Chief Ayiri Emami is the Ologbosere of Warri and a prominent chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta state. In this interview, he tells BODE OLAGOKE, why many politicians are now attracted to the APC in Niger Delta, how NDDC has performed and why President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will win Delta state massively in 2027, among others.
What is responsible for the sudden gale of defection into APC by governors in the South-south region? Is the ruling party taking over of the region in 2027?
On the issue of the taking over of the South-South by APC, before today, you know I’m a true supporter of Asiwaju. I don’t just support because of money, I support because of my conviction that Asiwaju might turn things around. Because of the way the nation was going, some of us knew that the nation was going to sink. So some of us were the low voices. We were almost crucified in the Niger Delta region when we were supporting Asiwaju but we thank God. The most important thing in life is when you are convinced and you have a belief, you follow that belief. You know, a lot of people don’t have ideology in terms of political leaning and how they live. But some of us still manage to have our own personal ideology and believe. So I believe in the man. I believe in his person and I believe in his virtue because as a young man, I have sat with him. I have listened to him and I have seen him performing. So I felt as at then, I have a lot of conviction that if Asiwaju becomes the president, we can turn things around. But then in our region, you know, people just believe in who will give to them. A lot of people were fighting Asiwaju, not that Asiwaju was not a good person but they were fighting him that Asiwaju knows too much. I have several conversations with a lot of people from my region. They will tell you, oh, we prefer people from the north because they don’t know more about our area. But I don’t think that there’s any story we want to tell Asiwaju about our region that he won’t understand. So I now find out that those of them fighting that they don’t want Asiwajui, if you ask them what Asiwaju actually did, they don’t have one reason. They will tell you let us be with northerners they don’t know much about our area.
If Asiwaju comes, he knows everything and really, being in the office, a lot of loopholes have been blocked. So you can see people crying.They are not just crying that Nigeria is not moving forward but because of those shady things they were doing Asiwaju begins to knock them down. Some of the promises he made to us that he will make Warri Port work and you know, during Buhari era, we had been going to the Villa but you can see, in two years, he has voted money for the Port now and even the Omadino- Escravos roads that will pass through Gbaramatu . There are a lot of things going on before they will do the paperwork between NNPC, Chevron, NDDC. So a lot of things are going on. And when people see that, he actually had our interests. So, I think those are the convictions with his policies that made the governors from the South South to say no, if we didn’t support him before now, now the man is doing what is going to favour us so there is a need to support him. I think his performance, gave the conviction to those people. So for me, I’m happy that they are coming because the type of work I was doing in 2022, 2023, I’m going to be more relaxed.
Those that didn’t wear Asiwaju cap, they are the ones wearing it day and night now. So I’m happy. Then I used to wear it. If I go to clubs, some people would stone me. If I go anywhere, they hit me. So I’m happy now seeing people wearing Asiwaju’s shirt, his cap. So I’m happy. So if you see me now, I don’t even wear. So I’m happy that they are all on board and is because of his hard work. And I believe people in Niger Delta, if he’s not doing well, they would say, we are not going to follow him. So for me, we might have some difficulties, some challenges but like what I’ve said, I normally say at any of our interviews, that the challenges we are facing today is not caused by Asiwaju. If you say it is caused by Asiwaju, come, I will tell you what happened to me during the past administration, even when I was in APC. But I don’t want to talk because we’re all in the same party. So you can see some people, they can’t bear. They don’t have the patience. Eight years, I didn’t benefit from federal, nor benefit from state. But one was moving. But today, we are seeing one or two developments coming around our area. So that’s enough.That alone is enough for the South South governors and any governor to decamp, having seen that the man is a progressive person. Those were some of the things I saw in him that made me to support Asiwaju
We were told that when the current governor of Delta state came to APC, many of you didn’t welcome him. What is the state of the party and how much in-roads you think Asiwaju will make in the region and the state in 2027?
