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Tag: Governorship Election

  • 2023: I joined guber race to end era of misrule – Abia cleric

    2023: I joined guber race to end era of misrule – Abia cleric

    Bishop Sunday Onuoha of the Methodist Church Nigeria has formally declared his intention to contest the Abia governorship election in 2023.

    Addressing newsmen on his aspiration on Friday in Umuahia, Onuoha, who was not known to belong to any political party, said he would run on the platform of the African Democratic Congress.

    He said that he was inspired to join the race by a burning desire to put an end to the over two decades of misgovernance by politicians in the state.

    The cleric also said he resolved to venture into the fray after holding wide consultations with critical stakeholders within and outside the state.

    He said that he was first approached by a non-governmental organisation (NGO), called Cleanse and Clean Abia Group, which made a passionate appeal to him to join the race in order to help redeem the state.

    “I have consulted widely and found out that Abia people want a change,” he said.

    He further said that after he succumbed to persuasions from the NGO and other stakeholders, a group of friends contributed money and purchased the expression of interest and nomination forms for him.

    Onuoha said: “I assure you that I will not take your support for granted.

    “Your call for me to contest will not be wasted.

    “I’m that governor Abia people have been praying and waiting for.”

    According to him, by his experience in business, administration and ministry as a bishop, he possesses the requisite background to take Abia to the desired destination, if elected.

    Onuoha enumerated 11 key areas of his manifesto which, he said, would impact on all the sectors of the state.

    He listed them to include security and social welfare, digital economy and information technology transformation as well as transparency and accountability.

    Others are job creation, youth and women empowerment, agriculture and rural development.

    The rest include education for sustainable development, basic health for all, trade and commerce and faith community for development, amongst others.

    The clergyman, who is famous for criticising bad governance, decried the political recruitment process in the state.

    He contended that the process contributed largely to the gross underdevelopment of the state under successive administrations.

    He argued that the process had continued to throw up “unprepared and ill-equipped persons” to political leadership positions in the state.

    He also spoke on the current agitation by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, insecurity and sit-at-home order in the South-East.

    Onuoha attributed the spate of insecurity and sit-at-home order by the separatist group to the continued detention and trial of its Leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

    He, therefore, urged the Federal Government to adopt a political solution to solve the problem in order to restore security, peace and economic prosperity to the area.

  • Rt. Hon. Oborevwori is still standing tall – By Olomu Onyiye

    Rt. Hon. Oborevwori is still standing tall – By Olomu Onyiye

    By Olomu Onyiye

    Eventually, I’ve been exonerated. Its really quite comforting that all my predilections on Mr Speaker have been justified.

    I doubt if any other aspirant (aside Gov Okowa, during the PDP Primaries of 2014) has experienced such levels of bile & vilification in any Party Primaries,like the Rt.Hon Oborevwori.

    The Speaker’s ravenous, intractable & inconsolable detractors, have actually not spared anyone.Not even some of us who dared to tell them that the saying that:nobody’s candle has ever shone brighter when another’s was put out, still holds true.

    I’m still trying to decipher the factors that must have given Rt.Hon Oborevwori such grit & then goodwill amidst the cacophony of accusations & lies that reeled out daily from the demonic chaudrons of his detractors.

    I may have found one.

    Unlike his major opponents, Rt. Hon Oborevwori has remained constant as the Northern Star; he has choosen rather to deflect the fallacious hauls of enemies on his personality & career with the superior emblem of truth.

    While his opponents have suddenly & curiously began to adorn the garb of humility & self- effacement, pretending to now associate or frolick with the same masses that they scorned in the past, Mr Speaker has remained ever true to himself.

    At least, he has showed himself to belong to a tougher stock by weathering the storms & surmounting the political exigencie trailblazersaren’t which invariably, are making some of his major opponents toHa’s be desperate, panicky, phony, manipulative & double-faced.

