Ijaws of Delta State extraction under the auspices of Ijaw Mandate Group have thrown their weight behind the clamour for the next governor of the state come 2023 to come from Delta Central Senatorial District.
The need for a harmonious and sustainable political development of Delta State anchored on senatorial power rotation has in the past months been championed by a political lobby group christened Delta Central 2023, DC-23 for short.
The leadership of the group in a paper read by its Coordinator, Dagidi Andaye, stated in strong terms the agitation by Ijaws for the position of governor of the state in 2023 was not feasible because of wrong timing and running against the policy of power rotation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) among the three senatorial districts in the state.
The leadership of the Ijaw Mandate Group made their position known on Sunday during their visit to the DC-23 at the Mosogar country home of the group’s National Chairman, Senator Ighoyota Amori, in Ethiope West Local Government Area of the state.
It pointed out that by the order of precedence of the senatorial rotation, 2023 was unarguably the turn of the Delta Central Senatorial District.
Andaye disclosed that the group’s decision to endorse Delta Central Senatorial District for the 2023 governorship was reached after due consultation with the President of Ijaw National Congress (INC), Prof. Benjamin Okaba, the Delta Ijaw Elders, traditional rulers and other major stakeholders.
He noted that the action of those clamouring for an Ijaw governor in 2023 amounted to scuttling and frustrating the proper Ijaw Agenda come 2031, stressing that it would be the rightful turn and time for Delta South Senatorial District to produce the state governor.
Andaye said, “The Ijaw Agenda for Governor should be subsumed under senatorial power rotation order, formulated by the PDP, which is the surest way to actualising it, and in doing that, the space-time and the apparent realities of the PDP should be critically considered and adhered to.”
Continuing, he stated that “The present frontrunners for the agitation to become Governor, come 2023, are all unmistakably, truly Ijaw sons and eminently qualified in all ramifications to contest and be Governor of Delta State. But it is amazing and shocking to reveal that these sons of Ijaw, gladiators to be Governor come 2023 are sincerely privy and are witnesses to the rotational arrangement on the ground and are beneficiaries of the PDP policy.”
“In 2015, these were the same persons who advised another Ijaw son against contesting in the PDP Governorship primaries; reasoning that it was not yet time for Delta South Senatorial District, where all Ijaws belong, and they ensured all Ijaw delegates totally withdrew their support from and voted against their brother, a bonafide son of Ijaw land,” he added.
“If they are sincere to themselves and the Ijaw people in Delta State, they will agree that 2023 is still not yet time and turn of Delta South Senatorial District and Ijaws who are subsumed under Delta South Senatorial District to contest for Governor, as it was the case in 2015,” he opined.
According to him, “the IMG is of the well-informed opinion that the status quo, as established by the PDP suffices, and must be maintained to sustain the enduring political climate in the state. Therefore, the 2023 Governorship should be the reserve of Delta Central Senatorial District.”
In his response, National Chairman of Delta Central 2023 lobby group, Senator Ighoyota Amori, stated that what the DC-23 was doing is to set the pace, adding that its agitation for the Delta Senatorial District was real.
Amori explained that to support an Ijaw man for Governor in 2023 would not be a problem, but that it was not yet the turn of Delta South Senatorial District.
According to him, “when it is your turn, it will be easy to get it. Urhobo has tried it before now, but we didn’t get it. It will be cheaper for them to join us to succeed now because it is only those that joined us to succeed that we will also join to succeed when the time comes.
“We can assure you that because you have invested in our 2023 Governorship, we shall be partners in investing in you from 2023 to 2031,” he added.
Top among leaders of the Ijaw Mandate Group that went for the visit included Dagidi Andaye, Coordinator, Chris Anthony, Secretary, Famous Ofurobiri, Publicity Secretary, HRH Okosumakide Yanki, Chief Lucky Loyibo, Hon. Chief Fungeowei Azami, Jimmy Eyebiabor, Frank Ogodobiri, Chief Anthony Enangor, Buff Omoun, Ebi Okaba, Timi Akwasa and Dr Ebi Bunu, among others.
