By Ovie Okpare
Youth leaders from Urhobo and Itsekiri ethnic nationalities of Delta State have agreed to bury every form of bitterness and push for a common front ahead of the 2023 governorship election in the state.
The youths from both ethnic groups also agreed to work with their counterparts from Ijaw, Isoko and Anioma ethnic nationalities towards deciding who becomes the next governor of the state.
The meeting described as historic was held on Sunday in Warri when a coalition Urhobo youth groups, United Urhobo Youths Association/Middle-aged Leaders (UUYA/ML), visited the leadership of Itsekiri National Youth Council (INYC).
UUYA/ML said the solidarity visit was aimed to seek the support of Itsekiri youths to join hands with Urhobo for Delta Central to produce Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s successor in 2023.
The coalition of Urhobo youth groups comprised the Youth Wing of Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), Urhobo Youth Council (UYC), Urhobo Youth Leaders Association (UYLA), Urhobo National Youth Movement (UNYM), Urhobo Host Communities and Urhobo Ex-agitators.
ALSO READ: 2023: PDP Optimistic Of Defeating APC – Ex-Governor Uduaghan
Taking turns to speak at the meeting, chairman of United Urhobo Youths Association/Middle-aged Leaders (UUYA/ML), Comrade Isaac Omemedia, in his opening remark stressed the need for unity among youths of Delta State ahead of the election.
According to Omemedia, Delta youths must be involved in deciding and producing who becomes the next governor of the state.
Speaking on behalf of Urhobo youths, Coordinator of the Urhobo group, Olorogun Vincent Oyibode, said the visit was part of their drive to cement the aged-long relationship with their Itsekiri brothers and sisters and to seek for their support ahead of the election.
He noted that the rotational formula introduced by former Governor James Ibori for the governorship seat to rotate among the three senatorial districts should be strictly maintained, saying it was now the turn of Delta Central.
Olorogun Oyibode reminded their hosts that every senatorial district in the state has benefited from the model which has contributed to the enduring peace currently being experienced in the state.
He said, “this is a dream of self-determination, self-actualization. And how do we go about the dream? We need unity. We are here for self-determination. Self-determination for me and you. As at 1997, during the SDP, NRC, GDN and now PDP, some of us were used as thugs or area boys. But today, we now men. Are we not men?
“Now if care is not taken, many of us are already grandfathers, but we are still being used as youths. We are begging our fathers to go to Abuja. The people we follow, if they cannot give us a chance, our children will be the ones to drive us to go and retire.
“Delta state has a model set up by Ibori. When he was leaving office in 2007, he set a pace that government should rotate round the three senatorial districts. It rotated to Delta South and now Delta North.
“We are here, very humble, to appeal. The card has turned to Delta Central. We (youths) are the ones that do the election. But if we don’t grow from that stage for our children to take over, we would lose.
“We are begging that the Itsekiri nation support Urhobo nation for the governorship. We want to use that model of no fighting or carrying of arms for the next governorship, come 2023. The person that will come in must be a youth or middle-aged. Anybody more than 55 years should go to Abuja. It is going to be a solidarity movement”, Oyibode stated.
YOU MAY ALSO READ: Octogenarian, Ughelli Residents Seeks Okowa’s Intervention As Anglican Church Blocks Road
Earlier, the UUYA/ML condoled with the Itsekiris on the loss of their monarch, HM Ogiame Ikenwoli and also congratulated them on the forthcoming installation of the Olu-designate, Omoba Utieyinoritsetsola Emiko as 21st Olu.
The group particularly lauded the peaceful disposition of the Itsekiri youths throughout the period prior to the coronation, stressing that it was never heard that they were used to perpetuate any crime and thus, they have sent a message to youths across Delta state.
Responding on behalf of the Itsekiri youths, President of the INYC, Comrade Weyinmi Agbateyiniro, noted that Itsekiri youths are in strong support of agenda that will produce a youth a next governor of the state.
Agbateyiniro posited that the visit was historic in the history of both tribes, adding that it has served as a reminder that it is time for the youths to assume leadership positions in the state and nation at large.
“This means a lot to me. We want to tell you our brothers, sisters, youths and middle-aged leaders from Urhobo ethnic nationality that your presence here today has reminded us that age is no longer on our side; that if the likes of late Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh, Chief Ibori, were in positions of leadership in this country at a very early age, then there is no reason they cannot support us,” Agbateyiniro said.
Among the youth leaders at the event were Chief, Comrade Sweet Otiotio (HostCom), Comrade Ufuoma Duru (UPU), Uwaye Joseph (UYC), Comrade Samuel Oghotomo (UYLA), Comrade Esimaje Awani (former INYC) and Comrade Austine Ogedegbe (UNYM)