    Mr Oborevwori has largely remained that humble & unassuming ‘ Warri Boy’, with a relatively checkered beginning that never deterred him from transcending & carving niches for himself among the nobles & the economic & political trailblazers of the time.

    Such strength of character is very rare in our political turf & among our new-generation politicians,so I’ve chosen to commend him for remaining a beacon of hope in awhat political environment mired by inconsistencies.

    I sincerely believe that come the 25th of May, 2022,that he, Rt.Hon Oborevwori,will have a glorious day with history. This is because both God & men have the usual proclivity of always rewarding the faithful.

  • Dangers of recycling old politicians in Delta – By Don Okoro

    Dangers of recycling old politicians in Delta – By Don Okoro

    By Don Peter Okoro

    Delta State gears towards another round of the election, it is pertinent to sound a note of warning to all Stakeholders to be wary of regrouping worn-out politicians for the Gubernatorial election.

    Most of these obsolete Politicians have nothing to show for the long period they have been in Government. Before we take a look at some of the old hands presently jostling for the Delta State Governorship position, let us take a good look at Delta State and how the State came about, for the benefit of those who may not know.

    Delta State is located in the South-South Geopolitical Zone of Nigeria. It used to be part of the Midwest Region (1963–1976) and Bendel State (1976—1991) when it was created on the 27th of August that year, with its capital at Asaba, under the regime of Gen. Ibrahim Babaginda. It has an area of 18,698km2.

    Delta State is well known as one of the highest producers of crude oil and natural gas in the country. Delta State has an estimated population of about 4.2 million people.

    The Urhobos are the major tribe in Delta State. Other ethnic tribes include Itshekiri, Ijaw, Isoko and Anioma. Delta State started with 12 Local Government Areas which was later split into 19 and presently has 25 LGAs.

    Apart from crude oil and natural gas, Delta is equally blessed with the following Natural Resources: Industrial Clay, Silica, Lignite, Kaoline, Tar Sand, Decorative Rock, Limestone, etc. These are raw materials for Industries like brick making, ceramics, bottle manufacturing, glassmaking, chalk Manufacturing, sanitary wares, decorative materials, beads making and so on.

    The slogan is: *The Big Heart.* Back to our subject matter: as the Big Heart prepares to elect a new Leader to pilot the affairs of the State for another four years, Deltans should not make the mistake of recycling their expired and tired hands. There should be a paradigm shift. The search now should be for fresh hands, preferably Technocrats who are abreast of modern trends.

    Unfortunately, most of those jostling for the Governorship position are the same old brigades that have been sucking the State dry like parasites. Deltans must resist them this time around.

    Let us take a look at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) where most of these old brigades are domiciled. As has been widely published, some Aspirants have been cleared by the Screening Committee to participate in the forthcoming Delta State PDP Primary election.

    A cursory look at the names shows that the list is made up of mainly ex this and ex that. At this point in the life of Delta State, expired elements should not be entrusted with the reins of Government unless we are ready to go backwards instead of forward.

    the PDP Aspirants that have been cleared are those having cases of corrupt practices of purchasing official cars at inflated prices. Those who have been in Government since 1996 as Councilors SSA and SA a countless number of times without any results.

    Those who have been Ministers and used their positions to amass Ill-gotten wealth with their children molesting female members of staff. Among these tired and expired politicians are those who should have no business contesting because it is not the turn of their Senatorial District to produce the Governor, meanwhile, they have spent a lifetime in the Senate with nothing to show. Deltans should have nothing to do with all these men who belong to the old order…There is a yearning by the people of Delta for a new beginning and only a Fresh Mind can Birth this Dream.

    The Fathers of the State starting from Chief James Onanefe Ibori, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, and Dr. Arthur Okowa have all done their best and laid a solid foundation for the emergence of a Great and New Delta.

    It is incumbent upon us as True Sons and Daughters of the land to take advantage of this lifetime opportunity and manifest. Now is the time for Delta to get it right. A young and vibrant Technocrat is what Delta needs, not an obsolete and expired politician.

