*Says DC-23 Visit Has Reenact The Synergy between Ijaw, Urhobo
President of Ijaw National Congress, Prof. Benjamin Okaba has stated that Delta Ijaw will only support someone who has affinity of Chief James Ibori for governor come 2023, saying they benefited a lot from him when he was governor of Delta state between 1999 and 2007.
Okaba who made this known when the leadership of Delta Central 2023 paid the leadership of Ijaw National Congress at Kpakiama, Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State, weekend, stated that God has already ordained who becomes Governor of Delta State come 2023.
He stated that the visit of DC-23 has reenact the synergy between the Urhobo and the Ijaw nation who were prominent in the old Delta province as they have a common destiny and common political front.
According to him, “If Ibori is coming as governor tomorrow we will massively support him because the Ijaw political class were built by Ibori. Beyond the bridge that you are seeing, whoever that was a senator, minister, commissioner etc in Delta Ijaw, sucked from Ibori political breast that is why when the Urhobo sometimes go against him, we stood by him.
“If we have someone that has the reflexes of Ibori, we don’t care where he comes from because we believed that power brings about development, we will support him.
“The message is that Urhobo and Ijaw have come together. We were together sometimes ago but we distorted ourselves at a time and move our separate ways.
“We are brothers because there is nobody in Ijaw that does not have Urhobo blood, same applies to the Urhobo people. We welcome the visit because it is a visit that will open vestal of opportunities for us to continously interface so that at the end of the day whoever that has the upper hand will be supported by the other.
“We the Ijaws are contesting for the governoship of Delta State because we believed that it is only when we are governor that we can correct our mistakes of neglect but that can only change if there is someone like Ibori”, he added.
Earlier, National Chairman of Delta Central 2023, Chief Senator Ighoyota Amori in his speech told the INC President and his team that the visit was to appeal to the Ijaws to stick to the PDP zoning arrangement of the governorship seat along senatorial districts’ line.
He said the DC-23 is a lobby group made up of card carrying members of the PDP in Delta Central Senatorial District with aim to lobby for the governorship seat to rotate to the Central come 2023.
He noted that the political relationship between the Ijaws and Urhobos had been very cordial from time immemorial and as such the DC-23 will do everything possible to ensure the relationship is sustained.
According to him, “the Ijaws have their argument for the governorship seat likewise the Urhobos but we can’t talk of zoning on ethnic lines because the state is made up of various ethnic groups, hence the appeal for us to maintain the zoning arrangement on senatorial districts order”.
“We want to establish a sustainable system where when it gets to your turn no one from another senatorial district can contest with you. So the argument that Urhobo or other ethnic groups contested during the turn of other senatorial districts will no longer be there”, he added.
He appealed to the leadership of the INC as the umbrella body of the Ijaw people worldwide to see reasons with Delta Central Senatorial District on the need to strengthen the zoning arrangement on senatorial order for peace and stability.
Top among those on ground to welcome DC-23 where Prof. Benjamin Okaba, President of INC Worldwide, Chief Bare Etolor, Chairman of Delta State Izon Okosu-Otu, and members, Dr. Doubra Collins Okotete, Chairman, Ijaw Youth Council, Western Zone and his teeming members, Chief Barr. Veronica Bamuza-Mutu, former ANPP Governorship Candidate, Chief Franklin Edonkumoh, former Chairman, Bomadi Local Government Area, Chief Fred Anisah, Chief M. O. E Tiemo, Engr. Fufayin, Chief Godwin Maze, Okokoto Carter, leaders and members of Bomadi Political Mandate Group and many others.
While Leaders and members of DC-23 that went for the visit include Chief Ighoyota Amori, National Chairman, Dr. Chris Oharisi, National Secretary, Olorogun Arthur Akpowowo, Olorogun Andrew Orugbo, National Legal Adviser, Chief Sunday Apah, Assistant National Publicity Secretary, National Publicity Secretary, Chief Christian Onogba, Assistant National Organizing Secretary, Dcn. Raymond Edijala, Assistant National Treasurer, Hon. Godwin Atose, National Organizing Secretary, Mr. Austin Opubor, National Welfare Officer, Mrs. Philomena Ededey, Assistant National Welfare Officer, Chief George Osikorobia, Assistant National Auditor, Hon. Elohor Urhobe, Assistant National Women Leader, Mrs. Oma Jennifer Efeviroro Esq., Ex-officio
Others are Barr. William Etubiebi, Chairman, BoT, Chief Bernard Edewor, Deputy Chairman, BoT, Chief Emmanuel Ighomena, Secretary, BoT, Chief (Mrs.) Margret Unukegwo, Chief Ejaife Odebala, Former House of Assembly member, Rt. Hon. Lovette Idisi, Former House of Representatives member, Chief Paul Okogu, Mr. Eric Osiobe, Dr. Mrs. Augustina Erah, Provost, Delta State School of Health, Chief Duncan Eghwere, Representatives of Senator Emmanuel Aguariavwodo and Hon. James Augoye, Mrs. Dora Eromafuru, Chief Mike Akpobasa and many others.
