Delta 2023 Governorship: No Going Back On Ijaw Quest, As High-powered Team Meets Urhobo Traditional Rulers, Leaders

The Delta Ijaw for Governor 2023 Lobby Team led by former Minister of Police Affairs, Alaowei Broderick Bozimo, has vowed that there would be no going back on their quest to produce the next governor of Delta State.

The team leader made the vow as the high-powered delegation on Monday, met with the Urhobo Traditional Rulers Forum and leaders of the ethnic nationality.

Welcoming the high-rated delegation to his palace, the Owhorode of Olomu kingdom, HRM Ovie Richard L.Ogbon, Ogoni-Oghoro 1, (JP) and Chairman Urhobo Traditional Rulers Forum, described the Urhobos and Ijaws as one with age long social, cultural and historical affinity.

BIGPENNGR had reported that a former Minister of Police Affairs, Alaowei Broderick Bozimo had month-long led the high-powered lobby team comprises of notable sons and daughters of Ijaw nation, captains of industries, business executives, prominent political figures, youths and women leaders in continuation of it’s consultative visits to political leaders, traditional rulers, ethnic nationalities and stakeholders in it’s quest to produce the next governor come 2023.

Addressing the team, Owhorode of Olomu kingdom, said, “The request you are making is about governorship of Delta State come 2023, that the Ijaw people want to contest for the position, well anything that is good people like it and fight for it, I think that is why people want to take part in the bite”.

He said as Urhobo traditional rulers they cannot deny the Ijaw people their prayers and blessings in their quest of producing the next governor of Delta state.

“We as royal fathers, when our children needs prayer we don’t refuse, we give the prayers which they want. You know the Urhobo and Ijaw people are one, some Urhobos have their ancestral home in ijaw land, it is a thing of joy that brothers are meeting together, we the Urhobo traditional rulers are very happy”.

He advised politicians to play by the rules in order to promote peace and tranquility in the state.

“The only thing we as royal fathers advice, please try and play by the rules so that there will be peace and tranquility in the state “.

On his part, the Ovie of Mosogar Kingdom, HRM Samson Omene, Udurhie 1 and Vice Chairman of Urhobo Traditional Rulers Forum, spoke passionately about the age long historical relationship between the Urhobos and Ijaws and cautioned politicians not to create crisis between the two ethnic groups on the altar of politics.

“How are we going to avoid seeing the possibility of crisis….I will like to end by calling for prayers for our political players who control the political space”.

Meanwhile, the Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, the apex Urhobo social cultural organisation has described the ijaws as their closest neighbour.

The President General of the Urhobo Progress Union, Olorogun Moses Taiga stated this when the UPU executive received the Alaowei Broderick Bozimo led Delta Ijaw for Governor 2023 Lobby Team to the UPU National Secretariat, Uviamughe, Agbarho, Delta State.

“We will work with our neighbours and nobody can be nearer the Urhobos than the ijaws….we will not forget you, you are the nearest neighbour…we will not forget our Ijaw brothers”. Olorogun Taiga said, adding “What the Urhobos need is what you need (Ijaws)….I have relationship with Kiagbodo, Chief E.k.Clark is my uncle, I am an ijaw man…”

In his separate address to the Urhobo Traditional Rulers and the Urhobo Progress Union, the Leader of the Ijaw delegation, Alaowei Broderick Bozimo, said that the purpose of the visit was to inform the Urhobo nation that the Ijaw are interested in producing the next governor of Delta state come 2023.

He said the visit was to solicit for the support and prayers from the Urhobo nation in it’s avowed quest to produce the governor in 2023.

“We have come to plead with the Urhobo nation, our brothers to support us to be governor as we have supported others to be governors….it is a fair demand considering our huge socio-economic and political contributions to the development of Delta State”.

Alaowei Bozimo who spoke in Urhobo language intermittently said…”the Ijaw people are blood with the Urhobos, we’ve always done things together”. He added that the Ijaw quest was based on fairness, Justice and equity.

According to Bozimo, “from Ibori to Uduaghan to Okowa, people from all parts of the State contested and that is fair because we practice a democracy, it is not right for somebody to say it is my turn by “ogboju” or by population or by intimidation, I don’t think that was right”.

The Delta Ijaw for Governor delegation had, Alaowei Broderick Bozimo, General Broderick Demeyeibo (rtd), Hon (Dr.) Barry Pere Gbe, Commissioner for Economic Planning, Hon. Joel Bisina PhD, former Commissioner, Hon. Newworld Safugha, former Commissioner for Energy, Chief Ebikeme clark, Special Adviser to the Governor, Chief James Nieketien (JP), SSA to the Governor, Chief J.T Government, Chairman Governing Board, Delta State School of Marine Technology, Hon.Paul Kurugbe Member, SUBEB, Hon.Patricia Asiyai, S.A Women Mobilalization, Hon. Franc Enekorogha, former Speaker DTHA, Barr. Fred Owotorufa, Barr. David P.  Ekerokosu, former Commissioner, Ekenwan Akwagbe, Chief Wellington Bobo, Chief Johnny Aribogha, Chief David Ogide, SSA to the Governor, Dr. Brodrick Tumbo,
Mr Pius Appeal, Mrs Abeke and Hon. Stella Agidee.

Others are Barr.Eric Omare, former IYC President, Dr. Doubra Collins Okotete, IYC President, Western Zone, Barr. Oweilaemi Pereotubo, former IYC President, Barr. Francis Abulu, Hon.Okporu  Augustine (JP),
Hon. (Mrs) Felicia Orounagha, Bishop  Godwin Soroaye, Dcn. Dimaro Progress,
Hon. Gloria Okubodogha, Comr. Tina  Tobusi, IYC Woman Leader, Hon. Ebi Agbor,
Hon. Mrs Fanty Goodness, Hon. Ayapaye Brendan, Hon Korokorosei Sagbegha, Hon. Tina Yinkore Igbeh, Mrs Poweide Bekes,
Hon. Ezonwei Sozaowei, Comr. Magret Ikimba and Comr Solomon Gbegha.

On the UPU delegation were Olorogun (Dr.) Moses Taiga (JP), President General Urhobo Progress Union, Chief (Capt) Onoharigho 1st Deputy President General, Chief Francis Ifie, 2nd Deputy President General, Chief (sir) Kenneth Iwhewhe, National Secretary, Dame Chief Christy  Siakpere, President Women Wing,
Chief Mrs Margret Unukweso,1st Deputy President, Women Wing, Hon. Abel Oshevire, National Publicity Secretary, Olorogun (Dr.) Dickson Ogovwi, Assist National Secretary, Chief Emmanuel Omovie, Assistant National Legal Adviser and Chief Mrs Meg Atano, Assistant National Publicity Sec.

Others are Chief Mrs Grace Akpodiete,
Assistant National Fin. Secretary, Comrade Ovie Ebirere, President UPU Youth Wing, Chief G.T Notoma, P.G Udu, Chief F.O Okitikpi, P.G Okpara, Rev Cannon David Otofia, P.G Okere-Urhobo and Chief Patrick Osiri, P.G Ogor.