Delta 2023: Ijaw Youths Charge Governor Okowa To Stand By His Word

Following the recent statement by Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa on the choice of who becomes the next governor of the state by 2023, Ijaw Youth Council, IYC has urged the governor to remain neutral on who succeeds him.

It will be recalled that Governor Okowa while fielding questions from journalists during the quarterly media interaction held at Government House in Asaba on Tuesday, October 8, 2019, said, “I can’t give verdict on who becomes governor in 2023 in Delta State. I’m not God, so I don’t know my successor now, only God knows who will take over from me so when we get to that bridge, we will know how to cross over it.”

In a press statement signed by Pereotubo Oweilaemi, Esq., President, IYC worldwide, the youths called on the Governor to maintain his neutral position throughout his second tenure as only God Almighty can install the next leader.of Delta State. The statement which further maintained that it is the turn of Delta South to produce the next governor in 2023, reads below.

“IYC on behalf of the Ijaw nation heartily commends His Excellency, Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State for pledging to take a neutral stand on the Delta 2023 gubernatorial election.

“The Governor’s position has proved once again to Deltans that he is a statesman whose leadership credentials are for the well being of Delta people.

“IYC calls on the Governor to maintain his neutral position all throughout his second tenure as God Almighty, He alone install a leader. Delta State is the finger of God. It is not out place if Okowa said only God knows who will succeed him in 2023. Of course his neutrality will further strengthen ethnic cohesion among Deltans and the ruling party’s chances of retaining the government beyond 2019.

“Governor Okowa has a duty to scroll his name in the golden plate of history by allowing the will of God to prevail in 2023. Crisis of confidence, insecurity and political disharmony is rife in States where the ruling government choose to impose his will on the people. Deltans do not want such political acrimony in the State. The Smart Governor should therefore focus on delivering his Stronger Delta mantra. There is no doubt, Deltans will benefit more if he chooses to focus on his mandate as he has promised, to give the people the needed dividends of democracy.

“IYC reiterate its earlier call that it is the Ijaws’ turn to produce the next governor of the State. The office of the governor should rotate among the major ethnic groups in the State in order to give each tribes sense of belonging. The Ijaw people who produce the bulk of wealth for the State should also be allowed to taste the government power. It’s politically inchoate if we are being treated as second fiddle human beings in a State that is benefiting immensely from us.

“As the single second largest ethnic group in the State, we will not be allowed to be politically emasculated. We therefore urge our sons and daughters in Delta State to recharge their courses on attaining the seat of governance come 2023. The entire Ijaw nation is standing behind Delta Ijaw people for the actualization of this dream.”