… As Delta South Throws Weight Behind Central’s Governorship Bid
With the open endorsement of Delta State frontline governorship aspirant, Olorogun Barr. Kenneth Gbagi and prayers offered for the success of his gubernatorial race by a former minister of Information and Culture and Ijaw national leader, Chief Edwin Clark, the move for Delta Ijaws to produce the next governor come 2023, is dead on arrival.
The prayers of the foremost Ijaw national leader for the former minister of education, Olorogun Gbagi, brings to rest the sponsored agitations of the Ijaw to produce Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa’s successor against the gentleman agreement and understanding between the three senatorial districts.
In Clark’s supplications, he prayed that Gbagi, would be the next governor after Okowa, while his (Gbagi’s) enemies would fall before him.
Hear him; “You will become governor of Delta State. God will guide you with good health, long life, all your enemies will collapse, all your friends will rally round you”, Chief Clark, prayed.
Chief Clark’s prayers clearly indicates where his support is as he noted that Olorogun Gbagi, is one to be trusted and vouched for as he had never been found wanting in his private and public ventures.
This has equally discredited the ambition of the Deputy Governor of the state, Deacon Kingsley Burutu Otuaro, the Senator representing Delta South Senatorial District, Senator James Manager, who would complete 20 years by 2023 in the National Assembly (NASS) and former Commissioner, Dr. Braduce Angozi.
Meanwhile, traditional rulers of Delta South Senatorial District said they would support the quest of the Delta Central 2023 lobby group (DC-23) to produce the next governor of Delta State in 2023.
The monarchs from Isoko extraction urged the Urhobo people not to forget that the Isoko people are qualified for strategic positions in the state government when they finally produce the next governor in the state.
The traditional rulers stated this when leaders and members of DC-23 paid consultative visits to them at Otor-Owhe in Isoko north kocal government area of the state, said that the DC-23 visit was a homecoming of brothers and sisters.
Speaking through HRM Inana, Okpuzo of Owhe Kingdom and HRM Anthony Ogbogbo, Ibuka I, Ovie of Ozoro Kingdom and Chairman, Traditional Rulers of Oil Mineral Producing Communities, Delta State Chapter, stated that Urhobos were becoming more united because they now had a common forum known as Urhobo and Isoko Unity Forum.
They noted that before now, there used to be a traditional and historical bond that brought the two nationalities together, saying that it explained the truism that they were one in the unity of purpose.
They explained that “Urhobo and Isoko are one. We are not saying that because of fear, but it is the fact. So, our being one should not come up only when we are fighting for something. When what we are fighting for is achieved, let’s not forget ourselves.”
“After the result of what we are fighting for, the Urhobo people should remember us. We are happy that you did not come here with a particular aspirant in mind,” they added.
“Talk to the aspirants not to fight themselves and cause disaffection among our people because when there is disaffection among the aspirants, the supporters would be divided, and the purpose of DC-23 will not be achieved; your exercise than would be in futility,” they advised.
“Most of you here will work with whoever will emerge governor of Delta State come 2023; as such, don’t derail him, because the euphoria of being elected into office changes human behaviour. Isoko must be considered for prominent positions. You must continue to engage the political class of Isoko nation. On our part will always liaise with them,” they added.
“The members of DC-23 we are seeing here cut across the length and breadth of the Urhobo Nation. The greatest thing that affects somebody that is not too strong is the fear of the unknown. We the Isoko people might not be too many, but we fear the unknown, that is why the English man says that it is the fear of the unknown that weighs heavily on the reserves of courage,” they noted.
“But with the calibre of faces we are seeing here today, I know we are home. Today, we are signing a reference pact treaty with you,” they added.
“Before the meeting, we resolved not to speak with double mouth, which is why the President General of IDU, its patron, and some selected Isoko sons are here. And whatever we are saying, we have their mandate, the only thing we require is when Urhobo man gets to the government House in Asaba, don’t forget us,” they reiterated.
“We are aware that the Urhobos are many in number, but coming here is enough respect for us, to have identified with us that we are brothers and sisters is enough respect for us and we are going to stand by you, but when that comes don’t shy away from us,” they added.
