By Dave Okpogadie, Asaba
Political players have started aligning with different political associates and groups as 2023 elections draw close.
In Delta State, the issue of rotation for the seat of the governor has taken the front burner in the political discourse in the state for quite some time and it is becoming more tense by the day.
Since the inception of this current political dispensation in 1999, the three senatorial zones in the state have taken their turn at the seat of the governor.
Delta Central started it in 1999 with Chief James Onanefe Ibori. After Ibori, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan from Delta South became the governor from 2007 to 2015.
Delta North is currently having its turn which will come to an end in 2023.
While politicians from Delta Central have been expecting to exclusively have another shot at the governor’s seat come 2023, politicians from other senatorial zones, especially from Ijaw ethnic nationality from Delta South are currently warming up also.
Consequently, leaders and stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Aniocha North Local Government Area have justified the ambition of the Ijaws to produce the governor of Delta State in 2023.
Former Deputy Governor, Chief Benjamin Elue stated this when he spoke on behalf of PDP Leaders and stakeholders of Aniocha North Local Government Area during a consultative visit by the Delta Ijaw for Governor 2023 lobby team led by former Minister of Police Affairs, Alaowei Broderick Bozimo at the Unity Hall, Issele Uku in continuation of the group’s visit to leaders, stakeholders, elders, traditional rulers and ethnic nationalities among others.
“Your ambition to be governor in 2023 is justified, you have individual rights to do that but all the moves to actualise your ambition should be done in such a way that it will be peaceful so that at the end we will all remain one indivisible, united and peaceful Delta State.”
He said Aniocha North Local government area and Delta North at large have remained fully PDP since 1998 stressing that it is the only viable party in the area and described the Ijaw consultative visits as very pleasing to them.
“Everything will be settled the way it is normally settled by our leader. Leadership has steps, we shall come together to work for the best choice to retain Government House in Asaba by PDP.”
The Leader of the Ijaw delegation and former Minister of Police Affairs, Alaowei Broderick Bozimo said the Ijaws have thrown their hat into the 2023 governorship contest noting that it was inaccurate for a certain section in the state to say it is their turn to produce governor come 2023.
“My mission is to come and tell Deltans particularly stakeholders that the Ijaws intend to throw their hat into the contest and nobody should go with the impression that we are not interested in that position.”
According to him, “A certain section in our state has come out to say that it is their turn to produce governor come 2023, this is inaccurate and we felt that it is an inaccurate statement and if left unchallenged, you know falsehood left unchallenged for too long assume the dimension of truth.
“Our mission is correct this falsehood, though, those who peddle this story have since recanted and admitted that from 2023, let zoning happen and when it is done no other zone should throw their hat to contest, no problem with that but to say that has been the practice is a fallacy which the Ijaw nation cannot leave unchallenged.”
Alaowei Bozimo further said that, “three of our sons have indicated interest. We are confident that we have what it takes to produce governor. The three of them are eminently qualified to govern Delta State.”
He added that when dogs play they fall for each other and not only one dog falling for the other all the time.
“We are pleading, we cannot win without your support, politics is negotiation, by consensus and by recognising that everybody has his own power.”
On the delegation of the Delta Ijaw for Governor 2023 were Alaowei Broderick Bozimo, Hon.Basil Ganagana, Commissioner for Transport, Chief J.T Government, Chairman Delta State School of Marine Technology, Hon.Tonye Timi, former member DTHA, Hon. Joel Bisina, former Commissioner, Hon. (Barr) Newworld Safugha, former Commissioner, Chief James Nieketien (JP) SSA to the Governor, Prof. R.K Moruku, Admiralty University and Barr. Fred Owotorufa among others.