Nyerhovwo Oghenetejiri
Social and commercial activities were brought to halt in Ogharefe, headquarters of Etiope West Local Government Area recently as no fewer than over 600 men including some House of Assembly aspirants in Ethiope West Local Government Area, besieged the premises of the local government Secretariat and the palace of the Ovie of Oghara Kingdom, HRM Noble Oyibo Eshemitan protesting the alleged imposition of Miss Erhiatake Ibori, daughter of former governor of Delta State Chief James Onanefe Ibori as candidate to represent them in Delta State House of Assembly.
The aggrieved politicians and other community members who carried green leafs and placards with various inscriptions like, ‘’ we no go gree’’, ‘’Chief Ibori, off your hands from the matter’’ and “House of Assembly, Oghareki turn’’ amongst others stormed the Ovie’s palace and momentarily disrupted the on- going meeting of the Ovie with palace Chiefs.
Speaking on their behalf, Monday Adu Akponome alleged that Chief James Onanefe Ibori and his cronies have perfected plans to impose his daughter, Atake Ibori as the candidate to represent the area in the State House of Assembly when it is not the turn of Ogharefe to do so, adding, “we have an agreement to zone elective political positions in Ethiope West Local Government Area between Ogharefe, Oghareki, Mosogar and Jesse, it is the turn of Oghareki to produce the next person to represent the local government at the Delta State House of Assembly and Ibori should not take what belongs to Oghareki to Ogharafe. Ogharefe has had theirs just like every other clan in the area’’.
Akponome told HRM Eshemitan that, “according to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) zoning system in the area, it is the turn of Oghareki to produce candidate into the State House of Assembly and we are here to meet you to call Chief James Ibori and any other person who has hands in the plans to impose his daughter, Atake as a candidate to represent Ethiope West Local Government to desist from doing so, we shall resist any attempt to deny Oghareki its fair share of political position.’’
The men who vowed to resist the attempt also alleged that the former governor and his cronies had already picked his Cousin (Golley) as the PDP candidate for the forth coming local government election and cannot at the same time impose his daughter on the good people of Oghareki when it is not their turn.
Addressing the protesters, HRM Eshemitan, Ovie of Oghara Kingdom advised Politicians to play the game according to the rule adding that he will call all the known politicians in the area for a meeting and advice on how to go about the matter to forestall break down of law and order, adding, “It is not me who selects who to occupy a certain position but rather it’s the politicians’ business and I know that they will play it in such a way that it will be fair to us all’’.
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The Ovie however said that he will continue to give his blessings to whoever comes to seek his royal blessings stressing that, “we should hold on to the ideal that will bring peace in the locality and the state in general.”
