A political pressure group, the Progressives Alliance for Okowa, on Thursday decried the perceived ethnic sentiment being played by the Urhobo Political Union over the emergence of Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, a Delta Northerner, as the Peoples Democratic Party flag-bearer in Delta State.
The festering ethnic bigotry in the state has compelled the UPU, the apex decision making body for the 15 kingdoms in Urhoboland, to take their destiny in their hands.
The union has since after Okowa’s emergence last year rejected the outcome of the Peoples Democratic Party primary election, insisting that the ticket should go to an Urhobo man.
PAO’s National Chairman, Comrade Vincent Azuka Ehiwario, in Asaba on Thursdaywondered why UPU, a socio-cultural group, wanted to decide for the citizen of the state.
Ehiwario recalled that between 1999 and 2007, an Urhobo son, Chief James Ibori, governed the state for eight years.
The statement added: “Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, who is a pan-Delta man with a robust master-plan for the development of the state, is well prepared for the job and should be given the chance by our Urhobo brothers and sisters.
“In the spirit of togetherness, equity, justice and fairness, Delta North, which is the only senatorial district that has not governed the state since it was created in 1991 should be allowed to produce Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan successor by next month.”
According to Ehiwario, what Delta State needs at the moment is somebody who has a clinical understanding of the multi-ethnic facets of the state and can deploy experience to consolidate on the giant strides of Governor Uduaghan.
“In the spirit of oneness and equity, the electorates should jettision the gang-up by the UPU to install an Urhobo governor again but vote Senator Okowa that has the wherewithal to serve the state,” Comrade Ehiwario maintained.