2015 Guber: Will it be Okowa versus Ogboru or Emerhor?

…How Okowa won the PDP primaries

…Urhobo LGs that allegedly voted for Okowa

…Was Ibori the manipulator of events in fulfillment of a 2011 agreement?

As the Urhobo Progress Union(UPU) returned to the drawing board after being out maneuvered in last Monday’s People’s Democratic Party governorship primaries, various options on the way forward are being offered to the Urhobo nation by various groups and personalities

The most popular of the option is that Chief Great Ogboru, the Labour party governorship candidate and Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, the All Progressive Party(APC) governorship candidate, who are said to be long time friends must meet to harmonize their differences so save the Urhobo nation from disgrace.

In an open letter to the UPU, Great Ovedje Ogboru and Olorogun Otega Emerhor, a popular blogger and facilitator of Urhobo Peoples Forum, Mr. Nathaniel Dortie  wrote, “Dear custodian of our Urhobo heritage, our fathers, elders and most respected leaders. I write with a heavy heart, welled up eyes and panicky indignation. I am confused, uncertain and fearful of what will become of my dear fatherland should no one hearken to my letter.

“Today, I hear the deafening call from Asaba, the thundering and boastful chest beating; “What can the Urhobos do? The Urhobos are nothing in Delta State? I am full of fear that I may not have a heritage, a fatherland to bequeath to my offspring and those yet unborn!

“It would be easy to say that I trust my people but it is hard to distinguish friends from enemies in this murky terrain. Especially, at these times when men sell their kids for twelve silver coins and kinsmen, trade the future of our people just for leftovers and crumbs meant for pets!

“Today, you all must not let the Urhobo nation fade into obscurity! You must not let the journey from the land of the Ogisos be in vain. Mukoro Mowoe will be watching you and the spirit of our ancestors will not find peace until you respond in unison and proclaim very loudly; “Urhobos we are, children from a royal lineage!”

“Please, UPU must summon Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru and Olorogun Otega Emerhor urgently. Let us commence discussions today so that we will NOT be led into slavery in our own fatherland. UPU must prevail on one of these leaders to step aside for the sake of Urhoboland and forge a united front lest we are taken as war captives; the war is just by the gate! Ofovwi tughere!! Ebiko, ekpomavi ku’rhobo !!! I am on my knees”

Contributing, human rights activist and constitutional lawyer, Barr. Omes Ogedegbe said the UPU ought to have consulted with the aspirants and where they refuse to come up with a consensus candidate, they would have elected a sole candidate and not the sham adoption that was done as if the UPU was established solely to propagate PDP candidate forgetting that the other aggrieved Urhobo sons will surely frustrate the alliance because of its undemocratic nature.

“The Delta central did not give their full support to the Urhobo candidate. If 70 percent of the vote had come from the central victory would have been sure. The Urhobo's will have no option than to work with their sons that wins the primary election ticket in other parties, if only they will take the UPU seriously as they would seen as playing second feddle.”

Also contributing, Chief Bobson Gbinijie, the National Coordinator, Mandate Against Poverty(MAP) said the UPU and David Edebvie failed “because of the unconscionable apotheosization of money, prebendalistic graft and the solipsistic proclivities of the Urhobo and other delegates

“There was also the issue of the Urhobo disunity, defective political strategy and the gang-up against Urhobo. The way forward is strategic political repositioning by reaching out to other ethnic groups and the application of the Fabian Cuntacius formula. It’s a shame that we could not put our numerical superiority to good advantage”

 

In the governorship primaries which was held at the Cenotaph in Asaba,Delta State's capital, Senator Okowa won the PDP primaary election with 406 votes, Hon.Victor Ochei garnered 185 votes, Mr.Charles Emetulu got 4
votes. Dr Festus Okubor scored 5 votes Olorogun David Edevbie 299
votes, Prof.Monye 10 votes, Mr.Sam Obi 10 votes, Elder Godsday Orubebe
49 votes, Dr.Ngozi Olejeme 10 votes, Obaisi Ovie Omo-Agege
10 votes,  Mr.Godswill Obielum 22 votes,Hon.Ndudi Elumelu 50
votes, Kenneth Gbagi 2 votes, Oyibode Gabriel 3 votes, Mr.Michael Waka 1
vote, Opone 3 votes and Mr.Peter okocha 6 votes.

