As the race towards the 2023 governorship election in Delta State gathers momentum, an Ijaw-based group, Ijaw Mandate Group,IMG, has declared that, in line with the subsisting Senatorial rotation arrangement in the PDP, it is the turn of the Delta Central Senatorial district to produce the next governor of the State.
A Delta Central-based group led by Chief Ighoyota Amori, DC-23, was inaugurated May, 2021 to lobby other senatorial districts for the emrgence of the next governor of the state from Urhobo in line with its belief that there is existing governorship rotation which has been executed in a Senatorial order and going by that, it is the turn of Delta Central.
While the Urhobo group was holding its inaugural meeting in Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area a few months ago, a similar group comprising Ijaw PDP chieftains and stakeholders led by former Minister of Police Affairs, Chief Alaowei Broderick Bozimo, also convened a meeting same day in nearby Warri, where they resolved that it was the turn of the Ijaw nation to produce the next governor of the state.
Shortly after the inauguration of the two groups, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa was reported to have declared that there was no time in the history of PDP in the state when it was agreed that the governorship of the state should be rotated according to Senatorial districts.
The report which was based on a quarterly press briefing of the state government, stated inter alia: “There was no formal meeting where an agreement was reached on zoning, and that is the truth as at today. It means that whatever we are doing or talking about today is about fairness, equity and how to define what is fair and what is equitable and hinged on justice.”
Following the governor’s reported declaration, the Bozimo-led Ijaw group was quoted as claiming that it has been vindicated that it was the turn of the Ijaws to produce the next governorship in 2023.
Expectedly, the Ijaw-based group and the Urhobo DC-23 have been criss-crossing the state, lobbying for support to produce the next governorship candidate of the PDP in the State come 2023.
However, early last week, another Ijaw group, the Ijaw Mandate Group, IMG, rose from its meeting in Warri where they declared that it was the turn of Delta Central Senatorial District (Urhobo) to produce the next governor of the State under PDP, arguing that the Urhobos, after former governor, Chief James Ibori’s tenure, have waited for sixteen years to allow Delta South and currently, Delta North take their turns. It is now the turn of Delta Central, it said, to produce the next governor of the state.
The IMG led by Comrade Famous Ofurobiri, Coordinating President and Andaye Dagidi, Secretary, in a statement titled ‘Ijaw Agenda In Perspective’, noted that whether written or unwritten, the rotation arrangement was a principle which has been adopted by the PDP over the years, adding that it has created an enduring peace in the state.
It said: “The feasibility of Ijaw Governor for Delta State is dependent, not only on the collective resolve of the ijaws as a people, but most especially, on the present realities in terms of party guidelines for selection of candidates as governor prevalent and obtainable in the various political parties through which platform, any Agenda is expressed and realized. Whether this party guidelines, written and unwritten, is favourable and in consonance with the Agenda, is key factor to its full delivery.
“The enduring peace in the state is made possible and dependent on the PDP’s policy of power sharing based on Senatorial Rotation, as it pertains to the position and office of the governor.”
Ofurobiri made it clear that under the PDP arrangement, the Ijaws though can aspire for the governorship as allowed, it is not their turn to produce the Number One citizen of the state in 2023, adding that the Ijaw agenda for governor for now should be subsumed under the senatorial power rotation order.
“It is also pertinent to note, categorically, here that, the Ijaw Agenda for Governor, Delta State, is and should be subsumed under the senatorial power rotation order, formulated by the party, which arrangement is most suitable and the surest way, to actualizing Ijaw Agenda for Governor, Delta State, if and when the proper, space-time and the apparent realities of the PDP are critically considered and adhered to.
“In view of the foregoing, Ijaw agitation for Governor, Delta State, 2023, is not feasible. Why, because the space and time, is not right, where the agitation is located, which makes it to run at variance with the apparent realities of the PDP’s salient policy of power rotation based on Senatorial District.”
He further recalled that the present crop of PDP Ijaws aspiring to the governorship seat in 2023 were part and parcel of the decision by the party to rotate power by senatorial arrangement, adding that they even advised an Ijaw son who aspired to contest sometime ago to shelve the idea in obedient to the zonal rotation.
He said: “It will be recalled that the present front runners for the agitation to become Governor, come 2023, are all, unmistakably, truly Ijaw sons and eminently qualified in all ramifications, to contest and be Governor of Delta State. But it is amazing and shocking to reveal here that, these sons of Ijaw, gladiators to be Governor 2023, are sincerely privy and are witnesses to, and are immense beneficiaries of the policy of senatorial rotation.
“To further give credence to this, precisely in 2015, these were the same persons who advised another Ijaw son against contesting in the PDP Governorship primaries. Reason, it was not yet time for Delta South Senatorial District, where all Ijaws belong, and they ensured all Ijaw delegates totally withdrew their support from and voted against their brother, a bonafide son of Ijaw land, simply because it was yet not time for Delta South, and invariably for Ijaws.
“If they are sincere to themselves and the Ijaw people in Delta State, they will agree that 2023 is still not yet time and turn of Delta South Senatorial District and Ijaws who are subsumed under Delta South Senatorial District, to contest for Governor, as it was the case in 2015.
“As a matter of fact, by the order of precedence of the Senatorial Rotation, 2023 is unarguably the turn of Delta Central Senatorial District. They have waited for their statutory sixteen years, after the advent of Chief James Onanefe Ibori, as Governor, who represented Delta Central, from 1999 through 2007.
“What this simply means is, each Senatorial District is required to hold power at the first instance, for eight years, as did Delta Central, by Ibori, followed by Delta South Senatorial District, represented by Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, from 2007 through 2015, and now, Delta North Senatorial District, being now represented by, Dr Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa, from 2015 to terminate 2023, Thereafter, to wait for the statutory sixteen years, for the next turn. This is the established policy of the PDP, that has sustained its hold unto power since 1999 till date, in Delta State.”
“We of the Ijaw Mandate Group is of the well informed opinion that, the status quo, as established by the PDP suffices, and must be maintained, to sustain this enduring peaceful political climate. Therefore, the contention for Governorship 2023, should be the reserve of Delta Central Senatorial District,” the Ijaw group concluded.
At the last count, The New Diplomat could recall, about five PDP chieftains of Ijaw extraction have been linked to intention to contest the 2023 governorship election. They are the incumbent deputy governor of the State, Kingsley Otuaro, Senator James Manager, former Commissioner, Braduce Angozie and Sheriff Mulade.
From the Delta Central PDP stable, those who indicated interest for the 2023 governorship include Chief Kenneth Gbagi, immediate past chief of Staff to the governor, David Edevbie, Fred Majemite, Chief James Augoye, Hon. Ejaife Odebala, Hon. Kenneth Okpara and the incumbent chief of staff, Hon. Ovie Agas.
