Politics
Delta Ijaw Consults Uduaghan, Itsekiri PDP Leaders
His Excellency, Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, CON, the Immediate Past Governor of Delta State and Chieftain of the Poeples Democratic Party {PDP) alongside other Itsekiri leaders hosted an Ijaw advocacy group under the aegis of Delta Ijaw 4 Governor 2023 at his Warri residence earlier today.
The high powered delegation was led by one of Nigeria’s renowned lawyers, former minister and Minister of State for Police Affairs and Interior respectively -Alaowei Broderick Bozimo.
Alaowei Bozimo who disclosed to Dr. Uduaghan and Itsekiri PDP leaders the reason for their visit, traced the cordial relationship between the Ijaws and Itsekiris from time immemorial.
He said the Itsekiris and Ijaws are like hair and skin.
The former minister likened the PDP zoning arrangement to the microfinancial capital accumulation format known as “osusu”, which he admitted that all three senatorial districts have all had a shot at the Governorship of the state, stating that it is time to consider it on ethnic nationality basis so that others can have the opportunity to have a shot at the governorship.
He said, “We are not against the PDP zoning their offices. We have completed the first round of zoning. It is like osusu. It doesn’t mean that the man who collected first must be the first to collect again.”
“We have come to beg our Itsekiri brothers to consider us. I am 83 now, I want it to happen in my life time. As a leader, we have come to beg you, our Itsekiri brothers and sisters to give Ijaw people the chance to taste Governorship.
“The Ijaw nation holds Chief James Onanefe Ibori in very high esteem. He is our leader. Personally, my family is grateful to him for all that he has done for us. We will also go to him to help us appeal to our Urhobo brothers to let us taste governorship too,” he said.
The Ijaw leader went further to reveal the identity of aspirants from Ijaw nation whom he described as “volunteers” for the governorship.
He continiex: “So far, We have three volunteers for the Governorship from Ijaw nation. We have the Deputy Governor, H.E Kingsley Otuaro Esq, Sen James Manager and Mr Bradus Angozi.”
Responding, Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, CON welcomed the Ijaw delegation and quickly advised that the approach to the advocacy for governorship should remain peaceful.
He also tasked the delegation to keep the number of aspirants to at least one, stating that it will make their goal easy to achieve.
He said, “I commend you for going around to solicit for support in such mature and peaceful manner. We do not want this state to heat up again because of 2023. Political crises are very difficult to manage”
“The most important take home from the last general election for me was the opportunity to campaign in Ijaw villages and my Ijaw opponent also having the opportunity to campaign in Itsekiri areas too,” he averred.
The 2019 senatorial aspirant advised thus, “The three names you mentioned to us are very capable hands and are well known to us but I will advise that Ijaw nation should try and trim the numbers of those contesting to one so as to make your cause easy.
“As Itsekiri people, we will discuss amongst ourselves and give you a response in due course. We Itsekiris also have a request to make too.”
In concluding his speech, the former Governor used the opportunity to clear the air regarding his relationship with Chief E. K Clarke.
“I am not quarreling with Chief E.K Clarke. Chief is my father. He criticizes me a lot but I do not and have never responded to him because he is an elder statesman. As an Itsekiri man, I was raised to have great respect for my elders and that has been my relationship with him,” he said.
“God has a reason for putting the Itsekiris and Ijaws in the same environment. The Ijaws and Itsekiris must work together to achieve great things together”, he concluded.