Die-hard supporters of Senator James Ebiowuo Manager, the lawmaker representing Delta South Senatorial District have iterated that their principal is not ready to play second fiddle to anybody in the race towards the next governor of Delta state.
The debunker became necessary following reports about the five-time lawmaker agreeing to be a running mate to Olorogun David Edevbie, the Chief of Staff to the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.
The reports further stated that a deal was brokered between the trio of James Onanefe Ibori, David Edevbie and Senator James Manager.
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The report which also reached the news desk of Daily Report Nigeria, stated that former governor of Delta state, James Ibori had asked Manager to be a Deputy Governor to Edevbie.
However, a statement signed by the trio of Mr. Francis Bekesuode Abulu, Comrade Tamar Forteta, and Hon. Japhet Bodonyefaby on behalf of the Delta United Front has vehemently denied the report, saying it is the handiwork of mischievous individuals.
According to the trio, ‘the mischievous activities of few political detractors cannot stand between him and his committed service to the people.”
They urged all supporters of the lawmaker to disregard the report as Manager remain resilient to his governorship course.
The statement reads in part;
“We wish to state, with all sense of modesty and unequivocally too that Senator James Manager, who has remained a formidable and dependable pillar in the PDP, is too far-reaching to be number-two to anybody in the state come 2023 by God’s grace.
“The said outcome of a recent imaginary political horse-trading between unidentified Ijaw political leaders from Delta South in the “Ibori camp” and their counterparts from Urhobo ethnic extraction in Delta Central, is clearly the handiwork of some laggards and busybodies that are hell-bent on causing political distraction in the state and they have undoubtedly failed in all fronts.
“The story of the purported agreement to withdraw or stepdown during the party primaries and then collapse his political structure for Olorogun Edevbie, or anyone for that matter, should be ignored by all PDP faithful and well-meaning Deltans in general.
“A shadowy group masquerading as the protagonist of “Ijaw Political Renaissance Project (IPORPRO)” and led by one Kpakiama Golden might be fronting for some faceless aggrieved politicians whose real motive remains unclear, but its handful of members who are obvious political neophytes, no doubt, speak for themselves only and not for the politically conscious Ijaw Nation.
“Nonetheless, we remain proud about the humble and focused disposition of Senator Manager despite his towering leadership stature and unassailable string of achievements in the political sphere in Delta State in particular and Nigeria at large.
“His meteoric rise from the position of Chairman of Bomadi Local Government Area to becoming the first state chairman of the PDP in 1998/99, is a testament to Senator Manager’s political pedigree as grassroots leader, mobilizer and courageous role model who has remained committed to the upliftment to our people for this very long period of time.
“Before his state party chairmanship and subsequent election in 2003 to represent the people of Delta South in the National Assembly, Senator Manager was a commissioner in the administration of late Governor Felix Ibru.
“In the Senate, where his wealth of experience as a lawyer has seen him serving in many committees charged with various oversight functions, Manager has consistently exhibited the qualities of a patriotic Nigerian, god-fearing leader and dependable political ally.
“A distinguished recipient of the national honors award of CON, he was instrumental and pivotal to the attainment of PDP’s practically invincible status at all elections since 1999 in the present democratic dispensation in Nigeria. He has always placed his cards on the table instead of engaging in clandestine political bargaining.
“Over the years, Senator James Manager has been touching lives positively but he never proclaims such at rooftops. He remains a focused gentleman and he will definitely continue to impact the lives of more and more people in future. The mischievous activities of few political detractors cannot stand between him and his committed service to the people.”
There has been a steady rise in the tempo in recent times in the race towards the next gubernatorial elections in the state.
