*Urges political parties to sustain rotational arrangement
By Tosan Edematie
The Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), Worldwide has called on the Ijaw nation to support the 2023 gubernatorial quest of the Urhobo Nation, saying it is the turn of Delta Central Senatorial District to produce the next Governor of Delta State.
Olorogun (Dr.) Moses Taiga, JP, President-General, UPU, who made this call in his reaction to a speech by former Minister of Police Affairs, Alaowei Broderick Bozimo, Chairman, Delta Ijaw for Governor 2023 Movement, during the visit of the pro-Ijaw group to the UPU on Tuesday, August 31, 2021 at Urhobo Cultural Centre, Uvwiamuge-Agbarho, also appealed to Political parties in Delta State to sustain the rotational arrangement of the State’s governorship based on senatorial districts.
Addressing the Ijaw delegation, which includes prominent leaders and politicians, Olorogun Moses Taiga, said that going by the rotational principle the governorship cycle has gone round the Senatorial Districts and to begin again with Delta Central. “This time it is the turn of the Urhobo to produce the Governor. When we were elected in 2017, we said we would work graciously with our neighbours, and nobody can be nearer to the Urhobos than the Ijaws,” the UPU PG said.
Moses Taiga also pleaded that political parties in the state should follow the circle started in 1999 by the PDP (People’s Democratic Party), urging them to continue with the rotational arrangement of the State’s Governorship, by letting “the circle continue…let us not change the rule, and not talk about ethnic nationality…”
Contending that the talk of governorship rotation is “a new dimension, Moses Taiga urged: “We would like that the Senatorial system, which started with Delta central, to the south and now north, and back to Delta Central should continue. When that has been done, we would look around and those that helped us now, we will help them then.”
The UPU PG, declaring that the pan-Urhobo organization is not a political party, also used the medium to inform that the UPU will clock 90 years on the 3rd of November this year, and is the second oldest socio-cultural organization in Africa, after the African National Congress (ANC), also pleaded with the Ijaw Nation, assuring of Urhobo’s support when it is their turn. “We will be very glad if our neighbours support us. When you support us, and we produce the Governor, we cannot forget you. You are the nearest neighbor to us and we cannot forget you.
“The reality is that the Urhobos are in need of producing the next Governor of the state and we will not forget our Izon brothers if they assist us,” Olorogun Taiga assured.
‘Ijaw’s quest for Delta Governorship is a fair demand’
Earlier, in his address, the Leader of the Ijaw delegation, Alaowei Broderick Bozimo solicited the support and prayers of the Urhobo nation in producing the State’s governor in 2023. Informing the hosts that he was maternally Urhobo, Alaowei Bozimo said the aspiration of the Ijaw Nation “is a fair demand considering our huge socio-economic and political contributions to the development of Delta State.” Speaking in unblemished Urhobo language to the admiration of many, Chief Bozimo said the Ijaw people are of the same blood as the Urhobos and have always done things together. He, however, noted that “From Ibori to Uduaghan, to Okowa, people from all parts of the State contested and that is fair because we practice democracy. It is not right for somebody to say it is my turn by population or by intimidation…”
Others who joined the UPU PG to receive the Ijaw delegation were Chief (Capt.) Anthony Onoharigho 1st Deputy President General; Chief Francis Ifie, 2nd Deputy President-General; Sir Kenneth Iwhewhe, National Secretary; and Chief (Mrs.) Christy Siakpere, President, UPU Women Wing. Also present are Chief (Mrs.) Margaret Unukwego, 1st Deputy President, UPU Women Wing; Hon. Abel Oshevire, National Publicity Secretary; Olorogun (Dr.) Dickson Oyovwi, Asst., National Secretary; Chief Emmanuel Omovie, Asst. National Legal Adviser; Chief Mrs. Margaret Atano
Assistant National Publicity Sec.; and Chief Mrs. Ese Adehor.
Others are Chief Mrs. Grace Akpodiete, Asst. National Fin. Secretary; Comrade Ovie Ebireri, President UPU Youth Wing; Chief Godwin Notoma, President-General, Udu Kingdom; Chief F.O Okitikpi, President-General, Okparabe Kingdom; Rev Canon David Otofia, President-General, Okere-Urhobo Kingdom; Chief (Dr.) Patrick Esiri, President-General, Ogor Kingdom; Chief (Hon) Westham Adehor,
On the Ijaw delegation were Alaowei Broderick Bozimo, Gen. Broderick Demeyeibo (rtd), Hon (Dr.) Barry Pere Gbe, Commissioner for Economic Planning; Hon. (Dr.) Joel Bisina, former Commissioner; Hon. Newworld Safugha, former Commissioner for Energy; Chief Ebikeme Clark, Special Adviser to the Governor; Chief James Nieketien (JP), SSA to the Governor; Chief J.T. Government, Chairman, Governing Board, Delta State School of Marine Technology; Hon. Paul Kurugbe, Member, SUBEB; Hon. Frank Enekorogha, former Speaker, DTHA; Barr. David P. Ekerokosu, former Commissioner; Chief Wellington Bobo, and others.
, Worldwide has called on the Ijaw nation to support the 2023 gubernatorial quest of the Urhobo Nation){kind=link}