By Felix Ekwu
Former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori has stressed the need for the Urhobo nation to send their very best to the Senate in 2023.
Ibori stated this on Monday, March 21, 2022, when he accompanied Senator Ighoyota Amori to notify Urhobo traditional rulers and the leadership of the Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, of his aspiration to represent the Urhobos in the Senate Chamber of the National Assembly come 2023.
Recall that Ibori had on Saturday, March 19, 2022, openly declared to be at the forefront of the campaign that will see Amori emerging victorious in the 2023 polls.
The visit to the Urhobo monarchs took place at the palace of His Royal Majesty, Ovie Richard Layeguen Ogbon, Ogoni-Oghoro I, Owhorode of Olomu Kingdom while that to the leadership of the UPU was at the Olomu residence of the President-General, Olorogun Moses Taiga.
The former governor in his separate remarks emphasised that the choice of the people of Delta Central Senatorial District of the person that should be their next Senator should be devoid of sentiment adding the people of the district cannot afford to fall short of the standard already set by past Senators.
He posited that in 2023 Amori is the best person among those aspiring for the position the people of Delta Central should send to the Senate judging by his competence, capacity and political antecedents stressing that as a former member of his cabinet he can vouch for Amori’s pedigree.
Ibori said, “We need men when they stand up and they are talking, you will say yes, you will be proud to be an Urhobo man. I hinged it on competence and capacity. I hinged it on the best, your first eleven.
“This is the seat that Senator Dafinone was our Senator and he made waves. May his soul rest in peace. he made waves, so we cannot afford less, Urhobo cannot do less because in things like this there is no sentiment.
“Those aspiring to be our next Senator, they are all eminently qualified but we want our best to represent us, first eleven to represent us. Senator Amori is a leader of that pack. There are so many battles in Abuja, we need to send our best there.
“The Senate is a place you go there, you stand up, you articulate issues. You need brain, you need articulation.”
While seeking the prayers and support of Urhobo traditional rulers and the UPU to enable him to succeed in his quest to be the voice of the Delta Central in the Senate, Senator Amori pledged to continue to be that Urhobo irredentist that he has always been.
Amori recalled his achievements in just six months in the Senate promising to consolidate and surpass the records of past Senators from Delta Central.
Owhorode of Olomu Kingdom thereafter led the Urhobo monarchs to pray for the success of Amori both in the senatorial primary of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, slated for May 14, 2022, and in the 2023 general elections.
Olorogun Taiga in his prayer particularly acknowledged the immense contributions of Senator Amori in the development of Delta State and expressed optimism that this time he will reap the fruit of his relentless commitment to the Urhobo course.
