Stakeholders in the politics and development of Delta Central, particularly the political class, traditional institutions, youths, women, religious and opinion leaders, have been urged to rise against what is now becoming a tradition of pulling down their best in the name of politics.
Recalling the manner in which the former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Onanefe Ibori was robbed with ex-convict case all through his tenure as Governor, two right groups in the Niger Delta in a joint statement, said similar approach is being orchestrated by some selfish individuals to blackmail the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt Hon (Chief) Sherrif Oborevwori for declaring interest in the office of the Governor in 2023.
The Rights Advocacy and Protection Forum, RAPF and More for Delta Group, MDG, in the statement, condemed the online publication insinuating that Mr Speaker served a jailed term between 2000 and 2004 for manslaughter, saying “Mr Speaker has no record of criminality”.
The statement endorsed by Engr Ted Iboma for RAPF and Barrister Samuel Okome Edegware for MDG, emphasized that anytime good person show up for election in Delta Central, few individuals gang up against him.
“How can you come out and say Mr Speaker served a jail term 20 years ago for manslaughter? Which Court sentenced him? Who was the judge? Who were the lawyers that handled the case? Who was killed? What is the person name? From which family? Which community? Which state?
“Between 2000 and 2005, Rt Hon Oborevwori was Special Assistant to former Governor James Ibori on Youth Development. Can he be in jail and be serving the Governor as an SA? They failed in their first attempt with the publication that Mr Speaker had withdrawn from the Governorship race. Now it is ex-convict allegation. You can’t just make a sweeping statement. The fact should have been provided, but they can’t because such never happened”.
Describing the publication as a lie from the pit of hell, the group stressed “Oborevwori remains the best candidate for the 2023 Governorship race. Deltans are with him. Even fellow aspirants know his capacity. He has testimonies of competence.
“Check out his records as a Councillor for Okpe local government council in 1996 and Supervisory Councillor for Works. Do a research of the history of Osubi his community, you will see how he brought Osubi to lime light as a youth leader and development that came with it, including the Osubi Airport project.
“Sherrif is a highly respected chief in Okpe as a result of his contributions to the growth of the kingdom. Look out how he had stabilized the Delta State Assembly as the Presiding Officer. The Assembly never had it so good. He brought stability, unity, love, peace and development to the House. So they know that he is a candidate to beat in the PDP primaries, hence all efforts to pull him down, but they will continue to fail”.
“The good people of Delta Central must be wary of plans to make them loose their best. This blackmails on Mr Speaker can cause central the governorship seat in 2023. They should rise up against it and support a free and fair contest, instead of the ‘Pull Him Down’ approach in the name of politics”.
“The Rt Hon Speaker had contested several elections, including in 2015 and 2019 into the Delta State Assembly. Why now the issue of ex convict? This act of politics and politicking should be condemned and as right groups we can’t console such, hence our reaction to it.
“We gathered that the Speaker and his supporters have enlisted the services of some Lawyers to press charges against the blackmailers. We encourage him to do so to serve as a deterrent to others who see such as a goldmine. You don’t just wake up to rubbish reputation earned over the years in the guise of politics”, they stated.