  • Alleged N50bn diversion: I’m ready for probe – APC governorship aspirant

    Alleged N50bn diversion: I’m ready for probe – APC governorship aspirant

    Dr Azeez Adeduntan, an All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Oyo State, says he is ready for probe over alleged diversion of N50 billion state Health Endowment Fund during the last administration.

    Adeduntan, a former Commissioner for Health, under the late Gov. Abiola Ajimobi, made the declaration in Ibadan, while declaring his intention to contest the governorship seat on the platform of APC.

    He was reacting to a recent allegation by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that the N50 billion was diverted from the state’s coffer by the Ajimobi-led administration.

    The governorship aspirant, however, cautioned the PDP from making frivolous allegations.

    According to him, I am ready for probe by the Gov. Seyi Makinde-led administration over alleged diversion of the fund.

    Adeduntan said the N50 billion was just the target of the administration, adding that they realised below N100 million from the fund.

    “Less than N100 million was realised in spite of the pledges made during the endowment fund. The money realised was expended on some dilapidated hospitals.

    “The late Gov. Ajimobi ensured that the money realised was managed by a Board of Trustees led by renowned late Prof. Oladipupo Akinkugbe; Prof. Daud Noibi; Bishop Ayo Ladigbolu and some other prominent personalities.

    “These people were carefully selected and untainted in their various careers. It will be a wild goose chase, barren and futile exercise,” he said.

    The aspirant said he remained the best aspirant in the party to wrestle power from Makinde in 2023.

    The governorship aspirant unveiled his seven points agenda to transform the state, if elected.

    Among the agenda were security of lives and property, health, education, youths employment, infrastructure, farming, as well as social welfare for the aged and unemployed.

    Adeduntan, a Cardiovascular Surgeon of International repute, appealed to the party delegates in the state to give him the mandate to fly the party’s flag in the 2023 governorship election.

    He promised to bring his private and public sector experiences to bear.

    The APC governorship primaries would hold on May 20.

  • 2023: I have not endorsed anyone for governor – Okowa

    2023: I have not endorsed anyone for governor – Okowa

    Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta on Thursday says he has not endorsed any aspirant for the governorship or any other position for the 2023 general election.

    The governor who disclosed this during the quarterly media interactions in Asaba, said though, politicians were using his name to campaign but the fact remains that he had not endorsed anyone.

    According to him, a level playing ground will be provided for all aspirants to contest without hitches.

    He said that with the three delegates per ward and other statutory delegates, it would be difficult for anyone including himself to hijack the process.

    On his presidential ambition, Okowa, said that he has not been led to run.

    “As a politician, “I am calculative, besides, as a member of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the windows for nomination has closed.”

    He noted that the state government was committed to completing all current and ongoing projects.

    Okowa said that efforts were on to secure funds to address all the projects to hedge against inflation and continuous review of contracts due to rising costs.

    He disclosed that the government recently applied for a bridging fund of N150 billion through the state House of Assembly to address issues of funding projects.

    Okowa said that all projects to be executed and paid for with the funds were clearly itemised, adding that it would address issues of inflation and contract review due to rising cost of materials in the country.

    According to him, the bridging fund is not a loan, it is a part of the N170 billion owed the state government by the Federal Government due from over deductions for the 13 per cent oil revenue derivations.

    He said that the Federal Government had agreed to pay the funds in tranches on quarterly remittal starting from this April for a period of five years.

    “Like other eight states that benefited from the funds, we decided to take a bridging finance to hedge against inflation.

    “It is only a smart economic sense to get the finance and finish ongoing projects, it is called bridging finance because the money already is owed to us by the Federal Government.

    “I do not have apologies to people who do not understand and talk ignorantly because we are not taking a fresh loan, we are transparent about it as proceed will be used for settlement of listed ongoing projects and part of pension arrears.

