By Sunday Apah
Leaders and Stakeholders of Ndokwa West Local Government Area of Delta State have stated that they would not oppose the consensus candidate of the DC-23, but advised the lobby group to do a thorough job in their choice of who to be elected the governor of the state in 2023.
Senator Patrick Osakwe, who spoke on behalf of the people of Ndokwa West Local Government Area when the Delta Central 2023 lobby group paid a consultative visit to them at Asaba, said that the governorship battle was within the Delta Central, advising them not to deceive themselves, but should tell each other the truth, and when they do that, victory was sure.
He noted that DC-23 was doing very well, saying that “you are coordinating properly by bringing your people together. Even some of the people who want to be the governor are here going round and at the end of the day, you people should come up with the name you want us to work for. We are not going to work against your choice.”
“Ndokwa West are very discipline people, we will go with your choice, that is why you should do a very thorough job in making your choice. We want a state that is stable, we are looking forward to what will come out from DC-23. Ndokwa West is not going to oppose your choice”, 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 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.”
“The claim by some persons that the governorship seat, since it had gone round the three senatorial districts, that ity should be done as ‘osusu’ that can start from any district, and that they are canvassing for senatorial district and not ethnic is not right. My question is, if not an ethnic agenda, why is it that the Itsekiris and Isokos of Delta South Senatorial District are not in their lobby team, like ours that you have leaders of the eight local government areas in the team,” he wondered.
“It is only zoning on senatorial district order that the PDP can continue with its winning streak in the state. So, what we are pushing for is how a sustainable system can be established 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 clarified.
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 leaders and stakeholders of Ndokwa West Local Government Area to support 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.
Leaders and Stakeholders of Ndokwa West Local Government Area that were present during the visit included Senator Patrick Enebeli Osakwe, Sir. Sam Osaba Esq., Hon. Charles Emetulu, Ogbuefi Lucky Okuji, Sir. Monday Onyeme, Chief Mrs. Lina Osuya, Major Babs Agali, High Chief Johnson Opone, Chief Mrs. Caroline Anoka, Ernest Ejikeme Okenmor, Ernest Ogwezzy Esq., Ogbuiji Aneke Ifemeni, Hon. Azuka Azaka, Chief John Chukwu, High Chief Tony Ezenkwu, High Chief Obi Nzete, Chief Chris Osakwe, Kingsley Egugbo Esq., and others.
DC-23 leaders and members that attended the meeting included Senator (Chief) Ighoyota Amori, National Chairman; Chief Suru Salami, 2nd Vice Chairman; Olorogun Bernard Edewor, Deputy Chairman, BoT; Dr. Chris Oharisi, National Secretary, Olorogun Taleb Tebite, National Financial Secretary; Hon. Godwin Atose, National Organizing Secretary; Hon. (Chief) Sunday Apah, Assistant National Publicity Secretary; Chief Christian Onogba, National Assistant Organizing Secretary; Dcn Raymond Edijala, National Assistant Treasurer; Hon. Festus Pemu, Assistant National Publicity Secretary; and Princess Philo Ededey, Assistant National Welfare Officer.
Others are Chief Ejaife Odebala, Chief Dr. Mrs. Philomena Oyearone, Chief Mrs. Margret Unukegwo, Chief Moses Orhokpor, Chief London Akpanoko, Engr. Emmanuel Ishaka, Mr. Francis Onogbo, Chief Bestman Itive, Chief Solomon Oturu, Chief Duncan Ewhere, Prince Charles Abutor, Dr. Joseph Onojame, Dr. S. E Omovie, Chief Michael Akpobasa, Chief Collins Eboh, Chief Friday Orugbo, Chief Efe Juweto, Chief Onoriode Ishegbe, Ms Maureen Ughojor, Chief Dr. Isaac Akpoveta, Hon. Francis Okan, Prince Samuel Robinson, Chief David Ejukonemu, Dr. Amos Ighoroje, Dr. Godwin Oke, Eruke Asore, Maidoh-Oyearone Iroro, Jennifer Adasen Efeviroro, Etabuko Godfrey, Christopher Ophori, Lucky Esokpor, Chief Abraham Odjighoro, Engr. Eric Osiobe, Mr. Ejimitowovwon Emmanuel, Mr. Benjamin Ogbimi, Mr. Efe Itie, Sir. Joseph Enakerakpor, Rev. Milton Ojamedaye, Hon. Sunday Adjamue and others.