The PDP governorship primaries held in Asaba Delta state which started rather very late at about5:30pm after subjecting delegates including desperate party faithful to an untold screening by security agents, the screened delegates including journalists were engaged in verbal cross fire when the delegates at the main entrance where the primaries was being held, they allowed freely into the premises thereby leaving the journalists into shouting themselves down for assistance. 

Expectedly, hundreds of the journalists were subjected to thorough screening and search by fierce looking security agents

As it were, delegates who had assembled at the premises of Event Centre venue of the primaries allegedly disagreed where the election voting pattern will swing to especially with text messages circulated by various aspirants. But it was reliably gathered that penultimate Sunday night, the governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan including the party stakeholders in a six hours meeting unanimously agreed that the power must shift to Delta central even though there were struggle indication that Delta North cannot be schemed out 

At the venue, several delegates were bribes with millions of naira and dollars in the presence of some journalists. Aspirants were offering between half a million to one million to delegates to vote for them with delegating being subjected to swearing with various charms.

In his comment the Vice Chairman, Delta central for Eloka Okocha Campaign Organisation, Olorogun Abel Omamomo Edijala said the primary was transparent .In fact, those doubting Thomas who
thought there would be impunity have been put to shame. The primary
has been one of the best  in the history of Delta State. It was rancor
free and was televised life. Obviously, the best man for the job, the
Distinguished Senator Ifyanyi Okowa  emerged the winner.
As it is now, it is the duty of the PDP to protect  him. The
declaration of the UPU was well followed .UPU only have control over
the Urhobo delegates who voted enmass for Olorogun Devide Edevbie. In
fact, 100% Urhobo votes went to Edevbie. That is the only point UPU
can hold onto. If the Urhobo delegates  had voted against Edevbie, then,
they can come out to say no, we can go back to our Uvwiamuge
declaration.
Right now, I think Urhobo can still hold their heads high then support
PDP. The idea of Urhobo go alone will never work. That is why some of
us have always supported the Northern  agenda.
As for Peter Okocha whom we have been following, he is just a party
nan and at the end of the the.we will collapse into the PDP family to
make sure that Okowa wins. We are not pro-ethnic in our thinking. Our
is that the best government should reign and Okowa to the best of my
knowledge, is the right choice.

Also in a comment, the UPU youth wing Public Relations officer, Mr Marcus Ovovwero claimed that that some delegates from some Urhobo local government areas allegedly voted for Senator Okowa. In a statement he said,  “The failure of the Uvwiamuge declaration was necessitated by the betrayer on the part of some self centered Urhobo PDP leaders in connivance with Ibori. We have on record how Ibori engineered these leaders to cast their votes for Okowa in fulfillment of his self acclaimed gentleman agreement with Okowa in 2007. We are not unaware that Ethiope west gave their vote to Okowa, Ethiope east gave part to Okowa, part to Edevbie, Sapele gave its vote to Okowa, Uvwie gave its own to Okowa whereas Itsekiri share its vote between Edevbie and Okowa while Isoko gave its entire vote in favour of Urhobo. This is a clear evidence that the problem of Urhobo is neither Uduaghan. Our delta south brothers nor our Delta north brothers but Urhobos. This is Urhobo inhumanity to Urhobo. It was indeed a context between Edevbie and Ibori, Urhobo vs Urhobo, and not Urhobo vs Delta north as imagined. Meanwhile,  on behalf of the UPU youth wing and on the president directive, i appreciate all Urhobo youths who stood to defend the Uvwiamuge's declaration till the last. The leadership of the UPU youth wing is working tirelessly, In the face of the current state of affairs in other to give strategic direction to the youths. We shall always keep you all posted! God bless”