• Sue for collaboration from Itsekiri
The Ijaw people in Egbema Kingdom, Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State, have maintained that it was their turn to produce the next member for State House of Assembly in 2027.
This position was made known in a statement on Wednesday, by Egbema Youth Political Forum”(EGYPF).
The statement was signed by Barr. Ebigbagha S. Baidi, who called on the sister ethnic group (Itsekiri) in the council to collaborate with the Ijaws to drive home this plight unanimously during the coming general elections.
He says, “ It is a known fact that no Egbema indigene has occupied the Assembly’s position from the inception of the Local Government area from 1991 till date despite having eminently qualified people in the kingdom. The Ijaws have worked assiduously for the Itsekiris who have been at the helm of affairs occupying top political positions without an iota of acrimony from the Ijaw axis”
“ Currently, the Egbema people are totally out of the political equation in the state as regards viable appointments that are littered across other Kingdoms in the state. It will be an aberration and total injustice to the Ijaws in Egbema Kingdom, if the news making rounds that the Itsekiris are planning to return the incumbent member in the State House of Assembly, representing the constituency without considering the place of the Ijaws who have contributed immensely to the social economic and political well-being of the State and the Nation at large”
According to him, “ Therefore, It is important to warn that any attempt whatsoever to deny the Ijaws from producing the next member for House of Assembly in Warri North, will be resisted with equal reaction”
The group emphatically noted that the deprivation and gross marginalization of Egbema people who are known for peace is alarming and that Ijaw should be supported by the Itsekiris to produce the next member for House of Assembly for peace and fairness.
“We should not be treated as outcast or second class citizens in Warri North Local Government Area. We are same people with unique cultures and differences which we share in common with our neighbours, the Itsekiris”
“ We therefore call on the Governor of Delta State, Rt Hon. Elder Sheriff Oborevwori and other leaders across the state and local government to ensure the ambition of Egbema people is actualized come 2027”.
“ It is an undisputable fact that the Itsekiris in Warri North have concurrently occupied the seat of the Federal House of Representatives, State House Assembly seat, Warri North Council seat, not until Smart Asekutu was made the Chairman in 2022, since the creation of the council area in 1991”
“ The Itsekiris currently produced Chairman of PDP in Warri North, Chairman of Warri North Council, Member of Delta State House of Assembly, Member, Federal House of Representatives, two Commissioner slots meant for Warri North, legislative leader of the House”
“ This is not fair, that in a Local Government Area predominantly occupied by just two ethnic nationalities. In fact, the political situation between the Ijaws and Itsekiris is stomaching and the Ijaws cannot take it anymore.
“ With all fairness, it is equitable to allow the Ijaws in Egbema Kingdom to produce the next member for Delta State House of Assembly, in order to promote the existing peaceful co-existence amongst us”
“ The alleged not acceptable ratio of 60%/40% reached by unknown persons from the Ijaws and Itsekiris axis is not even respected, and based on that, we are forced to ask if the said ratio is 90%/10%”
“ Politicking is a fair game of give and take. We have been giving out for over 30 years with nothing in return, therefore it is the time for us to take it accordingly”
“This is a sound argument on the part of Ijaws in the council area and should be allowed to occupy the house of assembly seat and other sensitive political offices for the sake of peace, justice and equity”, he added.
