Guber Zoning: “Stop Heating The Polity Because Of Your Personal Gains,” Group Tells Delta North Monarchs

By Daniel Dafe
A group, Deltans Lives Matter, has taken a swipe at traditional rulers in Delta North for supporting zoning of the governorship seat along senatorial districts.

The group said this in a statement issued on Thursday and signed by Christian Moses Abeh, Global Coordinator, Gabriel Mamuzo, Deputy Global Coordinator and Miracle Ifeanyi Ogor, Europe Coordinator.

According to the statement, “Delta North Traditional Rulers Forum at first said the Governor who is their son or any other person has not informed them of the type of governorship zoning we have in the state and called that they want the zoning formula to be properly explained; if it is by ethnic group or by senatorial district.”

Continuing, Deltans Lives Matters said “in another twist several days after, these same traditional rulers announced that they stand by zoning the governorship seat on senatorial zone, citing peaceful coexistence, unity etc, for their decision.”

The group added that “the traditional institution is a highly respected body; it is a body that is not supposed to swim in the dirty waters of politics,” saying that “they are the custodians of our customs, and as such, not supposed to be partisan or biased in their actions and decisions.”

The group opined that “the zoning of governorship seat in Delta State was not real.”

Adding: “It is a one man’s decision that he imposed on the people at the expiration of his tenure in office.”

“Upon the expiration of Chief James Ibori’s tenure in office as the Governor of Delta State, he needed a successor who will cover his many atrocities committed against the State, so he decided to impose his blood brother on us as the next Governor under the guise of zoning.

“The so-called zoning is purely a one man’s decision that is not binding on the state. This is the major reason why the Urhobos contested against Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan in 2006 PDP governorship primaries, and also against Senator Okowa in 2014 primaries,” the group said.

“The Delta North Traditional Rulers Forum goofed for taking such a sensitive position without consulting with their political leaders and other personalities from their zone.

“These traditional rulers are supposed to be non partisan and father to all, but, they are now deeply involved in politics to the point of making PDP affairs their headache.

“What informed their hasty decision without consulting their subjects in and outside government? Were they induced financially by desperate politicians or they are trying to position themselves as major contractors in the incoming administration? Well, we leave them to their conscience.

“Traditional rulers from other senatorial zones who are supposed to be engaged with this issue of zoning because it is believed that the next Governor should come from any of the two zones are not even bothered, because they have more pressing issues and also, they have internal mechanism of settling such matters if they are consulted,” the statement added.

They wondered why the traditional rulers did not call an emergency meeting and set up a committee to meet with the Governor to plead with him on behalf of their subjects when management of state owned universities increased school fees, noting that there is hardship in the land that is caused by the poor economy.

“How many times have these traditional rulers pleaded with the Governor concerning the welfare of the people? All they are after is the governorship aspirants that will visit them with fat envelope, and the next will be dishing out of press releases,” the group said.

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“What stops them from issuing this same statement in 2006, 2011 and 2014?
Who is bankrolling these press conferences and meetings for them?,” the group quizzed.

“We believe that zoning of the governorship seat is not a problem for now. What Deltans need is someone who will be accountable to them, provide good governance, creation of real jobs through industrialisation, revolutionise the agricultural sector through modern technology and unit us together as a people.

“We are not preaching political party affairs but good persons who have the fear of God and great regards for the people.

“The Delta North Traditional Rulers Forum should allow peace to reign and stop heating the polity with the issue of zoning. There are other issues that are very important we expected them to address than the 2023 governorship matter,” the group averred.