Ijaw leaders, youths and girls from seven councils of Delta State, at the weekend, insisted that the ethnic nationality should produce the next governor in 2023 and advocated other ethnic nationalities to encourage a candidate of Ijaw extraction.
They made the declaration after their meeting in Warri, Delta State, including that in spite of earning substantial sacrifices, leading into the socio-economic sustenance of nation and supporting other ethnic nationalities over time, they had not been permitted to generate a governor of their state.
Their demand might fuel political crisis in the country, as the Urhobo of Delta Central senatorial district consider it is their right to produce the governor, after the nation’s rotation and zoning agreement
Insinuations are also rife that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa was intending to favour the Ijaw guy as governor for fairness and equity, when he said throughout the quarterly media interaction lately, that there was no formal arrangement in which zoning was discussed and ratified.
He had stated: “There was no formal meeting where an agreement had been reached on zoning, and that is the truth as of today. It means that whatever we are doing or discussing now is about fairness, equity and the best way to define what is reasonable and what is fair and hinged on justice.”
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In a communiqué signed at the end of the assembly by former Minister of Police AffairsM Alaowei Broderick Bozimo, Chief Godspower Gbenekama, and Elder Edmund Tiemothey said they’d been active from the socioeconomic and political affairs since the days of Western and Mid-Western areas, Bendel State and now Delta State.
They also argued they were at the forefront of the struggle for the development of Delta State and despite the human and socio-economic contributions of the Ijaw to the nation, their communities don’t have commiserate infrastructure growth.
They noted that Chief Dennis Osadebey of Anioma was the Premier of the defunct Mid-Western Region, as it Was Made in 1963 with Chief Jereton Marierie from Urhobo as Governor.
“In the current Delta State, the Ijaw massively supported Olorogun Felix Ibru and Chief James Ibori in Urhobo cultural heritage, Emmanuel Uduaghan (Itsekiri) and Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa (Anioma) ethnic nationality as governor.
“In the spirit of fairness, fairness and brotherhood, we appeal to another ethnic nationality of this country to encourage a candidate of Ijaw extraction for the governorship in 2023,” the communiqué reads.
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They commended Okowa because of his infrastructure growth of the state, his vision for a stronger Delta and advocated that the Ijaw continue to support Okowa’s administration.
Senator James Manager, Wing Commander Peter Biakpara (rtd.) , President Ijaw National Congress (INC), Prof. Benjamin Okaba, Catholic Bishop of Bomadi Diocese, Hyacinth Egbebo, Prof Biliki Isaiah, Hon. Nicholas Mutu and Mrs Bamuza Mutu, Amongst Others, attended the assembly.