    “If we do not attend to the projects now, there will be an upward review due to escalation of prices, this is what I really want to avoid,” he said.

    Okowa, reacting to a statement credited to Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege, on his administration spending of over N2 billion on political thugs, he cautioned politicians to always speak the truth.

    He said that the total amount paid to all his aide was nowhere near one billion Naira adding that politicians must not hide under politics to tell the people what is not true.

    The governor said that such high ranking politician and others should rather collaborate with government to seek the good of people of the state.

    “Is Asaba and Okpanam no longer part of Delta North with the massive development done in the area that they alleged there is nothing to show?

    “People should truly speak the truth and not to obviously lie because of politics,” Okowa said.

    He said that his administration would not be distracted, adding that it is committed to delivering developmental projects till the last day in office.

    Earlier in his remarks, the Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, noted that journalists in the state had been very supportive in propagating the policies and programmes of the state government.

    Aniagwu urged them to sustain the partnership.

    Also, the Chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Delta State Council, Comrade Michael Ikeogwu, expressed appreciation to Okowa for his media friendly disposition.

    He said that journalists in the state were very happy that the state government had done well in the secretariat of the union in the state.

  • 2023: Frank Nweke Jr cleared to contest APGA guber ticket

    2023: Frank Nweke Jr cleared to contest APGA guber ticket

    Former Minister of Information, Mr Frank Nnaemaka Nweke Jr has been cleared to contest for the gubernatorial ticket of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Enugu State.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports this was contained in an official statement signed and released by Sly Ezeokenwa, Secretary, Screening Committee 2022.

    The development was sequel to clearance from the Presidential and Governorship Screening Committee, duly appointed by the National Working Committee of the party, following the screening of prospective aspirants – pursuant to the provisions of Paragraph 16 (3), Chapter 3 of the APGA Electoral Guidelines for the 2022 Primary Election.

    Nweke, in his declarative statement in April 2022 had said if he emerged as governor, his administration would transform Enugu State into a foreign industrial hub.

    He served as Chief of Staff to former Governor Chimaroke Nnamani and was later appointed the Minister of Youth, Minister of Information, and later the Minister of Information and Communications, during the second term of President Olusegun Obasanjo (2003–2007).

    Meanwhile, the statement listed other aspirants ‘cleared’ to include; Umeadi Peter Nnanna Chukwudi (Presidential screening), Udensi Chikwendu Ukaobasi (Governorship screening – Abia State), Ijioma Nwokoro Ijioma (Abia), and Ibe Gregory Ikechukwu (Abia).

    Others are Waya Joseph (Benue), Akaa Priscilla Denen (Benue), Odoh Benard Ifeanyi (Ebonyi), Ozoemena Obi Donatus Madubuike (Enugu), Nnamani Emeka (Enugu), Udeh Donatus Ofobuikem (Enugu), Ombugaku Mathew Avre (Nasarawa State).

    TNG reports Uwa Etigwe SAN was listed as ‘Uncleared.’

  • David Edevbie as UPU choice for Governor – By Obaro Ikibe

    David Edevbie as UPU choice for Governor – By Obaro Ikibe

    By Sir Obaro Ikibe

    When a man driven by passion and impeccable commitment to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people steps into the foray of politics, he sends jittery into the spines of mediocres and joy into the hearts of the people. Though some political renegades may devise devilish means to discredit his visions and missions to the service of the people, the people not only pray and support his ambition, they stick their neck to see that such ambitions are realised. I dare say that since Olorogun David Edevbie heeded the call by well-intentioned Deltans to contest for the Governorship position of Delta State in the forthcoming elections, some political camps in the state with desperate ambitions have not been comfortable. They are not only frightened by his towering and intimidating pedigree in public service but afraid of the overwhelming supports he has got from the length and breadth of the state.