You said when the present governor was coming to join the APC in Delta, a lot of people did not welcome him. I was not part of it. I, Ayiri Emami, was not part of it because first, my interest is the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria. And if the man said he’s coming to support Mr. President, who am I to say I’m not going to support him? I only have a little difference with him. The difference was that if you are coming, those that you met there, please try and carry them along. That was just my issue. And that’s why I said, I was not part of those that were going to tell Asiwaju that the governor that is coming, they should not welcome him. My reasons are these; if I said I’m supporting Asiwaju and the governor is coming to support Asiwaju, I don’t think it is something I have to start going around to say the governor should not come. My own was different from those that didn’t want Sheriff to come in. My position has been that if Sheriff was coming, Mr. President and leaders of the party, please, ensure that those that have been there should not be oppressed. Let us fashion out a way that everybody can work together. As of today, I know there are a lot of talking among the leaders to ensure that everybody work together. So I have never gone to Mr. President to try to stop Governor Sheriff. Because I would rather look for the interest of the President. So whatever I have to do, my support for Sheriff is because he too is supporting Mr. President. In 2023, I did not support Sheriff. I supported Ovie Omo Agege but Sheriff won. But Mr. President too won the election. So today, Sheriff is supporting Mr. President. So I have no choice than to support Sheriff. So I’ve never been part of those ganging up against him. I’m not a sycophant. I don’t just rush into things. I wait. But what I said was that Sheriff should not come and swallow those that have been making the party virile.
People see the Labour Party as the strongest in Delta, considering its performance in last election? Has the perception changed?
You said in 2023, Labour Party won and the rest. Who are the Labour Party? Labour Party is PDP, APC and everything. They don’t have one particular structure. It’s not just Labour, it’s a political calculation. But I don’t think that will happen in 2027 because we are all in one place. All the actors are in one boat as we speak in Delta. Although like I said, consultation is still going on among the leaders. But I know that at least 80% are together right now. I cannot tell you that 20% are not important. So we must do everything because the 20% or 30% that is left is still important because in politics, everybody is important. Nobody has to be left behind. So as of today, it’s looking more brighter than what happened in 2023. So we are hopeful if the governor goes around and tries to put everybody together because I will not be part of those that will tell the governor don’t go and see the other person that is agreeing. What is my interest is not the other man’s interest. To me, I believe that if the national is APC, the state one day will be APC and the state now is APC. So I think we are going to do better in 2027, both for the governor and for the president.
Are you saying that the LP has no foothold in Delta state?
No, I said Labour Party is ‘all’ party. Any aggrieved politician in any party is a potential LP person, because I try to check those who were in LP and they are either APC or PDP. It doesn’t have structure but aggrieved people from APC, PDP anywhere. They are just aggrieved, they don’t know why they’re going to LP.
How do you assess the performance of the Niger Delta Development Commission, since Tinubu came?
If I want to talk about NDCC, some people will say it’s because Samuel Ogbuku, the Managing Director is my friend but if he isn’t performing, I will come out and say what you are doing is wrong. But, I think for the first time, NDDC has a proper vision and a structure and because of the leadership of the NDDC, the chairman and the MD, I think they are doing very well.
This is the first time you can see a pocket of projects across the region and they will go and commission meaningful projects like the Omadino-Escravos road. The initiative came through the NDDC – a joint venture with some oil companies – Chevron, NNPC and now the state government so we can have road from Warri to Escravos and you know what that means. So it takes a very good leader to have that kind of vision and how to direct their Board. What we used to know about NDDC before now, all our money used to end up in Abuja. But today, I think the youngman (Sam)is equally galvanising support for Mr. President, that whatever he’s doing, he gives his support. This is the first time you will see the board chairman and the MD working together as one. And I think our youth, too, are very happy. I can tell you about my own area, particularly the Itsekiri area. We think, with his own vision and idea of the board, they have been able to light up almost all the community. When we don’t even have power now, students stay outside to read because if you go to most of these communities, everywhere is being lighted up with solar. So if it can happen in my place, and the man is an Ijaw man, so what do you expect in his place. If you go to Imo state, similar things are going on. Road projects are going on, Corpers Lodges, different projects. So, I give it to him. If he’s not doing well, I’ll tell him. But as I see it today, I think the man is performing.
So, if he’s performing, where is the call for his removal and the allegations of plotting against the president coming from?
