Former Delta State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Jones Ode Erue, has dismissed allegations of a purported secret political pact involving Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas and ex-militant leader Government Ekpemupolo, describing the claims as false, divisive, and politically motivated.
In a media statement issued on Tuesday, Erue said the narrative surrounding the alleged agreement was nothing more than “a politically motivated folklore” fabricated by “tribal bigots and political merchants” threatened by the growing political acceptance and influence of the Delta South senator.
Questioning the credibility of the allegations, Erue asked why an alleged “secret pact” had suddenly entered the public domain without any concrete evidence or authentic documentation to support the claims.
“If it was truly a secret pact, why is it suddenly in the public domain? Who leaked the supposed secret? Where is the authentic copy of this alleged pact?” he queried.
The former APC chairman maintained that the story was built on speculation, bitterness, and deliberate misinformation aimed at tarnishing the image of Senator Joel-Onowakpo.
Erue warned against the use of tribal sentiments and political blackmail, stressing that collaboration and relationship-building across ethnic lines should be encouraged rather than condemned.
According to him, there is no secret arrangement involving the Ijaw ethnic nationality to undermine the Isoko people, insisting that such claims were intentionally designed to sow distrust and division among communities that have coexisted politically over the years.
“There is no secret pact involving the Ijaws to undermine the Isokos. That narrative is false, divisive, inflammatory, and intentionally designed to sow distrust among brothers,” he stated.
While acknowledging that Senator Joel-Onowakpo, like every public official, was open to criticism, Erue cautioned against what he described as orchestrated smear campaigns driven by ethnic and political interests.
Following what he termed his “independent findings,” the APC chieftain declared his support for the senator, insisting that truth must prevail over propaganda and divisive politics.
He further accused certain individuals, including some within his own ethnic group, of turning politics into “a marketplace of blackmail, division, and opportunism” in pursuit of selfish political gains.
Erue urged the people of Delta South and the state at large to reject politics rooted in hatred, suspicion, and ethnic paranoia, and instead embrace unity, peace, strategic partnerships, and collective development.
He added that history would ultimately vindicate those who stand for truth, fairness, and unity against what he described as “merchants of division.”
