Delta Ministerial Slots: Central Leaders Mum As Outrage Swells In South And North

The Itsekiri, Ijaw and Isoko in the All Progressives Congress, APC in Delta State, have expressed outrage over the nomination of two Delta State ministerial nominees from the same Central Senatorial District and urged President Bola Tinubu to redress what they described as unjustifiable marginalization of the Delta South.

Besides the Delta South leaders, some political actors in Delta North are also expressing outrage over the two nominations from the Central.

The leaders in a petition styled as APC Delta State 3is Forum in the petition dated August 4, 2023 alleged that Delta South has been left out of the federal cabinet since 2015.

The group in the petition co-authored by three co-chairmen from the three ethnic groups Chief Lucky J. Esigie, JP​, Isoko; Amb Felix Datuowei, Ijaw and Mr Evans Omatsoguwa, Itsekiri wrote:

THE EQUITABLE PRINCIPLE OF ZONING TOTALLY DISREGARDED IN DELTA STATE!!

Your Excellency, there are three senatorial districts in Delta State as in every state. From 2015-2019, Delta North senatorial district produced the minister with Dr Ibe Kachikwu as Minister of State for Petroleum. From 2019-2023, Delta central senatorial district produced the minister with Mr Festus Keyamo (SAN) as Minister of State for Labour and Employment.

The requirement of fair representation in government, from the federal to the state, is enshrined in Section 14(3) of the Constitution and the zoning practice of our party. As a reminder, the section provides as follows:

14(3) The composition of the Government of the Federation or any of its agencies and the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in such a manner as to reflect the federal character of Nigeria and the need to promote national unity, and also to command national loyalty, thereby ensuring that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few State or from a few ethnic or other sectional groups in that Government or in any of its agencies.

(4) The composition of the Government of a State, a local government council, or any of the agencies of such Government or council, and the conduct of the affairs of the Government or council or such agencies shall be carried out in such manner as to recognise the diversity of the people within its area of authority and the need to promote a sense of belonging and loyalty among all the people of the Federation.

 The two ministerial nominees from Delta State are :

(1) Hon Stella Okotete – Delta central

(2) Festus kayemo (SAN)- Delta central.

Your Excellency, Sir, the two Delta State ministerial nominees are from the Central Senatorial District as well as the State Party Chairman and Governorship candidate. You can still act to redress the UNJUSTIFIABLE marginalisation of Delta South.

The petition was also signed by Dr Ogaga Ifowodo, Prof. Moses Adagbabiri (Secretary)​ Barr. Wilson Alatsha, Mr Tony Osauzo​, Hon. Ebiakpor Ezebri, Bishop Victor Omunu, Rear Adm. John Kpokpogri (rtd)​, Chief Augustine Seibi and Mr Charles Omadeli.

The petition was also signed by Elder Jonathan Ugu, Engr. Jude Ebikefe​​​  Mr Omatsoguwa, T. U. Ereku,   Elder Emmanuel Adoluaji,​  Mr Oroupade Akpomelade​​ and Hon Omatseye Akatakpo.

Meanwhile, a Delta North political leader reacting to the development told GWG.ng “this thing should not be allowed to go like that. It is unfair for the two nominees to come from the same local government,” he said on the ministerial nominations from the Delta Central District.

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