Ahead of Delta state 2023 guber election, plans are on top gear for Ijaws to produce a single aspirant who will emerge through a consensus arrangement within the People’s Democratic Party PDP.
In a close door meeting on Monday, December 20, 2021, Ijaw leaders, stakeholders, politicians and traditional rulers were led by the Delta-Ijaw for Governor 2023 lobby group to meet in Warri with Ijaw governorship aspirants in attendance.
The deputy governor of Delta state, Barr. Kingsley Otuaro; Sen. James Manager, representing Delta South Senatorial District and Chief Braduce Angozi and many others met to brainstorm on how to get a consensus aspirant.
These moves may have been connected to the recommendation by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) to prune down the number of persons from Delta Central that are jostling to succeed him in 2023.
The prunning/screening committee of gubernatorial aspirants was setup by the Delta Central 2023 (DC-23) lobby group, upon submission of its reports, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, Senator Emmanuel Aguariavwodo, Chief James Augoye, Chief David Edevbie and Rt. Hon. Chief Sheriff Oborevwori made the list.
With the battle not over, Ijaws are also up with strategies for a consensus candidate to battle for the governorship seat.
Despite calls for them to jettison the move and wait till 2030, the Ijaws are unwilling to surrender and allow the Urhobos have their way into Delta government house.
Credit: Focal Point Report
