There appears to be sharp disagreements among the Ijaws of Delta South Senatorial District as to whether or not, it is in the general interest of the ethnic nationality to contest for the number one seat in the state in the next general election.
Rising from a closed-door meeting yesterday in Warri, the Alaowei Broderick Bozimo-led Ijaw for governorship group reiterated its position that the Ijaws are still strongly in the guber race, adding that the group had consulted widely and the coast is very clear for an Ijaw governor, come 2023.
Three days earlier, the Ijaw Mandate Group, IMG, led by Andaye Dagidi, Coordinating President of IMG and Famous Ofurobiri, had, in a meeting held at Ughelli Garden Motel in Ughelli, described the present governorship aspirants of Ijaw extraction as self-seeking, adding that their aspirations do not represent the overall Ijaw agenda.
Yesterday’s meeting, The New Diplomat learnt, took place at Bozimo’s private residence in Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area.
Addressing newsmen at the end of the meeting, Bozimo, a former Minister of Police Affairs, disclosed that the meeting was to strategize on the way forward in the quest for Ijaw governorship come 2023.
Bozimo disclosed that the group has consulted widely across the state and the responses have been overwhelming in support of the ethnic nationality producing the next governor of the State.
“We have been on the move consulting on behalf of the Ijaw nation to produce a governor in Delta State come 2023, we started since May 2021 and we have covered huge grounds. The responses have been good, we are all excited as Ijaw people. We have discovered that the governorship of Delta State is just there for us to take. So, we came here to give report to Ijaw nation, particularly the young people that are fit for 2023 Governorship election…
Delta Ijaws have supported others in becoming governors of the state, hence, it is now our time to also enjoy the support of others to produce the next governor of the state. We have consulted and I can assure you that the coast is now clear,” he said.
The meeting was attended by the three governorship aspirants namely His Excellency Kingsley Otuaro, incumbent deputy governor of Delta State; Senator James Manager, Senator representing Delta South Senatorial District in the National Assembly and former Commissioner of Agriculture in the State, Dr. Braduce Angozi, who was represented by his wife, Mrs. Angozie.
Other prominent Ijaw leaders present at the meeting included Gen. Broderick Demeyeibo (Rtd), Hon. Preyor Oboro, member representing Bomadi DTHA; Hon. Pullah Ekpotughayerin, Member Representing Burutu 11 DTHA; Barr Newworld Safugha and Hon. Emomotimi Guwor, Member Representing Warri South-West in the DTHA among others.
Meanwhile, another group, the Ijaw Mandate Group, IMG has described the governorship aspirants of Ijaw extraction as self-seeking individuals whose personal aspirations do not translate to a general Ijaw agenda.
The group, led by its Coordinating President, Hon. Adaye Dagidi and Publicity Secretary, Mr. Famous Ofurobiri, after a meeting in Ughelli early last week, in a statement, contended that no single Ijaw person or group of persons could lay claim to be more Ijaw than the IMG members, noting that the individuals’ governorship aspiration does not add up to a project of all the Ijaws.
IMG insisted that following the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, rotational principle, it was the turn of the Urhobos of Delta Central to produce the next governor of the state, adding that it will be the turn of the Ijaws in 2031. The group recalled that in 2015, an Ijaw also aspired to contest the governorship of the state, but he did not enjoy the support of the people because it was not yet the turn of the Ijaws to take a shot at the government house.
“An Ijaw had aspired and contested to be Governor of Delta State previously in 2015 without Ijaw support because it was not yet the turn for Delta South Senatorial District, where Ijaws belong, which still subsists and is valid till 2031, a salient and incontrovertible rule of PDP.
“It is therefore erroneous to consider the self-seeking adventure of some individuals in their quest for the governorship seat in 2023 as Ijaw Agenda. It is inappropriate and a fallacy of the highest order; they are merely exercising their rights to freedom of expression, which is sacrosanct to all,” the statement said.
IMG noted that, although it was not speaking on behalf of the Ijaw National Congress, nor on behalf of Delta Ijaws, it is entitled to its right to freedom of association and expression, adding that it cannot be cowed or intimidated by any person or group of persons for as long as it is exercising its fundamental right as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution.
The issue of where the next governor of the state will emerge has become very contentious, with the Urhobo of Delta Central on the platform of the PDP claiming it is its turn to produce the governor come 2023.
