2019: Why Delta Central, Urhobo Nation Should Support Governor Okowa’s Re-Election – DCEG

A pro Urhobo Group, Delta Central Equity Group (DCEG), dedicated wholly to the principles of equity and justice in the governing structure of the state, has thrown its support to the power-sharing arrangement guiding the selection of Governors from the Three Senatorial District of the State.

DCEG while backing the political arrangement of power-sharing among the three senatorial districts in State, called on all Urhobo Sons and Daughters to support the re-election of the state Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, to enable Delta North to complete its Two Terms as had been enjoyed by Delta South and Central in the past 16 years.

This clarion call was conveyed in a speech delivered by the Convener of the Delta Central Equity Group (DCEG), Hon Morris Idiovwa, at the inauguration of the body in Ughelli on December 4, 2018.

Hon Idiovwa who gave a critical analysis of the group’s mission, noted that sustainance of the rotational arrangement, will ensure the prevalence of justice and equity in Delta State, warning that truncating the arrangement will cause disharmony amongst Deltans.

The speech made available to ASABA METRO, reads below.

“We, the Urhobo people, are a giant of a nation, but we have allowed our strength to slumber for too long. As a people, we have what it takes to dominate our space, but because of some impediments, we have not taken the full advantage of our strength. However, here today we are birthing a new movement that is finally putting an end to all forms of lethargy: from here on we shall mobilise and awaken all Urhobo sons and daughters to the consciousness of our strength as a people and the need to demand that things are done rightly and in the interest of all.

“Here today we are inaugurating the Delta Central Equity Group (DCEG), which primary objective is to reposition the Urhobo agenda in the Delta political space and in doing that we shall be mobilising ourselves to work with all other groups, which are co-stakeholders in the larger ‘Project Delta’. In pursuing the main objective of securing for the Urhobo nation what is due to her, we shall go out to equity with both clean hands and clear conscience. We shall not allow any group or any ethnic nation to ride Urhobo rough shod, but we shall also not be a bully to others.

“As we are aware, our great state is multi-ethnic and has functioned on a tripartite senatorial political arrangement: the power-sharing arrangement set out from the dawn of the current democratic experience with we, the Urhobo, taking the first shot at leadership. 1999 to 2007 Chief James Ibori, an Urhobo son took turn for two consecutive four-year terms. 2007 to 2015, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, an Itsekiri son, took the turn of Delta South Senatorial District and led for two consecutive four-year terms, uninterrupted. Currently we are in the era of the third senatorial district, Delta North, and Dr (Senator) Ifeanyi Okowa, an Ika son from the Northern Senatorial District, is running it, still in the first term.

“As one of the undying maxims of equity says, “One who seeks equity must do equity”. Being guided by this and having it at the back of our mind that one good turn deserves another, DCEG will be mobilising Urhobo to ensure that what is due to Delta North is fully delivered to them, as an equal co-stakeholder in the ‘Project Delta’. We shall be achieving this by ensuring that the coming elections, especially governorship and state House of Assembly elections are peaceful and violence-free in Delta Central. We will not allow ourselves to be used as cannon fodder to foment trouble. Delta Central must be peaceful before, during and after 2019 election. The least way the Urhobo and the rest of Delta state can give their Delta North brothers an adequate sense of belonging and solidarity is to ensure that the order of rotational arrangement, as regards who leads the state, is not broken, which translates to the governor from that part of the state, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, be allowed to complete the two terms due his region. That will be equity, that will be justice.

“Why does DCEG consider the continuity of the current administration important? It is important to us for two reasons. One, whatever is good for the goose, should be good for the gander. If the Delta Central could have its eight unbroken years, just as Delta South has done, then why not Delta North? Aren’t we all equal citizens of the state? Number two, if we fail to speak up when injustice is being nurtured, then the man dies in us, just as the Nobel Laureate skillfully impressioned in one of his famous works. We don’t want the Urhobo to be cheated out on her turn, so we shall not allow a negative precedence be set with Delta North. We believe in and preach equity, we should be seen to be serving it.

“Why is our focus all about peaceful and orderly conduct of 2019 elections and why is it a priority to us? Because we have learnt from experience that those who detest order and seek the devious back routes are always the first to foment trouble, cause chaos and hijack the process. We have also learnt from experience that in those chaotic experiences, the youths have always paid the highest price with their lives and vital parts, but this movement is out to put a stop to that: enough of allowing the selfish to cut down our tall trees in their prime. Delta Central shall see one of the most peaceful and orderly elections in her history in 2019. This we shall enforce, this we shall ensure.

“Also, with the sort of feedback we have been gathering about plans of some unruly and unpatriotic politicians, we have it on good authority that plans are already afoot to cause mayhem in some communities and areas of Urhoboland they consider to be vulnerable. However, we have a message for these set of merchants of violence: DCEG will not allow you have your way this time around. We have Urhoboland covered and your plans to turn our homeland to a theatre of war will boomerang in your face. On this note, we are calling on all peace-loving and development-oriented Urhobo man and woman, young and old and from all backgrounds, to be ready to join this movement that is targeted at giving our ethnic nation back its place as first among equals. This is the train that is tasked with the assignment to rebuild our unity and renewing our nationalistic orientation.

“A robust organisational framework has been put in place on how to reach every ward and every unit in all the council areas of the senatorial district. The coordinators for the council areas have already been penned down and will be meeting with the national coordinators after this time.

“I want to welcome you on board this great movement, which destination is the greater and stronger Urhobo nation. Urhobo ovu’vu.”