Delta Council Polls : Group Lauds Decision To  Cede Chairmanship Position To  Egbema Ijaw In Warri North After 27 Years 

***Kicks  Against  Alleged  Plot  To Handpick Particular Ijaw Aspirant For The Job

***Makes Case For Abulu, An Aide To  Governor Okowa

A pressure political group,  the Warri North Unity Forum has lauded the decision of the Itsekiri people to cede the Chairmanship position of Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State for the first time to the Egbema Ijaw in the March 6, 2021 local polls in the state,  but kicked against alleged  plot to handpick   a particular Ijaw aspirant for the Chairmanship position.

In  a Press Statement signed by its Chairman,  Prince Kofi Diete Esemighan and Secretary, Barrister Festus Eyenmi  and made available to newsmen,  the group claimed that there   are  plans  by some elements to  undermine  the consensus agreement of some Egbema-Ijaw  Leaders and impose a particular Ijaw aspirant on the people rather than allowing a popular aspirant  to run for the Chairmanship position of Warri North Local Government Area.

The  Group while commending  the Chairman of DESOPADEC,   Chief Michael Diden Ejele  and other Itsekiri leaders to concede the Chairmanship position of Warri North Local Government Area to the Egbema Ijaw after 27 years of creation,  advised  those plotting to handpick a particular Ijaw aspirant for the Chairmanship position to have a rethink and warned against imposition of a  candidate on the people.

“We want to implore those elements plotting to handpick a particular Ijaw aspirant for the Warri North Chairmanship position  to listen to   wise counsel in the  consensus agreement of Egbema Leaders  around the candidacy of Mr Francis Bekesuode Abulu, a Special Assistant on Political to the Governor for the Chairmanship position. Mr Abulu is the best man for the job. We wondered why these elements are doing things differently now.They  should not listen to people who are telling them  to hold on to the rope after selling the goat. After 27 years of creation of Warri North Local Government Area,  the Egbema people should be allowed to choose a candidate that the people will be proud of after his tenure and not an imposed  candidate of  regret”, they wrote.

While  lamenting  that they do not have the political connection to convince those bent on  handpicking a particular Ijaw aspirant for the Chairmanship position, the Group   advised them  to allow the consensus agreement of Egbema Leaders  on the Chairmanship position to sail through  to avoid unnecessary tension in the area,  adding that;  “We should  allow the aspiration of Mr Francis Bekesuode Abulu see the light of day  as he is tested and trusted and people should not entertain any fear about him. Mr Abulu  who served in  2014 during the Administration of former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan as a member of the  State Committee on Land Allocation will foster unity among the ethnic groups in the area if elected”.

The Group expressed gratitude to the state Governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa for his stand on justice for the people of Egbema, noting that it cannot be completed until the Consensus agreement is endorsed.

According to them;  “This is a legacy that the Governor should not play with. The Governor should do the right thing now by calling on these elements who are out to cause tension and confusion  to order. The   consensus agreement of Egbema Leaders around the Chairmanship candidacy of Mr Francis Bekesuode Abulu is the way to go.The consensus agreement of Egbema-Ijaw  Leaders on who should be the next  Chairman of Warri North Local Government  is the way to go.  There is already a consensus agreement in place by the Egbema-Ijaw  leaders and this agreement should be respected by all and sundry. We commend the courage of Governor Okowa and our Itsekiri brothers and sisters  for accepting the wishes of the people.  We do not want unnecessary tension in Warri North Local Government Area. We stand by the consensus agreement of the   Egbema- Ijaw  Leaders.  Mr Abulu who was appointed by Governor  Okowa in his first term as Special Assistant on Youth and Community Development and currently Special Assistant on Political to the Governor,  should be given the opportunity to serve as the Chairman of Warri North Local Government Area”.

“Smart and hardworking young  man, Mr  Francis Bekesuode Abulu is the choice of the leaders and also the forum. We do not want regret by people because of loyalty and sentimental consideration. We are appealing to our dynamic Governor, Ejele and other PDP leaders to do this for us  as a befitting Christmas gift to the people of Warri North and the future of our people”, they added.