Deborah Coker
The Ijaw National Congress (INC) Worldwide, has appealed to Urhobo Progressive Union (UPU), to support Ijaw candidature for Delta governorship when power returns to South Senatorial zone.
Prof. Benjamin Okaba, President INC, made the appeal in his goodwill remark at the 93 edition of the Urhobo National Day Celebration, which held in Agbarho, Delta.
Okaba in a statement in Abuja on Saturday said by the convention in the state, power was supposed to rotate to the southern district in the next circle of elections.
He said it was pertinent that the UPU remembered the support from Ijaw that gave them which shots previously that produced governors.
“The Ijaws in Delta are known to have supported the Urhobo in all their intentions and aspirations to lead the state as governors.
“They also supported their administrations, particularly starting with former governor James Ibori and now Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori.
“It is the belief of the INC that the UPU would remember the good deeds and support to the Urhobo by giving the Ijaws their first right of refusal.
“This is taking into cognisance the fact that the Itsekiris of Delta South have taken a shot at this top job in the past,” he said.
The INC President said the Ijaw Nation considered their participation in the Urhobo National Day Celebration a privilege and as well an obligation.
According to him, the common experiences, constraints and aspiration for greatness, mutually shared, over the years, have made the Urhobo and Ijaw one of the closest neighbours in the Niger Delta.
“This is exemplified in part, by the fact that there is hardly any prominent Ijaw man or woman without some sort of biological and socio-economic link to the Urhobo.
“The reverse is also the case. In major Urhobo communities (Ughelli, Agbarho, Uvwie, Abraka) the Ijaws are the largest non-indigenous population.
“The Uvwie are even historically known to have emigrated from Tuomo Community in the Burutu Local Government Area, which extends the Ijaw fraternal penetration to the Urhobo contemporary geography.
“Contrariwise, the Urhobos constitute the highest non-indigenous population in major Ijaw communities such as Yenagoa, Bomadi, Patani, Amassoma, Kaiama and Kpakiama,” he said.
Okaba also said that as ethnic leaders on both sides of the divide, the INC and UPU leadership must leverage these common and strong traits/ties, and build on them to create stronger bonds of brotherhood.
He said this was with a view to handle their common potential and multidimensional existential threats.
“As brothers and neighbours, let us reactivate and upscale these virtues that bind us together and downplay those strange vices fighting hard to divide and destroy us,’’ he said.
He said that the theme of the celebration “Repositioning the Urhobo Nation for More Prosperity”, was apt and captivating, particularly in the face of current realities that surround citizens in the country.
NAN