2019: Delta Ijaw Will Not Relinquish Senate Position, Says IYC

The Ijaw Youth Council IYC, worldwide has reiterated that the Ijaws in Delta South Senatorial district were not ready to relinquish the Senate position at the forthcoming general elections.

It said as political parties and Deltans prepares for the general election any political party that does not give their ticket to an Ijaw candidate from Delta south senatorial district will not get the votes of Ijaws.

In a press release dated 30th August, 2018, signed by its Spokesman, Daniel Dasimaka, the Pereotubo Oweillami-led IYC noted that it was a clear fact that by head counts, the Ijaws are more than the Itsekiris in Warri South West, Warri North and Warri South, but political manipulation had made the Itsekiri majority by having more Wards than Ijaws.

“Over the years since the advent of democratic dispensation, it is worthy to note that our brothers and neighbors the Itsekiri have leveraged on their numerical strength of having 6 Wards in Warri South West, Warri North and Warri South respectively  to consistently produced Chairmen for the council areas, House of Assembly members and House of Representative for Warri Federal Constituency”.

We reproduce the full statement below:

DELTA SOUTH SENATORIAL DISTRICT AND WHY IJAW IN DELTA SOUTH WILL NOT RELINQUISH SENATE POSITION IN 2019

As political parties embark on primaries to elect flagbearers or candidates ahead of the general elections already slated for February and March 2019, it has become very imperative to bring forward the political quagmire in Delta South Senatorial district, particularly in the Warri South West, Warri South and Warri North Local Government Areas, as it relates to the Ijaws in the aforementioned areas.

Over the years since the advent of democratic dispensation, it is worthy to note that our brothers and neighbors the Itsekiri have leveraged on their numerical strength of having 6 Wards in Warri South West, Warri North and Warri South respectively  to consistently produced Chairmen for the council areas, House of Assembly members and House of Representative for Warri Federal Constituency.

The Ijaws of Egbema with 4 wards in Warri North have not been allowed to produce the Chairman for Warri North Council and House of Assembly Member for Warri North Constituency.

Also, the Ijaws of Gbaramatu, Ogbe-Ijoh, Isaba, Diebiri with 4 Wards in Warri South West have not been allowed to produce Member of House of Assembly for Warri South West Constituency. The Ijaws in Warri South West were only allowed to produce Chairman of the council after the famous Warri crisis between 1997 and 2003.

In Warri South, the Ijaw having just 1 Ward, have not been allowed to produce neither Chairman of the council or a member of House of Assembly.

For the Warri Federal Constituency, the Itekiris having majority of 17 Wards in  Warri South West, Warri North and Warri South, have held on to the position and would not allow Ijaw’s in the Federal Constituency to occupy the position.

The Itsekiris in Warri Federal Constituency, believes that because they are majority in Warri South West, Warri North and Warri South, it is their political birthright to keep and continue to occupy these positions of Chairmen, House of Assembly, and House of Representatives without any consideration for Ijaws in the area.

When the Peoples Democratic Party PDP in 2007, zoned the governorship to Delta South senatorial district, the Ijaw with 40 Wards and Isoko with 24 Wards in the spirit of love, fairness and equity relinquished the Governorship position to a minority Itsekiri with 17 Wards, and Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan eventually became the governor in 2007, and ruled for eight years.

The question is why are Itsekiri not showing the same spirit of love, fairness and equity to Ijaws in Warri South West, Warri North and Warri South by allowing the Ijaws to produce Chairmen, members of House of Assembly and in particular a member for Warri Federal Constituency.

It is a clear fact that by head counts, the Ijaws are more than the Itsekiris in Warri South West, Warri North and Warri South, but political manipulation had made the Itsekiri majority by having more Wards than Ijaws.

As we prepare for the general elections, we would like to make our position clear to all. Any political party that does not give their ticket to an Ijaw candidate from Delta south senatorial district will not get the votes of Ijaws.

God bless Ijaw Nation.