    The recent public endorsement of Olorogun David Edevbie as the CHOICE of the Urhobo in the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) by the UPU, the oldest socio-cultural organisation in Africa is a further testimony to his general acceptance by the entire Urhobo nation. Since the PDP governorship primary is not an exclusive Urhobo affair, UPU has by this move demonstrated that there is the need for the Urhobo people to produce a unified candidate in the forthcoming governorship elections in the state. This move is borne out of the genuine desire to put Urhobo in a strong standing to contest and win the PDP ticket at the primaries. This is not the time for the Urhobo to play into the hands of those who do not wish them well. How does one explain the Urhobos going into a party primary with over ten aspirants against another ethnic group projecting just three?

    However, instead of applause and commendation to the UPU heroic move, we read with both constellation and disgust some of the negative commentaries trailing the heroic endorsement of Chief David Edevbie by the UPU in both the social and print media. The bizarre of them all is the outlandish display of ‘low-self-esteem’ by the eight LGA chairmen of Delta Central who, acting on an orchestrated script by Okowa, danced naked under the rain. I bet you, by this move, others would be watching the Urhobos with an enthusiastic curiosity.

    What UPU has done is to show a direction for the Urhobo in the face of obvious disequilibrium among the political players from Delta Central. With the plethora of aspirants from Delta Central, many of whom are sponsored by Okowa to cause disunity among the Urhobos, the Urhobos must device a means to avoid disgrace at the PDP primaries. At the last count, ten aspirants from Delta Central have bought forms for the governorship race and three from Delta South. Should they go to the primaries with this number, the Urhobos would have unknowingly perfected Okowa’s hidden agenda to handover the PDP ticket to an Ijaw candidate with Mrs Joan Oyemechi Mrakpor as deputy to spite the Urhobos.

    The precarious position the Urhobo currently find themselves in Delta State is the selfish and unpatriotic anglings of the Urhobo political class. In this current political quagmire where the politicians no longer think of the Urhobo collective aspiration but self-interest what has the political class done to reduce the numbers of aspirants to present a strong and united front at the forthcoming primaries? If the political class have failed in this regard shouldn’t the UPU, the umbrella body of the entire Urhobo worldwide steps into the arena to create equilibrium? How can one entrust the Urhobo destiny to an Urhobo political class who eat today that tomorrow may die? A political class that has stooped so low because of party politics to say: “anywhere Okowa go, we go!”

    Besides, none of the media comments that trailed the UPU endorsement of Chief David Edevbie ever said anything about his capacity and visions for the overall development of Delta State and compare same with other Urhobo aspirants. It should be well stated here that of all the Urhobo aspirants who went through the DC-23screening which pruned down the aspirants to three and finally the UPU screening that settled on Olorogun David Edevbie, there is none more qualified than him. UPU should therefore be commended for being meticulous. Olorogun David Edevbie is a man with integrity, a young Urhobo patriot who has got the political endorsement of the entire citizens of Delta state to contest for the governorship post of the state. His track records as Commissioner for Finance and Economic Panning in the Ibori administration and as Principal Secretary to the late President Umaru Yar’Adua and as Commissioner for Finance and Chief of Staff to Governor Okowa are there for all to see. Emu oyoyovwi shẹ oma rọye (Good product advertises itself) an Urhobo proverb says. If for nothing, the Amnesty Programme and the Ministry of Niger Delta which he initiated in the Yar’Adua’s administration are enough for the entire Urhobo nation and indeed Deltans to support his ambition to govern the state. It should be well sounded here that no matter the tactics of some irresponsible Urhobo political opportunists to drag him down, the desire of the people of Delta state to choose a leader who will re-invent and advance their collective aspirations cannot be trampled upon.

