Delta 2023 Guber: Ijaw is yet endorsed anyone, INC President tells Omo-Agege

By Wealth Akonwie,

This is coming against the backdrop of a report, a few months ago, that leaders and stakeholders of Delta South have endorsed the governorship candidate of the PDP, Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori for the Mar 11 election.

The National President of the INC, Prof. Benjamin Okaba disclosed this when the Delta State APC Governorship Campaign Council led by the party’s Governorship flagbearer, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, visited INC leadership at the president’s country home in Kpakiama, Bomadi Local Government Area.

It would be recalled that sometime last year, a meeting of leaders and stakeholders from Delta South was held in Warri where it purportedly decided that the three ethnic nationalities of Isoko, Itsekiri and Ijaw have endorsed the PDP Governorship candidate for the Mar. 11 election.

But while addressing the APC Governorship Candidate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege in Kpakiama on Thursday, Feb. 16, the National President of the INC, Prof. Benjamin Okoba, dissociated the Ijaw nation from that decision, saying that if there is going to be any endorsement of Governorship candidate, it has to be done by him who is the head of all Ijaws worldwide.

“The INC deliberately constituted a political engagement committee to interface with all the political gladiators.

So, when people talk about endorsement here, and endorsement there, the Ijaw nation has not endorsed any governorship candidate.  If there is going to be any endorsement, I’m going to be the one to do that, the present oracle of the Ijaw nation. You can quote me.

“No governorship endorsement has been made, none. We shall endorse, but that will be after a proper examination of the persons involved”, he said.

Prof. Okaba who expressed joy for receiving the APC Governorship Candidate noted that although different presidential candidates have visited the INC, Omo-Agege happened to be the first governorship candidate to pay a visit to the Ijaw national body.

He thanked Omo-Agege for his in-depth knowledge of the problems and challenges facing the Ijaws, agreeing with the Senator that “one of the problems of the Ijaws is the Ijaw man.”

“Today, I feel so honoured. Yes, as President of the Ijaw National Congress, I have received presidential candidates.  Atiku visited, the Presidential Candidate of SDP visited, and Obi visited, but this is the first time a governorship candidate is stepping into this place. And it is very symbolic. I don’t intend to take it for granted.

“Today, just like you have said, we are moving into a new paradigm. We are changing the Ijaw narrative.  The issue of balkanization, marginalization, suffocation, and social exclusion – is unending.

“I thank you for recognizing the Ijaw institution. I also want to thank you for identifying the role we can play and that we shall play in defining our destiny in Delta State.

“Ijaw nation will never lament any more. We have decided to confront our challenges frontally. We have decided to embark on constructive engagement. That’s why we visited the President of this country and gave him decent conditions upon which the Ijaw nation would remain committed to the Nigerian project.

“You are very correct in the articulation of the problems we have in Ijaw land. You are also very correct that the greatest problem of the Ijaw man is an Ijaw man.  The selfishness of the Ijaw man, who because of crumbs and immediate gratification, has decided to sell both the conscience and soul of the Ijaw nation, has been our problem.  But a few of us have decided to stand tall to speak the truth to power”, Prof. Okaba said.

Before proceeding to a closed-door meeting with the governorship and a few members of the campaign train, Prof. Okaba stated that “when you talk about the social contract, we know the nitty gritty of the social contract. There are things we must hold you accountable for. There are certain things we must tell you, there is a certain commitment you must make to us.”

Earlier, Senator Omo-Agege had unveiled his reasons for offering himself to run for the governorship of the state, noting that the last eight years of PDP administration in the State under Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa have been marked with wastefulness and under-development.

He recalled that the state has received over N4.2 trillion from federal allocations, 13% derivation and IGR with nothing on ground commensurate with the receipts.

Omo-Agege identified the myriads of challenges affecting the Ijaw nation in the State including lack of basic infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, and roads and insecurity, adding that when he emerges as the governor of the state, he will give the Ijaw nation priority attention, especially when it is observed that they contribute so much to the wealth of the State.

He also promised to reactivate the moribund Burutu port to improve the economy of the Ijaw nation and create employment for the teeming qualified youths of the area.

Omo-Agege further pledged to come up with a bill for the House of Assembly to establish a campus of the University of Delta in Bomadi to address the dearth of tertiary educational institutions in the Ijaw nation of Delta State

In continuation of his interactive. visit to the leadership of ethnic nationalities in Delta South, Omo-Agege also met with the executives of the Isoko Development Union, IDU at the IDU headquarters at Oleh junction, on Thursday, February 16, 2023.

Addressing the executive of the Union and Presidents-generals of different community present, Senator Omo-Agege disclosed that he entered into the race to become the governor of the State because of the level of poverty and under-development occasioned by the misapplication of the resources of the state.

He noted that the Isoko nation has been contributing immensely to the wealth of the nation and Delta State, adding that they deserve the best in terms of development.

Omo-Agege disclosed to them that for the past seven and half years of the Okowa-led administration, over N4.2 trillion has come to the State by way of FAAC allocations, 13% derivation fund, IGR and other special releases from President Muhammadu to all the states.

He reminded them of the Ughelli-Asaba road which passes through the Isoko nation that has been abandoned by Gov. Okowa, adding that when he emerges as the governor, he would ensure he completes it.

According to him, he is feeling pained as the Isoko people, that with all the resources at the disposal of the Okowa-led administration, there is virtually nothing on ground anywhere in the State.

He also reminded the people that following the incessant borrowing in which governor Okowa had plunged the state to the tune of over N800 billion, every Deltan has become a debtor by implication.

Omo-Agege, therefore, urged the Isoko nation to vote for him to become the next governor so that he could transform the state to the status of the development that has taken place in Lagos State.

He also pleaded with the Isoko nation to vote for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the Saturday, February 25 election, so that he could establish a synergy with him to develop the Warri port, the Sapele Port, the Koko port and the Burutu port, adding that such development will not only impact positively on the economy of the state but generate employment for jobless Deltans.

The governorship flagbearer also called on the Isoko people to vote for Mr Joel Onowhakpo Thomas for the Delta South Senatorial seat as well as the APC candidate for the House of Representatives and the House of Assembly.

Responding, the President of the Isoko Development Union, Prof. Chris Akpotu, appreciated the visit of the APC Guber Candidate, adding that in a few day’s time, the IDU executive and other stakeholders would meet to deliberate on who they will vote for to become the next governor.

He however informed that the entire Isoko nation has endorsed the candidacy of Mr Joel Onowhakpo Thomas as the Senator to represent Delta South in the Senate.