Delta 2023: Ijaw Group Backs Edevbie, Urges Support from entire Ijaw Nation

A 2023 support group, Delta Ijaw Frontline Volunteers for Edevbie has drummed support for foremost governorship aspirant, Olorogun David Edevbie just as it commended the Urhobo Traditional Rulers and Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, for their endorsements which they described as “royal and unprecedented”.

The support group whose members cut across the entire Ijaw communities in the state, conveyed their solidarity in a communique issued at the end of its meeting in Kpakiama, Bomadi Local Government Area, on Wednesday, April 20, 2022.

Their declaration amongst others contained in the communique, appealed to all Ijaw groups to rally support for Olorogun David Edevbie and “accept his candidature as a well soothing alternative for the Ijaw nation.”

Signed by Comr. Christopher Anthony, Coordinator-General; Hon. Jonathan Oweikeyi Bright, Secretary; Mr. Enoch Azigbeotu, Burutu LGA-Coordinator; Mr. Gowon Kimaki, Bomadi LGA-Coordinator; Mr James Youdeowei, Patani LGA- Coordinator; Comr. Nathaniel Oromoni, Warri South-West-Coordinator; and 12 others, the group appealed “to the leadership of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Ijaw Traditional Rulers Council, Ijaw Elders Forum, delegates, and the rest of Ijaw nation to consider an alliance with the Urhobo nation to be able to produce a governor without external rivalry in 2031. We appeal to the Delta Ijaw leaders to find a dependable ally in Olorogun David Edevbie and accept his candidature as a well soothing alternative for the Ijaw nation.

“We assure our fellow Ijaws in Delta State that Olorogun David Edevbie is a promise keeper and will keep in safe custody till the moment of implementation in 2031, any accord that is reached between the two nations of Ijaw and Urhobo. We further assure the Ijaw nation that Olorogun David Edevbie is capable and willing to broker an agreement that will be favourable to the Ijaws in 2031.

“We encourage all the Ijaw delegates who feel indifferent, reluctant, or threatened, to step out of their shells and support Olorogun David Edevbie with their votes as that is the sacrifice they are required to carry out for the Ijaw nation to produce the Delta State governor in 2031.”

On the recent endorsements, the group stated that, “we wholeheartedly congratulate our Principal, Olorogun David Edevbie on the royal endorsement by the Urhobo Traditional Rulers and the unprecedented endorsement by the prestigious and most superior socio-cultural organization of the Urhobo land, the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), as the Urhobo consensus candidate for the 2023 governorship election.

“We salute the courage and patriotism of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), under the leadership of Olorogun (Dr) Moses Taiga, for deciding in favour of truth. It is a mark of honour that, without fear or favour, they chose for the Urhobo nation, indeed Delta people, the candidate that is acclaimed universally as the best for the state in the current dispensation of diminishing economic revenues.

“We acknowledge the series of endorsements with which our Principal, Olorogun David Edevbie is honoured lately, and extend sincere appreciation to the members of all the various youth groups, women groups, student groups, elite groups, religious groups, grassroots organisations, trade unions, and traditional institutions that have demonstrated solidarity by the endorsements.”

The group appreciated the state governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa for his passionate efforts in consolidating the unity of PDP in the state, imploring him to “remain steadfast in his promise to provide a level playing field for free, fair, peaceful, and credible party elections at all levels in the state”.

They further commended groups, individuals, organisations and institutions working towards the actualisation of the ‘MODERNISATION AGENDA’ of Olorogun David Edevbie and encourage them to put in more effort for there, surely, is light at the end of the tunnel.