    Moreover, the belief that the person who will become the governor of Delta state in the 2023 election will be determined solely by the incumbent governor alone is erroneous. The role of the people in choosing their leaders should not be downplayed. The people of Delta state are in dire need of a detribalise leader, one who has the plight of the people at heart, one who will use power in a manner that it brings happiness to the populace, one with a vision to build on the legacy of his predecessors and one with efficient organisational skills and positive attitudes towards the upliftment of the standard of living of the people. This is therefore a clarion call to all delegates to put Delta first in their choice for a governorship candidate in the forthcoming primaries.

    Sir Obaro Ikibe, writes from Ughelli

  • 2023: PDP screens 29 governorship aspirants from South-East

    2023: PDP screens 29 governorship aspirants from South-East

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Thursday screened 29 governorship aspirants from the three states of the South-East region for the 2023 general elections.

    The aspirants were three from Abia, 10 from Ebonyi and 16 from Enugu.

    Though the committee did not address newsmen after the screening, some of the aspirant who spoke lauded the process.

    An aspirant from Enugu, Mr Josef Onoh, expressed satisfaction over the exercise, saying it was smooth and good.

    Onoh said he had submitted all the necessary documents and hoped to participate during the party’s primary election.

    Another aspirant, Sen. Obinna Ogba, representing Ebonyi Central Senatorial District, said he had submitted all that was required, adding that it was a hitch free exercise.

    “It did not take me up to two minutes to do mine,” he said.

    Briefing them, the Secretary of PDP South-East, Mr James Ugwu, said, “We invited them to brief them on how to do their campaigns without undermining and castigating anyone.

    “The party expected them to tell people their manifestos and programmes and if we discover that anybody among them is busy running anyone down, the zone will definitely take action against the person,” Ugwu said.

  • 2023: AGF Malami set to contest Kebbi governorship election

    2023: AGF Malami set to contest Kebbi governorship election

    The Minister of Justice and Attorney -General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, SAN says he has accepted calls from the Kebbi people to run for the state governorship.

    Malami will be running on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    He made the acceptance in Birnin Kebbi on Thursday, at an interactive session with APC stakeholders in the state.

    “Since you want me to contest governorship position of the state, I hereby accept your demand since you want me to do so.

    “People from the state have been pressurising me to contest the governorship position in 2023.

    “Going by my proper upbringing as son of an Islamic teacher, I will not show interest to contest for any position or judge myself qualify for any position except the people of the state want me to.

    “I have contributed a lot to the country and also to the state in areas of employment generation, fight against poverty, agricultural revolution and women empowerment,’’ he said.

    “We pray for Allah’s guidance and assistance and may the answer to your demands be the continuous development of the state,’’ he said.

    Gov. Atiku Bagudu urged party leaders not to relent in pursuing a resolution to bring aggrieved members back into the APC fold.

    Bagudu called on the youths to emulate the humility of Malami as a son of Islamic teacher.

    “May Allah bless Malami, and we thank Almighty Allah for your contributions to the people of the state as an upright person, we will continue to pray for you,” he said.

    Malami’s associates have contributed N130 million to support his gubernatorial ambition.

    The contributions are as follows – women supporters in the state, N30 million; Malami Women Support Initiative, N20 million; and the association of serving councillors of 225 wards in the state, N25 million.

    Other are the association of former members of the State House of Assembly – N5 million and friends and associates of Malami, N50 million.

