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Urge Atiku to Step Down
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As Sylva, Keyamo, Ganduje, Others Also bagged Gbaramatu Titles
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Shower encomiums on Orubebe
Less than two weeks after the All-Progressives Congress APC Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu and the Delta State APC governorship candidate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege in Warri, promised to embark on the rapid development of Ijaw land, and indeed, the Niger Delta, when the duo become President and governor in 2023 respectively, that pledge has been renewed on Friday in Gbaramatu, Warri South West LGA.
Tinubu, Omo-Agege, accompanied by the Vice Presidential Candidate, Kassim Shettima, Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva, Minister of State, Labour and Productivity and Festus Keyamo SAN, had visited Gbaramatu Kingdom to meet with an array of traditional rulers from the South-South and the Ijaw nation in continuation of their campaign.
Others in the entourage include the Delta APC deputy governorship candidate, Hon. Friday Osanebi, former Speaker of the House of Reps, Hon. Dimeji Bankole, former Bayelsa State APC candidate, Mr. David Lyon Perewonrimi, Delta APC chairman, Elder Omeni Sobotie, Delta State APC Campaign Organization Director-General, Elder Godsday Orubebe amongst others.
At the palace of the Gbaramatu Monarch, HRM Oboro Gbaraun II, the Royal Father conferred various Chieftaincy titles on the visitors including Tinubu who bagged the Eyeilaowei (Jagaban or Important Man) of Gbaramatu Kingdom; Senator Omo-Agege – Ibeikiowei (One Who Never Forget The Kingdom) of Gbaramatu and Festus Keyamo, SAN who was conferred with the title of Igonimuwei (One Who Knows The Road) of Gbaramatu Kingdom.
Other beneficiaries include Mai Mala Buni who was conferred with the title of Ikeremibowei (The Man Who Came With Love), Dimeji Bankole – the Kureimobowei of Gbaramatu Kingdom (The Man That Comes With Force); Gov. Ganduje – Ebiguini (A Good And Prosperous Visitor) of Gbaramatu Kingdom and Timipre Sylva who bagged the Mietiawei (Talk And Do) of Gbaramatu Kingdom.
Addressing the people at the Pavilion shortly after receiving titles, the APC Presidential candidate, Tinubu, noted that as a title holder of the Gbaramatu Kingdom, he has become one of the citizens, adding that he is by that status, obligated to the service and development of Ijaw land, especially when he becomes the President of the country.
He pleaded with the Monarchs present to tell the Presidential Candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar to step down, adding that he has ran enough.
“As I did receive the chieftaincy title and I become one of you, I must always render service for the progress of this kingdom.
“Yes, you mentioned the issue of seaports, the roads and bridges, the Maritime University, the industrial EPZ, these are the things that came to your mind.
“As I stand before you, there are a few of us left running. One says he is Atiku, how many times has he been running? He is always on the run. And he is tired; tell him to go and sit down. Enough is enough”, he said.
Apparently referring to the Labour Party Presidential Candidate, Mr Peter Obi, Tinubu said: “The other one, that one thinks we are going to eat statistics. He lies with mathematics that no Indian can solve. To mention his name is a disgrace to me. I would not mention his name. Wrong arithmetic, wrong statistics, warehouse economy, that’s not what Nigerians need.”
Continuing in his promises to the people, the Jagaban Borgu stated that he knows the road to the greatness of the Niger Delta, adding that he will not be far from the people.
“So, what do you need? You need honesty, you need a man who knows the road. And that is me. I promise we won’t be far away from you; we will carry you along and we will consult with you regularly for the development of Gbaramatu and other associated areas.
“Economic development and creation of jobs for our youths, a promised tomorrow that is certain and a renewed hope, is standing before you”, he offered.
Tinubu however admonished the people of the area to be mindful of the danger associated with the willful damage of national assets, urging them to ensure there is improvement and commitment in that direction, just as they said that “we will encourage you, we will be with you.”
Earlier, the Deputy President of the Senate and APC Governorship Candidate of Delta State, Senator Omo-Agege, had renewed his pledge to visit the Ijaw nation with unprecedented development when he becomes the governor of the State.
Also addressing the capacity-filled Pavilion, Omo-Agege referred to some of the challenges that have been confronting the people of the Gbaramatu Kingdom, adding that he has been abreast with them since his days as a Commissioner and Secretary to the State Government SSG in the State.
While lamenting that successive governments in the State had neglected the Ijaw nation and left them to their fate, Omo-Agege promised to address the challenges plaguing the people when he becomes governor, especially now that he has become a citizen of Gbaramatu Kingdom by virtue of his being a title holder.
