By Ogor Emmanuel
UGHELLI/Nigeria: As political tension seems to building up for the 2023 General Election in Nigeria, a youth political pressure group have backed the recent statement by the Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa on the vexed issue of rotation in the state, especially within the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, family.
The group, The Youth Arise Initiatives, YAI, in a statement, signed by the Coordinator/Convener, Snr Comr. Rex Ochuko Ogboru, and the Secretary Amb. Ochuko Olomu, on Monday, May-17-21, and made available to our correspondents, stated that the governors statement on the quality of the person that will succeed him, and on his understanding of equity was a timely one, as he had cleared the air on issue of zoning in the state.
According to the statement, the YAI, had never given their supports on issue of zoning, stating that zoning is anti democracy, as it deprives others from having a go at political offices, especially the office of the governor.
They commended the governor for been truthful in his stated, as there had never being a document on issue of zoning amongst the Senatorial Districts in the state, or within any of the political parties, especially the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
“Finally the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as the man he is known for, had spoken. All we need is on equity, and a one that can stand the test of time, and not one based on ethnic line.”
“With the statement, the chance is now open to all ethnic groups and any of the Senatorial Districts of the state. As the governor stated, in 2014, 16 persons from the Delta North, were in the race. We could remember, they were 26 of them, that means the other 10, were from the other two Senatorial Districts. With this analysis, there was never free gateway for the governorship in the state, based on senatorial emergence.”
The statement further called on Governor Okowa to drop those presently in his cabinet who are interested to run for any political office to enable them concentrate on their ambition, and also not to drag the government backward, as their continuous present in the government activities will not help his government to achieve the stronger Delta Agenda.
“We are also using medium to call on the Governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa to quickly reshuffle his cabinet, especially to allow those who had declared interest for the governorship election in 2023 to go and face their aspiration of becoming governor. Their continuous stay as part of the present administration, we believe it will derail the objective of the Stronger Delta.” It concluded.