You know, let me tell you, and I will use myself as an example. My younger brother got involved in some shady deal of cannabis. As I speak with you today, I don’t know any NDLEA officer. The reason I don’t know any NDLEA officer is because I don’t get myself involved. I can know a military officer because of our terrain – insecurity in our area. But I don’t have anything to do with NDLEA. But if you look all over the media houses, social media, they are saying he is Ayiri’s brother. So when somebody has affinity somewhere, people try to take advantage. For instance, I saw what a very close friend of mine posted. I was in my house trying to go and see Mr. President and my driver was not around. I said, okay, my younger brother should take me there. When we got there they said is he your younger brother, let him come. After I finished my discussion, we had the photograph and he was on the same photograph with Mr. President. When that unfortunate incident happened, a lot of people said oh, Mr President is a drug baron and Ayiri have been carrying this boy with private jet all over. And I knew nothing about that. It was surprising to me that my brother got involved. And I said, he should face the law. I did not pay my money or anything. I said, this youngman wants to destroy my name. I know people that were fighting over this local government and ward delineation in Warri Federal Constituency and that was the only avenue they could think they could get back at me. So if today they say Sylva is linked to coup plotting. What do you expect politicians to say next? Politicians will tell you, “oh, he is Sam’s friend!.” Even if the man is sleeping, they will definitely find a way to link the man because people are being envious and jealous of the young man. I’m not his spokesman. But I will say it as it is. I use myself as a typical example. People just woke up, my younger brother has his own name but if you read all the comments on social media. In fact, some called me that they want to put the thing on television. They want to get at me. Nobody mentioned his name. I said, whether you mention my name, God in heaven, knows that I have no link to that. And I don’t get myself involved. I have had an opportunity to do illegal bunkering in this country. I have all it takes to do it. I have the facility – barges. I have money. But I told my friends who are partaking in that businesses, I’m not going to be part of it. Somebody came to me and said, you have this(barge) I want to buy. I’m going to pay you N7 million a night. But if I take the facility to Chevron, Chevron was going to pay me N1.5 million a month. And I took my barge to Chevron. And the man was saying, why are you doing this? You don’t understand. I said, well, leave this matter. But I built this barge then for more than N60 million. Today to build those barges, you’re going to spend almost N1 billion, for you to build those barges right now. I said, so I’m not going to get myself involved. I spoke to the guy. We discussed.We argued. And I convinced myself that I was not going to be part of it. If you go to my community, they will tell you Ayiri is the one that used to call Navy they are doing illegal bunkering. The first problem I have in my community is going against illegality. But although if I see something that I don’t like, I can fight it. You don’t come and oppress me. Less than two weeks after that discussion, Navy were all over the river, seizing and blowing them up. I was watching TV. I was with my wife. Navy were saying, oh, we seized this barge. I used my phone and called my guy. I said, how far?. So for me, I have a deeper opportunity to do shady deals to make money. But I choose not to do it because I have to position myself to fight for my people. Being in politics is not because of myself. It’s because of my people. So sometimes money doesn’t persuade me. So I try as much as possible to get myself off shady, dirty business. So as far as I’m concerned, I don’t want to link Sammy. Yes, Sylva is his boss. The perception is that Sammy too knew about it but that is politics for you. But the military, DSS, everybody is doing their investigation. But the man, I think, is a perfect man. And he’s doing what he ought to do for our region. And he’s giving the adequate support that we all, young men from our region need. It’s not because he’s giving me money. You understand? He knows me very well that I’m a non-nonsense person. But when somebody is doing the right thing, I’ll support him. Whether it’s an Ijawman, Urhobo man but if you do any rubbish, I will come out here to tell you the matter. So as it is, you know, the military has a way of doing their investigation. So I don’t want to believe all those speculation and social media this and that. If he’s involved, the actual authority will talk about it. And some of us condemn anybody that will be thinking of coup at this time. There’s nobody, none of us, will support the idea of coup. And if they say they want to do coup, we too will come out and fight these people. It’s not because of Asiwaju. Where the country is going today with politicians, whether they are embezzling money, they are doing something. If you go to almost all the states now, you will see different airports. I just came back from Ogun state, you have airport there today. There is nothing like democracy. So, we will not support anybody, whether it is my brother or my friend that says he wants to go and partake in coup. We people in Niger Delta will not support that person.
