A frontline 2023 governorship aspirant from the Ijaw extraction of Delta State, Chief Sheriff Mulade, has announced his withdrawal from the race.
Mulade, who announced his withdrawal from the race in a press statement he personally signed, dedicated his decision to pull out of the governorship contest to his late mother, Madam Ebikeseiye Christiana Mulade (Nee Timiyan), who died on October 27, 2021.
The renowned peace and environment activist, and CEO/Coordinator of Center for Peace and Environmental Justice, CEPEJ, a notable non-governmental organization (NGO) was widely accepted as a governorship aspirant by Deltans, at home and in the diaspora, due to his doggedness in pushing for good governance, sustainable development, environmental justice and respect for human rights.
He described his withdrawal from the 2023 governorship race as a great sacrifice he had to make to honour his late mother.
Chief Mulade said his decision to shelf his governorship ambition was predicated on two reasons – first is to avail the family ample time and opportunity to mourn his late mother in quietness while reflecting on the sterling qualities and legacies that she left behind; and the second reason was the fact that, as the first child and now head of the family, he needed to focus more on maintaining the unity of the family that his late mother left behind, as well as to enable him to redirect his energy to engage government and policymakers on the need to critically address the issues of pollution and under-development in the Niger Delta Region, especially because his mother died of Sarcoma Cancer caused by environmental pollution.
The environmentalist promised to further engage stakeholders and advocate for a cleaner, healthier and sustainable environment, as well as justice for the Niger Delta host communities.
On behalf of his siblings, Comrade Mulade Sheriff promised that he would continue to celebrate his late mother who lived a life full of commendable qualities, promising to ensure that the same virtues are replicated and instilled in their children as well as generations yet unborn.
While bidding his late mother farewell, Chief Mulade, who is the Ibe-Sorimowei of Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, appreciated all his political advisers and supporters for their understanding over the painful personal decision to withdraw from the race and promised to always work with them for a better Delta State and Nigeria at large.
