By Omoghene Benedict,
… Sue For Peace, Unity Among Delta Central Politicians
A Social Political Group in Delta Central has condemned a purported recent publication on social media alleging that the former governor of Delta State, Chief James Onanefe Ibori has endorsed Olorogun David Edevbie as the governorship candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party in 2023.
The group in a statement urged the need for Delta Central politicians to be united and fight for a United Urhobo nation.
According to the group, “Someone with malicious intent alleged on the social media that” Amori kicked against Chief James Onanefe Ibori projecting Chief of Staff to Delta State Governor, Olorogun David Edevbie for governor come 2023 because he’s not a politician” a publication aimed to destroy the existing cordial relationship in Delta Central.
“The writer and his paymasters have a well orchestrated plot to diminish, denigrate and disparage the person of Chief James Onanefe Ibori hence they launched an unwarranted attack on the former governor.
“Not only is the write-up misleading, but it was well timed attempt to throw a wedge into the political career of a man, Olorogun David Edevbie who by the divine grace of Almighty God is destined to make history and take Delta State to a level of international prominence.
In pristine African culture, the preservation and respect of individuality is the root of everything good. The commentary is politically motivated and smacks of cheap blackmail.
It could be recalled that at a stakeholders meeting of the PDP held recently at the country home of Chief James Ibori in Oghara, Ethiope West Local Government Area of the state, Chief Ibori appealed to other senatorial districts mostly the Ijaws in Delta South to allow Urhobo to produce the next PDP governor in 2023.
It was learnt that the appeal to other PDP senatorial leaders became important following a perceived gang-up between the North and South Senatorial District against Central to shift power to another ethnic nationality from the Delta South.
Ibori, who pleaded with other Senatorial Districts to support Delta Central come 2023 never made mention of Olorogun David Edevbie as the candidate to be supported in his speech or otherwise.
In that meeting were Prof Sam Oyovbaire, Chief Ighoyota Amori, Rt. Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, Chief A.P Fovie, Chief Emmanuel Okumagba, and other top Urhobo politicians that also spoke to other senatorial districts to allow Delta Central to produce the next governor after the completion of Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa’s second tenure.
During the commissioning of the ultra modern palace of HRM Ogurimerime at Isiokolo, Ethiope East, Chief Ibori said, “I wish to advise us to step down all political and electioneering activities until the time is ripe”Its not yet time for electioneering advocacy.
Chief Ibori maintained that “Heating the polity at this time will distract good governance of governor Ifeanyi Okowa, hence we must be calm and allow our governor to concentrate on the attainment of policies and programmes lined up for his second tenure.
The misguided writer started his onslaught on the amiable Chief of Staff with the virtuoso of an angry man, accusing the former governor as though he has had a personal epic battle with him.
The claims that Olorogun Edevbie is not a politician is a wretched falsity.
Edevbie has been on the political scene since 1999. He was Commissioner for Finance during Chief James Onanefe Ibori administration and he resigned towards the end of the second tenure to return to the private sector.
He later became the Director of Finance and Admin PDP Presidential campaign in 2007 that produced Yar Adua/ Goodluck Jonathan as President and vice president respectively.
He became Principal Secretary to President Yar Adua in June 2007, a position he held for three years. He took a break from politics for four years to build his private business and return to join the Governorship race in 2014.
In 2015, he came 2nd in the primaries in which he contested with Dr Ifeanyi Okowa and other aspirants , which later produced Governor Okowa and he was appointed again as Commissioner for Finance. He brought stability to the state economy. And by special grace of God, he is now the Chief of Staff to Delta state Governor. Who else could be called a politician other than this.
The group asserted that who becomes governor should be a matter of competency and ability to deliver dividends of democracy.
Olorogun David Edevbie did not only win his unit in the last general election, he won all the polling units in Afiesere Community and the entire Ward with a very wide margin. So the writer misfired because those who sent him to do this evil deed have pathological hatred for Chief James Onanefe Ibori.
Chief James Onanefe Ibori is a man who has put the Urhobo nation in the path of honor in our country and we implore the writer and his sponsors to join hands to build a stronger Urhobo nation.
They should sow the seed of unity in Urhobo nation and join hands with Chief Ibori and other leaders within the PDP to achieve the set goal of 2023.
