A new report as emerged as the polity heats harder towards who will emerge the next governor of Delta state.
The Union Nigeria reports an alignment between the former governor of Delta state, James Onanefe Ibori, the current Chief of Staff to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, Chief David Edevbie and Senator James Manager.
According to the report, a source in Ibori’s political camp disclosed a plan for Chief David Edevbie to get the governorship ticket, while Senator James Manager becomes his deputy.
ATTENTION: Click “HERE” to join our WhatsApp group and receive News updates directly on your WhatsApp!
According to the source, the move is to allow James Ibori who is regarded to be the Godfather of Delta politics to continually have control over the reins of governance in the state.
However, the source frowned at the arrangement of Manager becoming a deputy governor, saying it would be oppressive since Kingsley Otuaro, the incumbent Deputy Governor of the state is an Ijaw man.
The source claimed that the arrangement was for both Manager and Edevbie to run for the primaries with the intention of the Senator stepping down to harmonize structures with the former.
He added that the arrangement was also to give room for former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, who is a cousin to Ibori, to take over from James Manager at the Senate Chambers.
Group accuses Manager of sabotage
Meanwhile, a group, Ijaw Political Renaissance Project (IPORPRO), under the leadership of Comrade Kpakiama Golden, has condemned the alliance which he described as unholy.
The group accused Senator Manager of sabotage which they said was his ‘usual stock in trade’.
In a statement, the group said, “Manager has always been a sell out in every Ijaw struggle. We are not surprised. He has always contested and won elections on the grounds of negotiations. We can’t continue to accept this from him.”
“Manager cannot deceive the Ijaw’s this time. He should not bother to contest. Ijaws are wiser now,” the statement read.