-standing members. In Delta State, he pointed to unresolved tensions between existing party leaders and new entrants. He specifically mentioned that some feel sidelined despite building the party’s foundation in the state during times of political hostility.

He called for unity and communication, urging the party leadership at both national and state levels to manage integration better. He explained that people like him made personal sacrifices for the party and should not be treated as irrelevant now that it has grown.

Chief Emami was critical of the role party leaders play in Delta, stating that local disagreements stem in part from a failure to bring all sides together. He mentioned past disputes and decisions he disagreed with, such as giving key positions to only one region of the state, but expressed a willingness to work with others if fairness is assured.

He took issue with statements made by some APC figures who, in his view, dismissed the importance of those not aligned with their camp. He believes such behavior causes division and must stop if the party hopes to stay strong.

Discussing constituency delineation in Delta State, Chief Emami said it must be done fairly and in line with the law. He accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of attempting to favor certain groups while marginalising others, particularly the Itsekiri ethnic group. He warned against using projections instead of actual census data for such sensitive matters.

He urged INEC to either suspend the process until proper data is available or ensure fairness in the allocation of wards. He warned that the current approach could fuel ethnic tension and called for an investigation into how the delineation decisions were made.

Chief Emami reminded the public that Warri Federal Constituency is the only platform through which the Itsekiri can gain federal representation. He fears that recent moves may strip his people of political voice and presence, comparing it to cultural and political erasure.

Looking at the broader picture, he expressed hopes that the Tinubu administration will fulfill promises made during the campaign. He wants federal attention on roads in the South-South region, particularly the Omadina-Escravos route, and progress on stalled projects like the Ogidigben Export Processing Zone.

In closing, Chief Emami said his support for the APC remains, but it depends on fairness, inclusion, and delivery of long-promised projects. He warned that the party risks losing the trust of its base if it fails to reward loyalty or deliver results to the regions that stood by it when it mattered most.