By Sunday Apah
The monarch of Warri Kingdom, HRM Omoba Utieyinoritsetsola Emiko, Ogiame Atuwatse III, has prayed for the Delta Central 2023 (DC-23) lobby group process to produce the PDP governorship candidate that would bring more development to Delta State.
The monarch who made the prayer when leaders and members of the group paid consultation visit to his palace in Warri, Delta State, said that his sincere prayer was for the process that DC-23 was undertaking to produce a candidate that would eventually emerge the governor of the state in 2023.
He prayed further for God to take absolute control of that process to ensure that it would be rancour free.
According to him, “I pray for all of you that will participate in that process, to ensure that it produces the best because Delta state deserves the best.”
“It is our prayer that when that decision time comes, you will close your eyes against any sentiment that will corrupt that process and you will all speak with one voice,” he added.
“I am highly impressed with your show of unity today and I pray that when the time comes, you will match that show of unity with more commitments, if not surpass it,” the monarch said.
“On our part as a nation, we will also meet and come up with our collective decision and resolution to supplement, compliment and contribute to the development of Delta state,” he added.
Earlier, the National Chairman of DC-23, Senator (Chief) Ighoyota Amori, stated that the body was a lobby group made up of card carrying members of the PDP in the Delta Central Senatorial District to lobby support for the governorship seat for the district in 2023.
He noted that the DC-23 was not different from the G-3 of the Delta South Senatorial District that was formed to drive the process of election of the immediate past governor of the state, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, and the Anioma Agenda that was formed in 2014 to propel the process of election of the current governor of the state, Senator (Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa.
According to him, “those who want to contest against the aspirants of Delta Central Senatorial District have their argument for the governorship seat, likewise us, but we can’t talk of zoning on ethnic lines because the state is made up of various ethnic groups like Urhobo, Ijaw, Itsekiri, Isoko, Ika, Ndokwa, Oshimili, Aniocha and few others; hence, the appeal from us to maintain the zoning arrangement on the basis of senatorial districts in the state.”
“We want to establish a sustainable system where when it gets to the turn of your senatorial district, no one from other senatorial districts will contest against the benefitting district. So, the argument that Urhobo or other ethnic groups contested during the turn of other senatorial districts will no longer be there”, he added.
He pointed out that the DC-23 was not lobbying or campaigning for any particular aspirant, but to ensure that the governorship seat moved to the Delta Central Senatorial District in 2023 on the platform of the existing zoning for the seat in the state.
He appealed to the Itsekiri monarch, the palace chiefs and political class present during the visit for prayers and support for the DC-23 push for zoning arrangement on senatorial districts to enhance the chances of the PDP continuing in the governance of the state beyond 2023.
Top among leaders and members of DC-23 that went for the visit included Chief Ighoyota Amori, Olorogun Solomon Ighrakpata, Deputy National Chairman; Dr. Chris Oharisi, National Secretary; Chief Christian Onogba, Assistant National Organising Secretary; Hon. (Chief) Sunday Apah, Assistant National Publicity Secretary; Mr. Austin Opubor, National Welfare Officer; Mrs. Philomena Ededey, Assistant National Welfare Officer; Engr. Matthew Tsekiri, Assistant National Secretary; Deacon Raymond Edijala, Assistant National Treasurer; Hon. Elohor Urhobe, Assistant National Women Leader; Hon. Best Okoromadu, Assistant National Women Leader; Chief Anthony Akpomiemie, National Auditor and Chief George Osikorobia, Assistant National Auditor.
Others were Rt. Hon Lovette Idisi, former member of House Representatives; Chief Ejaife Odebala, former member of the Delta State House of Assembly; Olorogun Bernard Edewor, Deputy Chairman of BoT; Chief Mrs. Margaret Unukegwo, Chief Andy Osawota, Chief (Dr.) Isaac Akpoveta, Chief Pius Ovbije, Dr. Mrs. Augustina Erah, Chief Duncan Ewhere, Surveyor James Omeru, Engr. Eric Osiobe, Hon. Onoriode Ishegbe, Mr. Godfrey Etabuko, Ms. Noreen Ughojor, Chief Victor Otuburu, Emmanuel Orhomayine, Mr. Okoh James Edirin, Chief Lucky Emojeya, Chief Solomon Oturu, Mr. David Ejukonemu, Chief Sunday Adjemuo, Sir. Joe Enakerakpor, Chief John Otokwefor, Ejimitovwovwon Emmanuel, Chief Lucky Esokpor, Michael Akpobasa, Hon. Agbagoro Landlord, Elder Francis Ishaka, Ms Ese Omamogho, Chief Efeturhi Juweto, Comrade Kennedy Atevure, Chief Pius Tuphe, Mr. Benjamin Ogbimi, representatives of Olorogun Kenneth Okpara, representatives of Rt. Hon. Festus Ovie Agas, representatives of Olorogun David Edevbie, representatives of Senator Emmanuel Aguariavwodo, representatives of Chief James Augoye, Representatives of Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi and a host of others.