  • 2023 Delta governorship and Urhobo King’s intervention – By Anthony Oru

    2023 Delta governorship and Urhobo King’s intervention – By Anthony Oru

    By Prince Anthony Vewhan Oru

    It is appropriate to begin this intervention by thanking the Ukoko R’ Ivie R’ Urhobo which is the Urhobo Traditional Rulers Forum for the commendable roles it has played in stabilizing the Urhobo nation in the last ten years or so. Kingship is divine and spiritual and other mortals are duty bound to heed the counsel of the king. By their sheer approximation of divinity, kings belong to a realm that is almost sacerdotal. They are actually king-priests who mediate among the gods, spirits and men. The level of veneration that goes with kingship enabled the Urhobo to say “evwie ovie ga” interpreted to mean a king is born to be served. It is in realization of the role of the kings that they have had to of necessity intervene in the affairs of the Urhobo nation at critical points and turns. One of the instances of their most recent intervention was the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) leadership crisis orchestrated by Chief Joe Omene of Mosogar. For some years, Omene was bent on ridiculing the UPU, but the majority of the Urhobo people who abhor deviant behaviours rejected Omene’s disreputable antics. The kings under the auspices of Ukoko R’ Ivie R’ Urhobo had to intervene as the real custodian of the essence of the Urhobo ideal. The kings acted in one accord and removed Omene. The kings then worked with different stakeholders and brought on board a new leadership under Chief Moses Taiga. The rest they say is history.

    History and exigency are once again beckoning on Urhobo kings to intervene in the ongoing process aimed at producing a Delta State Governor of Delta Central (Urhobo) extraction. The word is out and settled that it is the turn of the Urhobo to produce the next Governor of the State going by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rotational cum zoning arrangement. The Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) has acted within its mandate of projecting and protecting Urhobo interest by endorsing a world class technocrat-politician in the person of Olorogun David Edevbie as the Urhobo choice on the PDP platform. Laudable and well received as the UPU choice is, some mischievous Urhobo politicians have chosen to fight the UPU and asking it to reverse itself. This act which borders on taboo is largely perpetrated by the eight Local Government Chairmen of Delta Central, a group that calls itself Delta Central PDP leaders and elders and one disgruntled element who parades himself the UPU National Legal Adviser.

    This intervention is a clarion call to our kings to rally round the UPU’s choice and call the deviants disclaiming UPU’s action to order. If those opposing and castigating the UPU will not respect what Urhobo stands for, they should at least listen to our kings in their position as divine and spiritual heads of the Urhobo nation. That is why it has become compelling for the kings to come together now and reaffirm the position of the UPU the way they did in rescuing the organization some five years ago. The time is now for the kings to call these politicians expressing dissenting views to order. They must not be allowed to derail the Urhobo nation. The UPU has spoken and that should be taken as URHOBOTANURE. No more, no less.

    Our kings have been working day and night visiting their counterparts from other ethnic nationalities and building alliances to evolve a consensus and support for a Delta State Governor of Urhobo extraction come 2023. The efforts of our kings must not be in vain. The efforts of our kings must bring out the best in Urhobo. Our kings have had an excellent working relationship with the UPU these five years. That relationship must be consolidated now in the best interest of the Urhobo nation and Delta State. Besides working with the UPU our kings have shown themselves as worthy stakeholders in the Urhobo Governorship project. Our kings have traversed the length and breadth of Delta State in trying to build a consensus on the issue. What is left for our kings to do is to intervene by throwing their weight behind the UPU endorsement of David Edevbie. The dissenters trying to disorganize the Urhobo nation by countering the UPU all come from different kingdoms. The kings should call them home and caution them to retrace their steps or face severe consequences.

    In the countdown to the turn of Delta North to produce the Delta State Governor in 2015, the kings from Delta North led by the respected Asagba of Asaba had to at a point lead the charge insisting that they wanted Senator Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa. The Anioma Congress also endorsed Senator Okowa as the choice of Delta North for Governor. This is what the UPU has done and it is time for the kings to do same thing and let Urhobo work together and look forward to 2023 as one indivisible entity.

    Our revered kings should act now in the best interest of the Urhobo nation. The dissenting voices have an agenda scripted by paymasters who are definitely not Urhobo. They should be told that the Urhobo should be allowed to choose for themselves whom they deem fit the way Anioma/Delta North did in 2014. Our case cannot be different. Those who disregard the UPU and our kings should be ready to contend with curses. Yes, the time to invoke curses is near for those who want to sell Urhobo and destroy our chances. The time for our kings to act is now.

    Ijuwe Ijuwe Ijuwe ….we suton !!!