Itsekiris’ Protest Against Ijaw Chairmanship In Warri North, Irrational –Comrade Mike Tiemo

By Wilson Macaulay, Warri
The President of Egema Communities Peace Development, a Humanitatian Rights Association of Egema kingdom, Delta and Edo states has described the Itsekiris’ protest against the candidacy of Hon. Captain Smart Asekutu as the PDP consensus candidate for Warri North Local Government just because he is an Ijaw man as irrational.

Comrade Mike J.K Tiemo who spoke in Warri, Delta State recently called on the protester led by one Gbubemi Awala and others at Asaba the state capital to shun such protests, adding that all that is needed in Warri North is to restructure the minds of residents and embrace rapid development of the communities which are made of Ijaw and Itsekiri ethic nationalities in the council area.

According to Comrade Tiemo, this is an era of unification to identify the fundamental problems and proffer solutions collectively for the overall development of the local government council in its entirety without any form of segregation or creation of vacuum for unnecessary controversies that would yield any good result for the people of Warri North

He observed that since the creation of Warri North L.G.A in1991, no Ijaw man has become the chairman of the council for good 29 years, add in that this is unconstitutional as the practice abused fundamental and humanitarian rights and it denotes an obvious denial of an heir apparent of Egbema citizen as far as democracy is concerned in that setting.

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He remarked with emphasis that rotational and zoning system of government is popular all over the world and it fosters progressive policies, encourages unity, love peace and development of the entire area without bias with no tensions created.

Comrade Tiemo harped on the fact that what is paramount and imperative is a broad consultation for the application of the principles of give and take for all available appointment or elective positions in Warri North such that, since there are already Itsekiri men in the Warri federal constituency, the State House of Assembly, the state Commissioner for Women Affairs and others, therefore there is no reason for such protest hence it is irrational and ought not to be encouraged.

He added that the protesters should eschew whatever past discrepancies they had and shun any act of violence because the God of creation is not an author of confusion and controversies but of peace, love and tolerance.

He reaffirmed during the media interactive session that the zoning and rotational system of government will accelerate youth, women training and development and other infrastructural amenities as encapsulated in the developmental agenda of Hon. Smart Asekutu.

Speaking further, Comrade TIemo said: “The aforesaid system would lay a core legacy that will promote cordial relationship between the two ethnic nationalities bound together by nature.

Adding that Hon. Captain Smart Yomi Asekutu is a consensus and a viable candidate, Tiemo said: “Smart Asekutu is tested and trusted because he has proven his mettle as a man who can deliver the dividends of democracy for the Okowa administration to sustain the vision of a stronger Delta to the constellation of all in Warri North without any inclination of tribalism, asserting that a united Warri North in terms of the two ethnic nationalities will stand but a divided Warri North is band to fall.”

He noted that if the Ijaws can tolerate an Iteskiri chairman for 29 years, it sounds reasonable to say that the protesters absolutely have no cogent reason to get themself into anything that will lead to divisive tendencies concerning the issue of chairmanship slot in Warri North L.G.A

The group president who further decried the opposition of the Ijaw candidate said “Bar. Misan Ukubeyinje as a lawyer should have realized that the Ijaw were deprived for 29 years instead of supporting any protest, he should rather work as a PDP faithful for the advancement of democracy in Warri North.”

According to Tiemo, since PDP has declared Hon. Captain Smart Asekutu as the flag bearer in Warri North in the forth coming local government election, Bar. Misan Ukubeyinje should understand that what he is establishing is trying to create a controversy which is not good for the person of his calibre.

He remarked that what Ukubeyinje is referring to as unconstitutional, illegal and baseless is uncalled for because the Ijaws have been marginalized for 29 years but the protesters and Bar. Ukubeyinje did not see it as unconstitutional and baseless.

The group advised Bar. Ukubeyinje and his co-travelers’ to work in harmony with other party members as a PDP faithful to deliver Hon. Captain Smart Yomi Asekutu and his running mate, Mr. Solomon Mikie at the forth coming local government election slated for March 6 without jeopardizing the new structure the party leaders are putting in place.

According to him, the area of focus for development in Warri North Local Government Area should be Koko Junction to Koko main town dualization and completion of the abandoned road project, construction of Koko main town to Ogheye from there to Escravos to Lagos and feeder roads to other communities of Ijaw and Itsekiri within the council.

He also stressed on the fact that there is need for collective effort for capacity building and human capital development.

He strongly opined that Warri North vision should be focused on how to attract more foreign investors to the area and its environs.

Tiemo commended the efforts of His Excellency, Senator Dr. Arthuer Ifeanyi Okowa, the Governor of Delta State, the PDP chairman, Bar Kingsley Esiso, Hon. Michael Diden, DESOPADEC board chairman, Hon. Godwin Ebosa, PDP chieftain in Warri North and other party leaders who laid the foundation stone of restructuring Warri North L.G.A, a legacy that cannot be forgotten in a passing glance.