Political leaders of the Delta Central Senatorial District have started to soft pedal on power shift to Delta North Senatorial District of the state.
Prior to this development, the race to succeed Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan next year had assumed a battle royale among the three senatorial districts of the state.
The two mouth-piece of the largely populated district – the Urhobo Political Forum and Urhobo Political Congress – at the weekend in a separate remarks expressed preference to support power shift to Anioma ethnic nationality, comprising the Ibo speaking axis of the state.
The pressure groups categorically rejected the choice of an Ika man succeeding Governor Uduaghan next year.
The leadership of the groups, led by the Senior Political Adviser to Governor Uduaghan, Chief Ighoyota Amori, a staunch loyalist of the former Governor James Ibori, and the Commissioner representing Delta State on the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Sir Tom Amioku, also Ibori’s man, gave reasons why an Ndokwa man must succeed Uduaghan next year against all odds from Ika axis of Delta North Senatorial District.
In the Ika axis of the state alone, no fewer than five aspirants, including Senator Ifeanyi Okowa; the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Dr. Festus Okubor; former Acting Governor of the state, Hon. Sam Obi; and the Permanent Secretary, Government House, Asaba, Anthony Obuh, have declared interest.
Receiving a Peoples Democratic Party governorship aspirant, Chief Johnson-Ossai-Opone, at Mosogar, Chief Amori said the Urhobos would back Delta North Senatorial District’s ambition if their candidate is from Ndokwa, compsiring Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal Constituency.
According to him, since Asaba has the state capital, which forms part of the old Benin Province, “it was only fair to concede the 2015 governorship to Ndokwa, which though is part of Delta North, but was originally in the old Delta Province.
“In the interest of equity and fairness, Ndokwa area that produces the bulk of the oil and gas in Delta North Senatorial District should be favoured, at least to give the area a sense of belonging.”
Speaking for UPC, Sir Amioku, who received Ossai-Opone at Egborode Community in Okpe Local Government Area, acknowledged that the Urhobos of Delta Central Senatorial District, were at home with Ndokwa because of several years of convivial relationship through inter-marriage, culture and language in the old Delta Province.
Chief Amioku said the UPC and indeed the Urhobos were encouraged by the quality governorship aspirants emerging from Ndokwa nation, even as he underscored the track records and pedigree of O ssai-Opone. However Ossai-Opone assured Delta Central Senatorial District stakeholders of his capability as a celebrated Chartered Accountant to give Delta State a well structured, sustainable and equitable development.
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