Dr Victor Omo-Agege, an Igbe Onori, and brother to Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege, who is the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the 2023 governorship election in Delta State holds no bar in this explosive interview with TheNewsGuru.com (TNG).
Recall that in run-up to the March 18th governorship election, DSP Omo-Agege was widely rumoured to be a revered member of the Igbe religious group, described to be a cult-like family religion of marine spirit worshippers in Delta.
To make matters worse for the Deputy Senate President, videos went viral, prior to the election, on social media of some Igbe group members, some praying for Senator Omo-Agege, while others were taunting Christians in the State that Igbe worshippers will take over the Christian Chapel in the Government House, Asaba.
However, Dr Omo-Agege, who declared himself as a proud anointed Igbe Onori, denied the DSP is an Igbe Worshipper, stressing that Omo-Agege, who lost the 2023 governorship election in Delta to Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori has always been a staunch Catholic.
He, meanwhile, added that insinuations that Igbe worshippers will take over the Chapel in the Government House if Omo-Agege was elected Governor is not in line with tenets of the Igbe religion.
“The DSP is a staunch Catholic. There are 1,001 pictures of him in churches before he became a political figure out there. I attended his wedding in a Catholic Church. Quote me: “he is not and has never been an Igbe member”,” Dr Omo-Agege told TNG.
In the interview with TNG reproduced below, the Nigerian-American dissected the Igbe religion and bursted some myths about the Igbe religion. He also lambasted the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State and likened DSP Omo-Agege to former U.S. President Barack Obama, who he said was persecuted for his religious leaning.
Read excerpt from the interview of Dr Victor Omo-Agege with TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) below:
Let’s meet you. Please, introduce yourself
First and foremost, thanks for the opportunity to discuss and clarify some misinformation about Igbe and the Omo-Agege family. I am Dr. Victor Omo-Agege, a US Navy Veteran currently a Federal Project Director with the United States Department of Energy. I reside in Washington State.
Your family is reputedly the founder of the Igbe religious group of which you are a senior member. What exactly is the Igbe group to the uninitiated? What does your title mean and how do you function?
There is a lot of misconception and misinformation out there about the Igbe religion, and a major one is my family, i.e., the Omo-Agege family is the founder of the Igbe religion. I have to say, in capital letters, that is simply false. Igbe was founded in Kokori by Prophet Ubiesha Etarakpo. It was the first religion of its time to preach the belief in One God in the Niger Delta. To become an Igbe member, all you have to do is to accept there is only one God and no intermediary. Then you have to destroy all idols in your possession. Igbe is the name of the religion, but you don’t worship Igbe. You worship God. Like you don’t worship the church or Islam.
“Another misconception is that Igbe is a religious cult of folks who worship a Marine Spirit. The Marine spirit is not and never was part of Prophet Ubiesha’s doctrine. Some people practise this, and out of ignorance, people call them Igbe; they are the Igbe-Rame meaning the Water Worshippers. We are Igbe or Igbe-Orhe. We don’t worship any idols but God directly. You can leave anytime you like, and there are no sanctions or punishment. Igbe is a way of life that emphasizes the moral obligations of doing right and doing no harm to your fellow human being”.
I happened to have been blessed by having parents who were free thinkers and believed religion is a choice between an individual and his God. I have in my life studied a lot of religions. My brother, Azania and I were mass servers in the Catholic church during our teens. I have prayed with Muslims and knocked door to door with Jehovah’s Witnesses. I prefer to classify myself as a spiritual person instead of a religious person. I believe in one God, the belief to love my neighbour as myself and wish for the next man what you wish for yourself. I am an Onori. The Onori serves as a leader and counsellor to the Uku, the head of his branch or Ogwa.
How do you marry your serious academic background with being a senior member of the Igbe group?
I won’t classify myself as a senior member of the Igbe religion. I am a servant of my people, ready to serve when called upon. We are all equal in the eyes of God.
“Having the last name, Omo-Agege comes with expectations. My parents expected us to be the best we could be” – Dr Victor Omo-Agege.
My sisters and brothers were very ambitious and accomplished. Frankly, I had no choice if I wanted to come home to the dinner table. We are a family where you have to hold your own intellectually at the dinner table. God blessed me with the opportunities and strength to complete my educational goals.
As a brother to the DSP, there is the general belief that he too is a senior member of the Igbe group while also being a Catholic. Is it true; if not, why?
The belief is political propaganda originating from the PDP camp. The DSP is a staunch Catholic. There are 1,001 pictures of him in churches before he became a political figure out there. I attended his wedding in a catholic church.
“Quote me. “He Senator [Ovie Omo-Agege] is not and has never been an Igbe member” – Dr Victor Omo-Agege.
You are fully aware the DSP at one time was a member of the PDP in Delta state and served as the SSG. Why did they never have a problem with him being an Igbe member, then? Pure political propaganda. Don’t forget they also accused Barack Obama of being a Muslim. It’s just gutter politics.
Did you see the videos done by some Igbe group members, some praying for him, others taunting the Christians that the Igbe group will take over the Christian Chapel in the Government House, Asaba?
No, I did not. If you have a copy, please send it to me, and I will get to the bottom of it.
“Igbe members, like any other religious group, can pray for anyone. We all need prayers. Insinuating they will take over the Chapel in the Government House is not in line with the Igbe tenet to not harm your fellow man” – Dr Victor Omo-Agege.
As I know him, my brother will ensure the State House welcomes all Deltans and their religious freedom enshrined in our Constitution.
In your considered opinion, how did you rate the chances of DSP Omo-Agege at the just concluded governorship elections?
In a free and fair environment, The DSP won hands down.
Did you play any role in his attempt to win the governorship seat? Are you also an APC member?
No, I am not an APC, PDP, or Labor Party member. I am tired of seeing the people of Delta State suffering. I believe in the DSP’s integrity, vision, and capabilities to make drastic changes in the state as he did in his senatorial district.
As a Nigerian-American, like your brother, are you satisfied with the way politics is played and elections are conducted in Nigeria? What can we do differently? How do we get it right?
Clever question. Yes, I am Nigerian American, but my brother, the DSP is Nigerian Nigerian. My brother went to St George’s Obinomba and Uniben. Trust me; he is solely committed to uplifting the state of the Nigerian people.
What do you think of the Obidient movement which swept through the country in the last one year?
Great. It was nice to see the youth galvanized.
How do we get our politics right and Nigeria put on a proper pedestal to economic and political development?
Nigeria is a complicated country. Ethnic and religious sentiments easily divide us. This will be an excellent question for the DSP. He has lived in that arena for the last 20 years. I don’t want to give you a canned bubble gum answer. I can only say Nigeria is a failed state, and change is needed and needed now.