He made the remarks in Lugari, Kakamega County on Friday April 24 expressing deep frustration over what he described as a growing disregard for Western leaders within the party.
Oparanya who served as ODM deputy party leader contrasted the current situation with how the late Raila Odinga treated the region.
He said Raila always respected and recognised Western Kenya's contribution to building the party over many years.
"I want to tell those leaders of ODM this time do not take us for granted. Raila respected us. Now those leading ODM after Raila's death should also respect us. If they do not respect us we will quit," he warned.
He accused the current ODM leadership under Oburu Odinga of being more interested in extracting power from President Ruto's administration than addressing the concerns of ordinary party supporters at the grassroots level.
"They have forgotten the people of Western. We also want power. They should not think that they are the only ones who want power," Oparanya said bluntly.
The CS argued that Western leaders were key builders of ODM but now find themselves excluded from critical decisions and power-sharing arrangements that shape the party's direction. He said the region's patience is running out.
His remarks add a new and significant dimension to the ODM crisis which has already produced a bitter split between Oburu's Linda Ground faction and the rival Linda Mwananchi movement led by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna.
While Oburu's camp has been accused of tilting toward Ruto's UDA in pursuit of a broad-based political arrangement ahead of 2027 the Sifuna faction has been intensifying grassroots mobilisation in ODM strongholds.
"I want to tell those leaders of ODM this time do not take us for granted. Raila respected us. Now those leading ODM after Raila's death should also respect us. If they do not respect us we will quit," he warned.
He accused the current ODM leadership under Oburu Odinga of being more interested in extracting power from President Ruto's administration than addressing the concerns of ordinary party supporters at the grassroots level.
"They have forgotten the people of Western. We also want power. They should not think that they are the only ones who want power," Oparanya said bluntly.
The CS argued that Western leaders were key builders of ODM but now find themselves excluded from critical decisions and power-sharing arrangements that shape the party's direction. He said the region's patience is running out.
His remarks add a new and significant dimension to the ODM crisis which has already produced a bitter split between Oburu's Linda Ground faction and the rival Linda Mwananchi movement led by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna.
While Oburu's camp has been accused of tilting toward Ruto's UDA in pursuit of a broad-based political arrangement ahead of 2027 the Sifuna faction has been intensifying grassroots mobilisation in ODM strongholds.
The Linda Mwananchi movement held a rally in Vihiga on Saturday and is scheduled to proceed to Kisumu on Sunday April 26.
Oparanya's threat to pull Western Kenya out of ODM signals that the party's troubles extend well beyond the Sifuna-Oburu clash and that regional grievances could reshape the political landscape heading into 2027.
Oparanya's threat to pull Western Kenya out of ODM signals that the party's troubles extend well beyond the Sifuna-Oburu clash and that regional grievances could reshape the political landscape heading into 2027.