“I came here as the Obarisi of Urhobo Land, but I’m going home with an additional title of Ibeikiowei of Gbaramatu Kingdom. That is, “the one who would never forget Gbaramatu Kingdom.
“And it is on that note that I will make certain pledges to you. I heard His Royal Majesty when he did allude to one of the biggest challenges we face here as the access of the riverine of the Kingdom of Gbaramatu to the mainland and that we need to have this kingdom bridged to the mainland.
“That is the request he made to the incoming governor, and by the grace of God, if I become the governor, it is a request that I will pursue. I hereby endorse that request and I promise to pursue it with the incoming President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Also, in consonance with my title, I thought I should mention to you that I’m very familiar with this kingdom and I know what ails this kingdom. In my days as executive assistant to the governor and a commissioner and member of the State Executive Council, I had the opportunity to interact with key members of this community and in the process of that, I got to know what ails this community.
“It is most unfortunate that up till now most of those issues have not been resolved even though that we did address some of them. But let me also let His Majesty know, along with the people of this kingdom, that one of the issues which I expected you to raise with our incoming president which you did not, but the mere fact that I’m privy to it, you can also take it to the bank, is that the incoming president is aware of it. And that has to do with the issue of the full implementation of the Maritime University, Okerenkoko.
“We know what those challenges are and I have undertaken to address all of those challenges, challenges that have to do with the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA dealing with the funding and challenges with the National Assembly dealing with the legal framework.
“I made a commitment that in no distant time, at least before the election, we will ensure that the enabling legal framework is passed by the National Assembly and signed into law by Mr President. I can also assure you that on the issue of funding by NIMASA, it is an issue we are addressing and I’m confident that before the election, that issue will be settled.
“And finally, there is also the issue of the floating dock. We know, although His Majesty did not mention that, but, I’m privy to it. We know that the floating dock was conceived to be used by the Maritime University, Okerenkoko, but for some political reason, it has been domiciled elsewhere. I’m in the process of ensuring the movement of the floating dock to Okerenkoko. At the least, if that will not be possible, we shall ensure that all the benefits that arise from that projects also get to the Gbaramatu community”, he said.
Omo-Agege also lamented the issues affecting other Ijaw and Itsekiri Oil Producing Communities outside of Gbaramatu, adding that in spite of their huge contributions to the state’s economy, “there is nothing on ground commensurate to these contributions”, pointing out that he was committed to the “judicious use of resources when, by God’s grace, I become the governor of the state, to see to the revitalization of the School of Marine Technology in Burutu.
“What I have said here in the contest of Gbaramatu, what I have said here in the contest of Burutu, also apply to the Itsekiri oil-bearing Communities. We are determined, working with our incoming President, to ensure we open up and reactivate the Koko Port, the Warri Port and the Burutu Port.
“The only way we can have that achieved is if we have the Jagaban, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as President. I have his commitment that when he becomes president, he will assist me to have all three ports reactivated and made functional.
“And let us also say that another project that is dear to the Ijaw nation is the Ayakoromo Bridge. I know how important that bridge is. Until now, the only bridge that has opened up the Riverine Communities to the mainland is the one constructed by former governor, Chief James Ibori, and that is the Bomadi bridge. Since that time, all the successive governments have pretty much shut their eyes to what goes on in the Riverine Communities. So, this Ayakoromo Bridge, I can assure you, is a bridge we shall take as a priority and complete.
“And then the EPZ. This project is very dear to all of us, not just the Ijaw Nation alone but also to the Itsekiri Nation. All of these can only come to pass if we elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu as our President.
“You know that all that I have mentioned have been there but the PDP government that has been there had done nothing. So, any attempt to bring them back, it will be as good as kissing all of these projects goodbye.
“I’m here today to make a commitment on behalf of myself, on behalf of Delta State and, on behalf of my incoming president, that all of these projects will be attended to.
“So, once again, I appeal to you to support us. This is the first time you are having a presidential candidate, a president in waiting, I call him a president in equity, coming to the heartland of the riverine Communities.
“Today, the incoming president, the Jagaban is with you and I plead with you to reciprocate this gesture to vote for him, en masse, to vote for all our candidates, five over five”, he concluded.
Earlier, while acknowledging the presence of dignitaries at the event, the Jagaban had showered encomiums on the Director-General of the Delta State APC Campaign Organization, Elder Godsday Orubebe, for his doggedness, commitment and honesty, adding that he has been wonderful in his assignment.
“Our dear friend, a very good and honest one for that matter. He was somewhere else, but we persuaded him and we told him, you are this good, sail with the right people who know the road. And that is the former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, elder statesman, Elder Godsday Orubebe.
“Help us thank him for the good job he has been doing. He is a very active and honest man, with great wisdom”, Asiwaju said.
