The Mayor of Urhoboland and a former militant leader, Eshanakpe Israel a.k.a Akpodoro, has reacted to the feud between Senator Prince Ned Nwoko, representing Delta North Senatorial District in the Nigerian Senate and Governor Sheriff Oborevwori
His reaction followed a statement reportedly made by the Senator against the Governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori and his predecessor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, at the country home of the President General of Ndokwa Neku Union, NNU, General Mike Ndubuisi, Rtd. in Ezionum, Ukwuani Local Government Area of the state during a brief courtesy visit to the retired General and his executives penultimate week.
The Mayor’s reaction is contained in a statement issued to journalists in Abuja over the weekend stressing that “for the information of the lawmaker representing Delta North Senatorial District, Elder Oborevwori remains the best governor to rule the oil-rich state” calling on him to develop his people by attracting life changing projects from the federal government to his people.
The Mayor further advised the Senator that if he has any issue with the former governor of the state who he described as his kinsman, the politician should feel free to settle same with him rather than dragging the “performing governor” into his feud arising from the battle for the district in 2027.
The former warlord noted that the governor has been doing his best to ensure that he equitably serves the people of the state irrespective of differences in tribes for which he said all Deltans are happy with their governor.
The statement called on the Senator not to cause dissensions in the state which he described as peaceful and supportive of the visionary leadership in the state.
He wondered why eight years of Senator Okowa in the saddle as the state’s helsman for the reason of grandstanding for his support, Senator Nwoko did not make any scathing allegation of corruption against the Ika-born medical doctor-turned politician but has now found his voice against the man who has been satisfactorily steering the ship of the state.
Recall that Senator Nwoko had during his address to people of Ndokwa nation during his visit to the NNU in Ezionum accused Oborevwori of reluctance to developing Ndokwa nation even with the humongous monthly accruals from the federation account to the state in allocations saying the money being collected by the Delta state government is more than the entire accruals to the whole of the five south eastern states yet the governor is busy paying debts that the state inherited from Mr Okowa’s 8-year administration.
The statement, according to the Gberegolor Ughelli South Local Government Area-born Mayor, reeks malicious campaign of calumny and an attempt to pitch the good people of Ndokwa nation against the incumbent governor who he said is executing life changing projects across the state asking Nwoko to tell Deltans at what point he discovered that the former governor Okowa piled up debts for the state and why didn’t he say so during his campaign in the run up to the 2023 general elections.
According to Akpodoro who seats on the Association of Family Mayoral Stool as incorporated, Nwoko went purposely to demarket the governor who he said is loved by his people and also vainfully attempted to fan the embers of ethnic divisions in the state.
He challenged the Senator to point at the projects for his eighteen months in the red chamber he has attracted to Ndokwa nation.
“From the grapevine, we are not oblivious of the fact that since becoming the Senator representing his people, the only visible achievements of Senator Nwoko are seen in his Aniocha Local Government area where all projects are concentrated at the detriment of Ndokwa nation and others who have been reduced to mere onlookers but deserve to be lied to.
Playing ethnic card, the Mayor noted won’t save Nwoko form his imminent defeat at the next general elections because the people who victims of his poor represention in the Senate are watching him close saying the Okpe that he referenced in his malicious tirade against the governor being developed is an integral part of the state that also deserves life changing projects like Ika land under the former governor.
He warned the Senator to be warry of his toxic statements made out of clear frustration from his clueless representation of his people.
Governor Oborevwori, the Mayor said has done well for Ndokwa nation much more than the Senator could ever dreamt of let alone do. “The governor recently gave out large expance of land for the takeoff of the Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences, he is building the age-long abandoned the Benekuku bridge, a college in Obiaruku and so many other infrastructure to write the wrongs of the past in the life of the people of Ndokwa/Ukwani Federal Constituency.
Visionary leadership according to the Mayor “is not as easy as the practice of paedophile, it takes an ambitious leader, maturity, statesmanship, seriousness of purpose, excellent disposition to the plight of the masses as against property acquisition, and regular interaction with constituents devoid of arrogance.” The Mayor maintained as he called on the people of Delta North Senatorial district to hold their Senator accountable at all times adding that: “The Urhobos and Ndokwa people share the same historical nexus and nobody can cause division in the name of political shenanigans. That nation over the years has been in darkness even the massive natural resources it is endowed, stepping down Okpai power plant should a priority to any responsible representative and not misplacement of priorities like seeking the creation of Anioma state from the Delta State in the South East. That project has long been trashed because the people refused to be armtwisted by their Senator.”
