2023: Why Our Ijaw Brothers Should Accept Power Rotation On Senatorial Basis

By Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe Esq
#eacgovdelta

The political reality today is that majority of Deltans at home and in Diaspora are comfortable with power rotation on senatorial basis, not ethnic nationality or tribe.

This position is well understood and it sounds odd for few of our dear Ijaw brothers to take us through a journey of no return. It guarantees nothing and it will certainly be chaotic politically, in the sense that we may not be able to go round the number of tribes or ethnic nationalities in the state.

For example; Uvwie people may want to become an ethnic nationality, same for Okpe, Isoko, Itsekiri, Udu, and so on and so forth. Oghara, Jesse and Mosogar may claim to be different ethnic nationalities with reasons, and you cannot stop them from doing so.

ALSO READ: 2023: Delta North Traditional Rulers Back Delta Central For 2023 Governorship

Believe it or not, we may at the end of the day have more than 150 ethnic nationalities in Delta State, because each sub unit wants to taste political and economic power. This is the reason why I said that going the tribe or ethnic way is to embark on a journey to nowhere. It will certainly be chaotic and barbaric. The time to perfect the arrangement is now.

Apart from some of our Ijaw brothers in Delta South; the Isoko and Itsekiri people are not going the way of power rotation on the basis of ethnic or tribal colouration. Not every Ijaw man or women is in support of the idea, only a few political elites in Ijaw nation. Therefore, majority views and opinions on power rotation must of a necessity be allowed to carry the day in line with universal democratic principles. Democracy is a game of numbers and the majority votes on an issue should be allowed to prevail.

As it is today, majority of Deltans in the three senatorial districts; North, South and Central are in favour of power rotation on the basis of senatorial district, nothing more and nothing less.

Chief E.K. Clark, Prince Collins Eselemo and other prominent Ijaw leaders and patriots, as well as some political pressure groups in Ijaw nation are of the opinion that rotation of power on the basis of senatorial slots should be retained; because it guarantees peace, sanctity, sanity, equity and sustained unity in diversity among the people in the three senatorial districts.

Delta North Senatorial District and indeed Anioma nation is in full support of the existing senatorial arrangement, so also is Delta Central and Urhobo Nation, while Delta South is also in support except very few of our dear Ijaw brothers. We shall continue to appeal to them to allow majority decision to carry the day in this matter.

Yes, the governorship race has been challenged by aspirants from the three senatorial districts in the past, but we must now find ways and means to perfect the deal. Our leaders should come to a round table to fine tune the power rotation process before the next party primaries, if possible.

Certain rules should be put in place to make the process more acceptable, so as to drastically reduce political conflicts and unnecessary agitations. The rules and terms should be very clear and accepted by all leaders and stakeholders in the three districts.

Ndokwa Nation and other ethnic nationalities across the state are in one accord in this matter except for some of our Ijaw brothers. The various President Generals of ethnic groups are in support that Delta Central should have it in 2023, for two tenure and it will be the turn of Delta South. This is the real deal. It is very simple and well understood without any disputations.

Our respected royal father, the Asagba of Asaba, speaking for all the traditional rulers of Anioma Nation, corroborated the position of majority of Deltans by saying “Anioma Nation recognises power rotation on senatorial basis” not ethnic or tribal rotation. And it is obvious that majority, if not all, our traditional rulers have added their voices to the continuation of rotation of power on the basis of senatorial district. No need to neither over flog nor continue to drag the matter.

We are passionately appealing to our Ijaw brothers to support Delta Central for 2023, and same support without any hindrance shall be accorded Delta South after Central two tenure of eight years. This assurance has been repeated again and again by the DC-23 lobby group and the UPU team. Our aggrieved Ijaw brothers should temper justice with mercy, please. We must remain united for one another. We must continue to be our brothers keeper. This is the way to go!

We should put away the anger of past mistakes and face reality. And in facing reality, there should be no competition against the beneficiary senatorial district, because it will be senseless to say we are rotating power and at the time allow aspirants from the three senatorial districts to compete for the governorship race within the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. It’s time we leave unhealthy competition for APC and other struggling political parties in Delta State. It’s a new day. Let’s give a helping hand to each other, there is absolute human strength in unity of purpose.

Our highly respected former governors, Chief James Onanefe Ibori and Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan should work in tandem with our platinum governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, in conjunction with party chairman and leaders from the three senatorial districts to craft the rules that will perfect power rotation on senatorial basis, such that prohibits rancour and competition, to the extent that all governorship aspirants must come from the beneficiary senatorial district within PDP.

Finally, we love our Ijaw brothers anytime and any day, which is why they should allow majority decision on senatorial power rotation to prevail, without hindrance and unhealthy competition, going forward.

Stronger Delta, Let’s Build Together!