Delta 2023: Anxiety As Ijaw Prepare Offensive Against Urhobo Hopes

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa yet to set up his second term administration, jostling for his 2023 successor has started with the Ijaw in the south threatening to disrupt what had been envisaged as a smooth transfer of power to Delta Central.

Following successive turns of Delta Central (1999 to 2007), Delta South (2007 to 2015) and now Delta North (2015 to date) there is expectation that the governorship will turn to Delta Central.

However, the Ijaw in the South who dominate the region are peeved that they had been sidelined even when the governorship was in the South.

Sources close to Urhobo political leaders  in  the state allege that the seeming interest of the Ijaw for the governorship ticket might alter the arrangement for the Urhobo to produce the next governor in 2023.

It was exclusively gathered that the state predominantly controlled by the People’s Democratic Party ( PDP) in agreement with Delta North and South Senatorial Districts, unanimously agreed it would be the turn of the Urhobo ( Delta Central) to produce the next Governor in 2023.

But the seeming arrangement at present angers many Ijaw who have alleged clear marginalization and nepotic agreement to favour the Urhobo.

‘” Unfortunately, the Urhobo and the PDP working Committee are underestimating the Ijaw in Delta South Senatorial District.

“We have the bulk votes and we are in majority and they may not like it but it was obvious even when Okowa was going round for his campaigns.

“We will alter the arrangement and it will be the turn of Ijaw to produce the next Governor in 2023 and we are very ready for the battle”, Mr. Tom Pere Commissioner an Ijaw leader said.

Only recently, an Urhobo Youth Group led by one Felix Augoye insisted in a statement he issued and signed that it was the turn of Okpe- Urhobo to produce the next Governor in 2023, alleging that the Okpe have never had it good in the political activities in the state since 1999 to date.

Part of the statement reads:” I want to urge all Okpe sons and daughters to shine their eyes ahead of the 2023 Governorship ticket. It is true that the Urhobos will produce the next Governor, but it is the turn of Okpe person to be Governor and we want all other Urhobos to support us”.

While the Urhobo are very happy with the arrangements ahead of the 2023 even as some of them fear that the Ijaw might trump their hopes ahead of 2023.

Barr Kingsley Esiso, the state PDP Chairman had during a press conference reinstated his commitment towards actualizing the Urhobo dream to produce the next Governor, saying that it was a unanimous decision and collective on rotation.

“We are not deterred by the interest of the Ijaws to produce the next Governor in 2023, but it was a unanimous decision and collective agreement for the Urhobos to produce the next Governor and it’s the Party decision too”, Esiso said

Sources said the Ijaw have lined up the current deputy Governor, Barr Kingsley Otuaro, One Bozimo, and Chief Otobo Pere Alawori a very wealthy Ijaw man, and Senator James Manager to slug it out with the Urhobo come 2023.

On the part of the Urhobo, strong indications are that the likes of: Chief James Augoye, Commissioner designate, and Olorogun David Edevibe, Chief of Staff Government House are the anointed candidates of Chief James Ibori and Governor Ifeanyi Okowa come 2023.

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