A group known as Egbema Unity Forum has threatened to resist what it described as “Injustice” to the Ijaws of Warri north local government area of Delta State in terms of appointments into executive positions since 1999.
The group said it would not allow any planned “deal” by the former governor of the State, Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan with the immediate past governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, for the incumbent governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori to appoint Uduaghan’s daughter, Ms Erode Uduaghan, as Commissioner to the detriment of Egbema Kingdom.
“The group noted that “It will be too costly as God is against the unjust”.
A statement of the group which The Story stumbled on signed by Architect Joshua Lemigha, Chairman, Egbema Unity Forum and Mr. Tobou Tamaralayefa, Secretary, Egbema Unity Forum respectively quoted Martin Luther King Jr, saying “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”.
Read details below 👇
*Egbema Group Ask Gov OBOREVWORI Not To Appoint Dr. Uduaghan’s Daughter As A Commissioner*
*That It’s The Turn of Egbema Ijaw To Be In The State Exceutive Council*
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”.~ Martin Luther King Jr
You cannot have injustice in one Local Government Area and have Justice in another one. Justice is indivisible. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. It is on this premise that we wish to draw the attention of the the Governor of Delta State, Rt Hon. Sheriff OBOREVWORI to look into the Warri North Political situation.
Warri North is a Local Government Area with Ten Federal Constituency with the Ijaws having Four (4) while the Itsekiris with Six (6) in the order of 40/60. Justice engender mutual respect, peace and prosperity in any community and in a Nation.
Since the creation of the Council in 1991, the Ijaws with Four Federal Ward have not been treated fairly and equitably in the distribution of Democratic dividends, elective positions and appointments until recently when Gov Okowa courageously corrected the error of over 27 years in 2020 when Hon. Smart Asekutu was made the Council Chairman after 27 years of agitation!
The call for justice become necessary as the new Government of Delta State that came in is by our collective votes as members of PDP. It is on this basis that the Egbema position must be critically examine so that the Government in Delta will not proceed in error and erect a government of injustice from it’s beginning. It will be too costly as God is against the unjust.
For the purpose of clarity and those who don’t know Warri North politics. What we have in Warri North is exclusion politics. How can you explain a situation where:
I. Since the creation of the Council in 1991 no Ijaw man has become a Commissioner until towards the end of Dr. Uduaghan’s administration when Hon. Dr. Joel Bisina was made Commissioner for Special Duties, Abuja for just a period of Six Months!
II. No Ijaw man has been a major Party Chairman, including the PDP at the Council level;
III. Member of the House of Assembly representing Warri North Constituency since 1999;
V. Adviser from the Local Government even an Executive Assistant to the Governor. The list is endless.
While our brothers in the Council wants Secretary to the State Government, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, State Party Chairman, Senator of the Delta South Senatorial District, and having the current Member of the Warri Federal Constituency after been Governor of the state between 2007-2015. Same equity they (Itsekiris) want from the State and National is not what they wish their neighbors, the Egbema Ijaws in the council. He who comes to equity must come with clean hands. In the case of Warri Federal Constituency, it has become their National birthright, since the time of Okotie-Eboh, 1952.
The three critical Position for sharing in the Council are the following: Chairman of council; Commissioner of the State Executive Council and the Constituency Representative at the State House of Assembly. The true position of things today, is that the current Chairman of the Council is an Ijaw whose tenure will elapsed in February, 2024 and it will revert back to the Itsekiris. Warri North has tradition of one Term and nothing more. It is certain that it will be the turn of the Itsekiris.The current member Representing Warri North Constituency , Hon. Fred Martins, Majority Whip is an Itsekiri. The immediate past Commissioners in the Governor Okowa’s cabinet and all through the period of Okowa’s Administration and chief James Ibori are all Itsekiris. By the time the tenure of the current Chairman ends; the Itsekiris will have both the Chairman of council, member representing Warri North Constituency. Two key positions. The implication of this is that where the Itsekiris have the Chairman of council, the Honourable member of the Constituency and the Commissionership slot in the administration Rt Hon. Sheriff OBOREVWORI; it will leave the Ijaws with nothing. There will be no other position that can assuage them if the THREE CRITICAL POSITIONS IN THE COUNCIL ARE ALL TAKEN BY THE ITSEKIRIS. This is why His Excellency, Gov OBOREVWORI must look critically so as to avoid taking an action that will be unpopular.
The story that the former Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has reached a deal with Dr. Okowa and the Gov OBOREVWORI to appoint his daughter, Ms Erode Uduaghan as condition of his support for the emergence of Sheriff OBOREVWORI is something of great concern to the people of Egbema Kingdom. Gov Uduaghan must know that, the people of Egbema Kingdom has given him so much yet, in return he gave little or nothing. We supported him all through his eight years as Governor yet, there’s no project worth a Million Naira that he did in Egbema even though we gave him all our votes in all elections. He did not appoint a son of Egbema until six months to the end of his administration! We will not tolerate again, another injustice. Hon. Micheal Diden, aka Ejele is a man we can give a Fair credit for ensuring that an Ijaw became the chairman of the council for the first time in 27 years!
It is necessary that the government and people of Delta State is sufficiently informed so that the next Administration will be guided when it comes to appointment in the Local Government.
We are making this appeal to all persons of good conscience and ensure that Justice and peace reign in Warri North.
Signed:
Architect Joshua Lemigha, Chairman Egbema Unity Forum.
Mr. Tobou Tamaralayefa, Secretary, Egbema Unity Forum.
